Patents by Inventor Ronald van Petegem

Ronald van Petegem 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: 10214991
    Abstract: An adjustable and fixed inflow control device is provided. According to one embodiment, the adjustable inflow control device comprises a set of flow path walls defining a flow path that extends from an inlet to an outlet. The inlet may be open to the outer surface of a tubular and the outlet may be fluidly connected to an inner diameter of the tubular. The flow path may be adapted to control flow of fluid between the outlet and the inlet. The inflow control device further comprises a movable regulator that is movable to alter the flow path. The movable regulator may be movable between a number of positions. The inflow control device may be modular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, John Lee Emerson
  • Publication number: 20190032458
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide well screens and methods that promote sand arching and reduced erosion. One embodiment is a well screen which generally comprises a wire which is spirally wound to form a cylinder with a slot between each role of the wire. The outer surface of the wire comprises one or more indented features shaped to promote sand bridging or reduced erosion. The indented feature may comprise a longitudinal channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: RONALD VAN PETEGEM, SUDIPTYA BANERJEE
  • Publication number: 20180371851
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating formation intervals including forming a low permeability layer on a surface of the interval and pumping a sand control treating solution through the layer, which diverts the flow into the formation permitting improved treatment uniformity and improved overall internal treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Andrew Duncan, Alfredo Mendez Zurita, Kern L. Smith, Leonid Vigderman, Rajesh K. Saini
  • Publication number: 20180274314
    Abstract: A system and method for conveying a tool to a target sub within a tubular string having a number of subs. Each sub may include at least one ledge or shoulder in or on its interior surface that can be used as a latch stopper or stopper, for receiving and engagement with a latch. The subs may also have a latch deflector or deflector. In one embodiment, the latch deflector is a latch-deflection shoulder protruding into the internal diameter (ID) of the string for deflecting a latch, to be subsequently introduced, out of or into the latch-stopping, shoulder. The distance between the latch stopper and the latch deflector, referred to as the “deflection radius,” may be used as an address that uniquely identifies each sub, and can vary from sub to sub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Ronald van Petegem
  • Publication number: 20180187501
    Abstract: A wellbore tool is provided that can withstand applied pressure tests without becoming hydraulically actuated. The wellbore tool includes a tubular housing including an inner bore; a tool mechanism responsive to fluid pressure; and an indexing mechanism that indexes responsive to tubing pressure cycles of at least an indexing pressure. The indexing mechanism is configured to activate the tool mechanism after a preset number of indexes. The wellbore tool can be pressure tested at pressures above an activation pressure without activating the tool mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, John Lee Emerson, Kelly David Ireland, Neil Steven Wright
  • Publication number: 20170254176
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to injecting steam into a wellbore using a device. The device includes a body having a bore configured to communicate steam through the body. The device also includes a sleeve movable in the bore of the body between a first position and a second position, wherein the sleeve in the first position blocks steam from exiting an opening of the body and the sleeve in the second position allows steam to exit the opening of the body. The device can be activated by an activation device conveyed down a tubing string and can include a seat on which the activation device. The seat is expandable to allow the activation device to pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Craig Skeates, John Lee Emerson, Chris Desranleau
  • Patent number: 9725634
    Abstract: Weakly consolidated formations, semi consolidated formations, or unconsolidated formations treated with an aggregating, agglomerating or conglomerating composition, which alters an aggregation or zeta potential of formation surfaces and particulate to increase a maximum sand free production rate of producing formations and increases the injection rate of injection formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora
  • Publication number: 20170044868
    Abstract: An adjustable and fixed inflow control device is provided. According to one embodiment, the adjustable inflow control device comprises a set of flow path walls defining a flow path that extends from an inlet to an outlet. The inlet may be open to the outer surface of a tubular and the outlet may be fluidly connected to an inner diameter of the tubular. The flow path may be adapted to control flow of fluid between the outlet and the inlet. The inflow control device further comprises a movable regulator that is movable to alter the flow path. The movable regulator may be movable between a number of positions. The inflow control device may be modular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, John Lee Emerson
  • Publication number: 20170002628
    Abstract: An actuation ball for a downhole tool, the actuation ball includes an outer annular body encircling a bore; and a core releasably installed in the bore, such that the core can be removed to permit back flow through the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: RONALD VAN PETEGEM, JOHN LEE EMERSON
  • Publication number: 20160356129
    Abstract: A device and method allows a bore valve in the washpipe and in certain instances a port valve or sliding sleeve to open or close upon command from the surface so that gravel slurry may be placed in a wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher A. Hall, Ronald van Petegem
  • Patent number: 9447661
    Abstract: An apparatus and method allow gravel pack slurry to be placed in a borehole annulus from the toe towards the heel to reduce the pressure acting upon the heel of the borehole during the gravel placement operation. By reducing the pressure on the heel, the gravel pack slurry may be placed in longer sections of the borehole in a single operation. Additionally, excess slurry in the inner string can be disposed in the borehole annulus around the shoe track of the apparatus, and fluid returns can flow up the apparatus through a bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher A. Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman, Brian J. Ritchey, Ronald van Petegem
  • Patent number: 9441454
