Patents by Inventor Robert Lester Thurman
Robert Lester Thurman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9447654Abstract: A downhole circulating valve includes a generally tubular outer housing having a generally axially extending internal passageway. At least one generally longitudinally extending circulating passageway is formed through at least a portion of the housing. At least one exterior port and at least one interior port are in fluid communication with the circulating passageway. At least one seal plug is disposed within the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a first position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is remote from the exterior port and the interior port, thereby allowing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port through the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a second position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is between the exterior port and the interior port and wherein the seal plug forms at least one metal-to-metal seal with the circulating passageway, thereby preventing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Jimmie Robert Williamson, Robert Lester Thurman, Russell Irving Bayh, III
-
Patent number: 9238957Abstract: A downhole injection apparatus having a sleeve disposed in a tubular housing. The sleeve and housing define an annular orifice through which steam flows prior to injection into the wellbore. Water condensate collects at the orifice or restriction proximate the orifice and is mixed with or entrained into the flow of steam. The sleeve preferably has a plurality of generally radial ports such that steam flows from interior the sleeve to the annulus. Preferably the injection ports and sleeve ports are angled to reduce or eliminate radical changes in direction of the steam flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2013Date of Patent: January 19, 2016Assignee: Halliburton Energy ServicesInventor: Robert Lester Thurman
-
Publication number: 20150226048Abstract: A downhole injection apparatus having a sleeve disposed in a tubular housing. The sleeve and housing define an annular orifice through which steam flows prior to injection into the wellbore. Water condensate collects at the orifice or restriction proximate the orifice and is mixed with or entrained into the flow of steam. The sleeve preferably has a plurality of generally radial ports such that steam flows from interior the sleeve to the annulus. Preferably the injection ports and sleeve ports are angled to reduce or eliminate radical changes in direction of the steam flow. The injection sleeve is preferably removable and replaceable with other similar sleeves allowing easy assembly on-site and selection of annulus and annular orifice dimensions by the operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2013Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventor: Robert Lester Thurman
-
Patent number: 8636059Abstract: A downhole circulating valve includes a generally tubular outer housing having a generally axially extending internal passageway. At least one generally longitudinally extending circulating passageway is formed through at least a portion of the housing. At least one exterior port and at least one interior port are in fluid communication with the circulating passageway. At least one seal plug is disposed within the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a first position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is remote from the exterior port and the interior port, thereby allowing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port through the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a second position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is between the exterior port and the interior port and wherein the seal plug forms at least one metal-to-metal seal with the circulating passageway, thereby preventing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Jimmie Robert Williamson, Robert Lester Thurman, Russell Irving Bayh, III
-
Publication number: 20130284453Abstract: A downhole circulating valve includes a generally tubular outer housing having a generally axially extending internal passageway. At least one generally longitudinally extending circulating passageway is formed through at least a portion of the housing. At least one exterior port and at least one interior port are in fluid communication with the circulating passageway. At least one seal plug is disposed within the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a first position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is remote from the exterior port and the interior port, thereby allowing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port through the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a second position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is between the exterior port and the interior port and wherein the seal plug forms at least one metal-to-metal seal with the circulating passageway, thereby preventing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: James Dan Vick, JR., Jimmie Robert Williamson, Robert Lester Thurman, Russell Irving Bayh, III
-
Publication number: 20130284424Abstract: A downhole circulating valve includes a generally tubular outer housing having a generally axially extending internal passageway. At least one generally longitudinally extending circulating passageway is formed through at least a portion of the housing. At least one exterior port and at least one interior port are in fluid communication with the circulating passageway. At least one seal plug is disposed within the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a first position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is remote from the exterior port and the interior port, thereby allowing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port through the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a second position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is between the exterior port and the interior port and wherein the seal plug forms at least one metal-to-metal seal with the circulating passageway, thereby preventing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: James Dan Vick, JR., Jimmie Robert Williamson, Robert Lester Thurman, Russell Irving Bayh, III
-
Publication number: 20040055746Abstract: A subterranean well completion has a tubular structure in which a remote controlled robot is permanently disposed. The robot is self-propelled, programmable, receives instructions from and communicates data to the surface, and is adapted to receive power from a downhole source and perform a variety of well tasks such as, for example, positioning valves and other well tools and sensing the values of predetermined downhole parameters and relaying the sensed information to the surface. The robot, which is operable without physical intervention through the tubular structure to the robot, propels itself to a location in the tubular structure at which a desired well task is to be performed, performs the task and then parks itself in the tubular structure until another well task is to be performed by the robot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2002Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Colby Munro Ross, Robert Lester Thurman, Syed Hamid, Clifford David Wohleb
-
Patent number: 6675891Abstract: An apparatus for gravel packing a production interval (42) of a wellbore (32) comprises first and second sand control screen assemblies (56, 58) connected downhole of a packer assembly (46) and a cross-over assembly (40) that provides a communication path (74) downhole of the packer assembly (46) for a gravel packing fluid and a communication path (92) uphole of the packer assembly (46) for return fluids. A wash pipe assembly (66) extends into the first and second sand control screen assemblies (56, 58) forming an annulus (84) therebetween. A valve (70) is positioned within the wash pipe assembly (66) in a location between the first and second sand control screen assemblies (56, 58). The valve (70) is actuatable from a closed position to an open position when the beta wave (100) is proximate the location of the valve (70).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Travis T. Hailey, Jr., Colby Munro Ross, Robert Lester Thurman, Robert Craig Hammett, David Leslie Lord, Imre I. Gazda
-
Publication number: 20030111224Abstract: An apparatus for gravel packing a production interval (42) of a wellbore (32) comprises first and second sand control screen assemblies (56, 58) connected downhole of a packer assembly (46) and a cross-over assembly (40) that provides a communication path (74) downhole of the packer assembly (46) for a gravel packing fluid and a communication path (92) uphole of the packer assembly (46) for return fluids. A wash pipe assembly (66) extends into the first and second sand control screen assemblies (56, 58) forming an annulus (84) therebetween. A valve (70) is positioned within the wash pipe assembly (66) in a location between the first and second sand control screen assemblies (56, 58). The valve (70) is actuatable from a closed position to an open position when the beta wave (100) is proximate the location of the valve (70).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Travis T. Hailey, Colby Munro Ross, Robert Lester Thurman, Robert Craig Hammett, David Leslie Lord, Imre I. Gazda