Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Greci
Stephen M. Greci 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: 11761293Abstract: Swellable packer assemblies, downhole packer systems, and methods to seal a wellbore are presented. A swellable packer assembly includes a mandrel and a sealing material disposed about a portion of the mandrel, where the sealing material is formed from a material that radially expands from the mandrel in response to fluid exposure. The swellable packer assembly also includes a cover that is initially disposed about a portion of an outer surface of the sealing material, where the cover prevents the sealing material from being exposed to fluid while the cover is positioned about the portion of the outer surface of the sealing material, and a pressure-actuated piston configured to shift from a first position about the mandrel to a second position about the mandrel, where the sealing material is exposed to fluid after the pressure-actuated piston shifts from the first position towards the second position.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Brandon Least, Michael L. Fripp, Stephen M. Greci
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Patent number: 11525448Abstract: A system includes an electric submersible pump (ESP) configured for pumping fluid through a flow path. An autonomous inflow control device (AICD) is included in fluid communication with the flow path to separate one of gas or liquid out of the flow path. A method includes producing liquid from a wellbore using an electric submersible pump (ESP) in the wellbore. The method includes bypassing gas from a headspace the wellbore using an autonomous inflow control device (AICD) to prevent gas locking the ESP.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Michael L. Fripp, Stephen M. Greci, Richard D. Ornelaz
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Publication number: 20220186578Abstract: Swellable packer assemblies, downhole packer systems, and methods to seal a wellbore are presented. A swellable packer assembly includes a mandrel and a sealing material disposed about a portion of the mandrel, where the sealing material is formed from a material that radially expands from the mandrel in response to fluid exposure. The swellable packer assembly also includes a cover that is initially disposed about a portion of an outer surface of the sealing material, where the cover prevents the sealing material from being exposed to fluid while the cover is positioned about the portion of the outer surface of the sealing material, and a pressure-actuated piston configured to shift from a first position about the mandrel to a second position about the mandrel, where the sealing material is exposed to fluid after the pressure-actuated piston shifts from the first position towards the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Brandon LEAST, Michael L. FRIPP, Stephen M. GRECI
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Patent number: 11299955Abstract: Swell packers comprising swellable metal sealing elements and methods for forming a seal in a wellbore are provided. An example method includes providing a swell packer comprising a swellable metal sealing element; wherein the swell packer is disposed on a conduit in the wellbore, exposing the swellable metal sealing element to a brine, and allowing or causing to allow the swellable metal sealing element to swell.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Zachary W. Walton, Pete C. Dagenais, Stephen M. Greci
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Publication number: 20210363998Abstract: A system includes an electric submersible pump (ESP) configured for pumping fluid through a flow path. An autonomous inflow control device (AICD) is included in fluid communication with the flow path to separate one of gas or liquid out of the flow path. A method includes producing liquid from a wellbore using an electric submersible pump (ESP) in the wellbore. The method includes bypassing gas from a headspace the wellbore using an autonomous inflow control device (AICD) to prevent gas locking the ESP.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Michael L. Fripp, Stephen M. Greci, Richard D. Ornelaz
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Publication number: 20210332659Abstract: Swell packers comprising swellable metal sealing elements and methods for forming a seal in a wellbore are provided. An example method includes providing a swell packer comprising a swellable metal sealing element; wherein the swell packer is disposed on a conduit in the wellbore, exposing the swellable metal sealing element to a brine, and allowing or causing to allow the swellable metal sealing element to swell.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventors: Michael L. FRIPP, Zachary W. WALTON, Pete C. DAGENAIS, Stephen M. GRECI
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Patent number: 10704359Abstract: A flow control system for use in a subterranean well includes a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet that is configured to receive a fluid, and a flow restriction member positioned and movable within the flow chamber. The flow restriction member is configured to restrict fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet of the flow chamber based upon a density of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Stephen M. Greci, Thomas J. Frosell
