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).

  • Patent number: 10544640
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Hekelaar, Kenneth Gibson
  • Patent number: 10047582
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Publication number: 20160319619
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Publication number: 20160245032
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen Hekelaar, Kenneth Gibson
  • Patent number: 9416635
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Patent number: 9404331
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Patent number: 9353589
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Publication number: 20160069165
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
  • Patent number: 9222328
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
  • Publication number: 20140158367
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, James R. Ford, Stephen Hekelaar, Michael T. Wardley
  • Publication number: 20140034317
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Publication number: 20140027117
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Hekelaar
  • Patent number: 8602101
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gibson, Stephen Hekelaar
  • Publication number: 20120186817
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gibson, Stephen Hekelaar