    Abstract: A device and method allows a bore valve in the washpipe and in certain instances a port valve or sliding sleeve to open or close upon command from the surface so that gravel slurry may be placed in a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher A. Hall, Ronald van Petegem
  • Patent number: 9334713
    Abstract: A borehole completion method treats a formation surrounding a borehole with a chemical treatment that alters how formation particulates interact. A standalone screen deploys downhole in the borehole (either before or after the treatment) on a downhole string. When fluid is produced, formation particulates treated with the chemical treatment agglomerate in the annulus surrounding the screen in permeable structures. This can be especially when the standalone screen is useful in a cased hole having perforations. The chemical treatment includes an inner salt adapted to neutralize the zeta potential (i.e., electrokinetic potential) of the formation particulates so they aggregate into one or more permeable structures in the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Ronald van Petegem
  • Patent number: 9260950
    Abstract: A gravel packing assembly gravel packs a horizontal borehole. Operators wash down the borehole using an inner string in a first position by flowing fluid from the inner string through the apparatus' toe. Operators then gravel pack by moving the inner string to one or more flow ports between a screen and the toe. Slurry flows into the borehole from the flow ports, and returns from the borehole flow through the screen. The gravel in the slurry can pack the borehole in an alpha-beta wave from toe to heel. In another condition, operators can move the inner string to a second flow port so slurry can flow into the borehole through a shunt extending from the second flow port. When gravel packing is done, operators move the inner string to a port collar in a liner of the assembly to cement the liner in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technologies Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Christopher Hall, Ronald van Petegem, Alvaro J. Arrazola
  • Patent number: 9085960
    Abstract: A gravel pack operation disposes slurry from an inner string into the annulus around a shoe track. A valve on the shoe track can open and close flow through a port, and seats around the port allow an outlet of the tool to seal with the port. When the valve is open and the outlet sealed with the port, the slurry in the string is pumped into the borehole around the shoe track by flowing the slurry from the outlet into the borehole through the flow port. As this occurs, gravel collects around the shoe track, and fluid returns in the borehole flow back into the shoe track through a screen disposed toward the track's toe. Once inside the shoe track, the fluid returns communicate through a bypass on the shoe track around the sealed outlet and port. At this point, the fluid returns can pass uphole in the gravel pack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, John P. Broussard, Christopher Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9068435
    Abstract: A downhole assembly, such as a toe-to-heel gravel pack assembly, has a body with a body passage, outlet ports for slurry, and screens for fluid returns. An inner string deploys in the body to perform the toe-to-heel gravel packing. A telescoping adjustment device allows the inner string to space out properly when deployed to the toe of the assembly. Sealing surfaces or seats of a locating device in the body separate a sealable space and seal against seals on the inner string movably disposed therein. Fluid pumped in the string produces a pressure buildup when the string's port communicates with the sealable space. The pressure buildup indicates that the tool is positioned at a first location in the assembly, and other positions for placement of the tool can then be calculated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Ronald van Petegem, Christopher Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman, Brian Ritchey, Rockni Van Clief
  • Patent number: 9068398
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for installing deepwater completions and performing well intervention from a vessel that can perform other duties while not running completions or performing interventions. The system for installing deepwater completions and performing well intervention may comprise a surface pipe handling and deployment package including a horizontally operated rig that may also be operated in a slanted mode. Deepwater completions may be deployed from the vessel via a buoyant horizontal riser (BHR), which may be supported by a submerged buoyant tensioning system (BTS). In this manner, the cost of performing completion or intervention operations may be significantly reduced compared to such operations run from a drilling rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Van Petegem, Kevin Quick, Egill Abrahamsen, Brian Michael Carline, Karsten Heidecke, Doyle Frederick Boutwell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9057251
    Abstract: A downhole assembly, such as a toe-to-heel gravel pack assembly, has a body with a body passage, outlet ports for slurry, and screens for fluid returns. An inner string deploys in the body to perform the toe-to-heel gravel packing. A telescoping adjustment device allows the inner string to space out properly when deployed to the toe of the assembly. Sealing surfaces of a locating device in the body separate a sealable space and seal against seals on the inner string movably disposed therein. Fluid pumped in the string produces a pressure buildup when the string's port communicates with the sealable space. The pressure buildup indicates that the tool is positioned at a first location in the assembly, and other positions for placement of the tool can then be calculated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Broussard, Ronald van Petegem, Christopher Hall, Patrick J. Zimmerman, Brian Ritchey, Rockni Van Clief
  • Publication number: 20150111791
    Abstract: Weakly consolidated formations, semi consolidated formations, or unconsolidated formations treated with an aggregating, agglomerating or conglomerating composition, which alters an aggregation or zeta potential of formation surfaces and particulate to increase a maximum sand free production rate of producing formations and increases the injection rate of injection formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora
  • Patent number: 8950493
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for well completion and/or production, where an aggregating, agglomerating or conglomerating composition is injected into a producible formation, zone or interval thereof to alter an aggregation or zeta potential of formation surfaces and particulate to increase a maximum sand free production rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holding LLC
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora