Patents by Inventor Stephen Hekelaar
Stephen Hekelaar 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).
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Patent number: 10544640Abstract: A downhole cutting tool includes a tool body and a plurality of cutter knife sets, each of the plurality of cutter knife sets configured to extend outwardly to separately perform a pipe cutting operation. A first cutter knife set has a diameter in an extended position larger than a diameter in an extended position of a second cutter knife set. A method includes running the downhole cutting tool into a wellbore, deploying the first set of expandable cutting arms to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a first work piece, rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the first work piece, deploying the second set of expandable cutting arms during a single trip into the wellbore to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a second work piece, and rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the second work piece.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Stephen Hekelaar, Kenneth Gibson
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Patent number: 10047582Abstract: A section mill for removing a portion of a casing in a wellbore. The section mill may include a body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bore formed axially therethrough. A plurality of blades may be coupled to the body. Each of the blades may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of each blade may be coupled to the body via a hinge pin, and the second end portion of each blade may have a cutting surface formed thereon. A seat may be formed within the bore. The blades may be adapted to actuate from an inactive position to an active position in response to an impediment forming a seal against the seat.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Publication number: 20160319619Abstract: A section mill for removing a portion of a casing in a wellbore. The section mill may include a body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bore formed axially therethrough. A plurality of blades may be coupled to the body. Each of the blades may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of each blade may be coupled to the body via a hinge pin, and the second end portion of each blade may have a cutting surface formed thereon. A seat may be formed within the bore. The blades may be adapted to actuate from an inactive position to an active position in response to an impediment forming a seal against the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Publication number: 20160245032Abstract: A downhole cutting tool includes a tool body and a plurality of cutter knife sets, each of the plurality of cutter knife sets configured to extend outwardly to separately perform a pipe cutting operation. A first cutter knife set has a diameter in an extended position larger than a diameter in an extended position of a second cutter knife set. A method includes running the downhole cutting tool into a wellbore, deploying the first set of expandable cutting arms to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a first work piece, rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the first work piece, deploying the second set of expandable cutting arms during a single trip into the wellbore to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a second work piece, and rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the second work piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Stephen Hekelaar, Kenneth Gibson
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Patent number: 9416635Abstract: A spearing device for removing casing from wellbore includes a top sub, a bottom sub, and a mandrel coupled to the top and bottom subs. The device includes a grapple having a corrugated inner surface corresponding to a corrugated portion of the mandrel and an outer surface including wickers for engaging an interior surface of the casing. A piston is disposed within the mandrel and operatively coupled to the grapple. A spring operates with the piston and biases the grapple toward a collapsed position. The grapple axially and rotationally moves along the corrugated outer surface of the mandrel. The grapple expands and collapses in response to axial movement relative to the mandrel. The piston compresses the spring and axially moves and expands the grapple in response to increases in hydraulic pressure. In response to subsequent decreases in hydraulic pressure, the spring decompresses and axially moves and collapses the grapple.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Patent number: 9404331Abstract: A section mill for removing a portion of a casing in a wellbore. The section mill may include a body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bore formed axially therethrough. A plurality of blades may be coupled to the body. Each of the blades may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of each blade may be coupled to the body via a hinge pin, and the second end portion of each blade may have a cutting surface formed thereon. A seat may be formed within the bore. The blades may be adapted to actuate from an inactive position to an active position in response to an impediment forming a seal against the seat.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Patent number: 9353589Abstract: A downhole cutting tool includes a tool body and a plurality of cutter knife sets, each of the plurality of cutter knife sets configured to extend outwardly to separately perform a pipe cutting operation. A first cutter knife set has a diameter in an extended position larger than a diameter in an extended position of a second cutter knife set. A method includes running the downhole cutting tool into a wellbore, deploying the first set of expandable cutting arms to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a first work piece, rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the first work piece, deploying the second set of expandable cutting arms during a single trip into the wellbore to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a second work piece, and rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the second work piece.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Publication number: 20160069165Abstract: A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
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Patent number: 9222328Abstract: A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
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Publication number: 20140158367Abstract: A wellhead latch assembly may include one or more latches for attaching to a wellhead and allowing removal of the wellhead during a well abandonment process. The wellhead latch assembly may include an inner core coupled to the latches, and an outer sleeve for selectively latching and unlatching the latches to the wellhead. The inner core may abut the wellhead and can include a groove having circumferential and/or longitudinal features. The outer sleeve may include a pin which travels within the groove and a set of cut-outs for alignment with the latches. When the cut-outs align with the latches, the latches may expand radially outward and disengage the wellhead. As the outer sleeve moves axially or rotationally relative to the inner core, the latches may fall out of alignment with the cut-outs and move radially inwardly to engage or capture the wellhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
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Publication number: 20140034317Abstract: A section mill for removing a portion of a casing in a wellbore. The section mill may include a body having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a bore formed axially therethrough. A plurality of blades may be coupled to the body. Each of the blades may have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of each blade may be coupled to the body via a hinge pin, and the second end portion of each blade may have a cutting surface formed thereon. A seat may be formed within the bore. The blades may be adapted to actuate from an inactive position to an active position in response to an impediment forming a seal against the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Publication number: 20140027117Abstract: A spearing device for use in removing casing is disclosed. The spearing device includes: a top sub; a bottom sub; a mandrel, coupled to the top and bottom subs, having an outer corrugated surface; a grapple having a correspondingly corrugated inner surface and an outer surface including wickers for engaging an interior surface of the casing; a piston disposed within the mandrel and operatively coupled to the grapple; and a spring operative with the piston and biasing the grapple toward a collapsed position. The grapple: (i) axially and rotationally moves along the corrugated outer surface of the mandrel and (ii) expands and collapses responsive to axial movement relative to the mandrel. Responsive to increases in hydraulic pressure, the piston compresses the spring and axially moves and expands the grapple. Responsive to subsequent decreases in hydraulic pressure, the spring decompresses and axially moves and collapses the grapple.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
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Patent number: 8602101Abstract: A downhole pipe cutting tool includes a tool body having a piston assembly disposed in a central bore thereof, wherein the piston assembly is configured to translate longitudinally along the central axis of the tool body, and a plurality of cutter knife sets. Each of the plurality of cutter knife sets includes at least two individual cutter knives circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the tool body and is configured to selectively engage with the piston assembly to extend outward to perform pipe cutting operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Gibson, Stephen Hekelaar
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Publication number: 20120186817Abstract: A downhole pipe cutting tool includes a tool body having a piston assembly disposed in a central bore thereof, wherein the piston assembly is configured to translate longitudinally along the central axis of the tool body, and a plurality of cutter knife sets. Each of the plurality of cutter knife sets includes at least two individual cutter knives circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the tool body and is configured to selectively engage with the piston assembly to extend outward to perform pipe cutting operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Kenneth Gibson, Stephen Hekelaar