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Patent number: 10597983Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a zone of a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation is completed. The apparatus includes a flow joint including a first internal flow passage, and a plurality of openings formed radially therethrough, a plurality of plugs disposed within the plurality of openings to form a fluid and pressure tight seal with the flow joint, thus impeding fluid flow through the plurality of openings, and a screen disposed exteriorly about the flow joint and axially along the plurality of openings, and thus also along the plurality of plugs, wherein, when the plurality of plugs are exposed to a downhole fluid, the plurality of plugs are adapted to degrade so that fluid flow is permitted through the plurality of openings. The plurality of plugs may include protective layers adapted to be damaged or removed to expose the plurality of plugs to the downhole fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Michael Fripp, William Mark Richards, Thomas J. Frosell, Stephen M. Greci
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Publication number: 20190120026Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a zone of a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation is completed. The apparatus includes a flow joint including a first internal flow passage, and a plurality of openings formed radially therethrough, a plurality of plugs disposed within the plurality of openings to form a fluid and pressure tight seal with the flow joint, thus impeding fluid flow through the plurality of openings, and a screen disposed exteriorly about the flow joint and axially along the plurality of openings, and thus also along the plurality of plugs, wherein, when the plurality of plugs are exposed to a downhole fluid, the plurality of plugs are adapted to degrade so that fluid flow is permitted through the plurality of openings. The plurality of plugs may include protective layers adapted to be damaged or removed to expose the plurality of plugs to the downhole fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2016Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Michael Fripp, William Mark Richards, Thomas J. Frosell, Stephen M. Greci
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Publication number: 20190063182Abstract: A flow control system for use in a subterranean well includes a flow chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet that is configured to receive a fluid, and a flow restriction member positioned and movable within the flow chamber. The flow restriction member is configured to restrict fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet of the flow chamber based upon a density of the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Stephen M. Greci, Thomas J. Frosell
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Patent number: 10156123Abstract: An inflow control device comprising: a housing, wherein the housing comprises a receptacle and a receptacle opening; a plug, wherein the plug fits into the receptacle; and a cover sleeve, wherein the cover sleeve is positioned around a portion of the housing and comprises a cover sleeve port, wherein the cover sleeve is rotatable circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the housing to align the cover sleeve port with the receptacle opening, and when the port and opening are aligned, the plug is positionable into the receptacle or removable from the receptacle. The inflow control device can be used in an oil, gas, or water production well, or an injection well to variably control the flow rate of a fluid flowing through the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Uriel Arias, Stephen M. Greci, Onyema C. Oyeka
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Patent number: 10151179Abstract: A method of installing a sealing ring onto a wire wrap screen comprising: providing the sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring has an initial inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of an end of the wire wrap screen; reducing the inner diameter of the sealing ring, wherein the reduced inner diameter of the sealing ring is less than the outer diameter of the end of the wire wrap screen; heating the sealing ring; positioning the heated sealing ring over the end of the wire wrap screen; and allowing the sealing ring to decrease in temperature. Another method comprises positioning at least two sealing rings adjacent to a cut-out section of the wire wrap screen.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Stephen M. Greci, James Jun Kang
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Patent number: 10060230Abstract: Described herein are gravel pack assemblies capable of performing complete gravel pack jobs when flow restricting devices, such as inflow control devices (“ICD”), are utilized. A gravel pack assembly includes a well screen attached to a flow restricting device and a relief valve. The relief valve is positioned in parallel with the flow restricting device so that the relief valve may provide an alternative path for fluid during dehydration of the gravel pack slurry, thus allowing extra fluid flow through the completion string during the gravel pack operation only.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Jean Marc Lopez, Stephen M. Greci, Gregory S. Cunningham
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Patent number: 9995109Abstract: An inflow control device (ICD) that may include a piston located in a flow passage, a barrier that prevents fluid flow through the ICD, and a shear device that prevents movement of the piston. A method of actuating one or more ICDs may include preventing actuation of the devices by maintaining a pressure in an interior of a well tool (or tubing string) below an actuation pressure of the devices, where each device may include a piston located within a flow passage, a barrier that prevents fluid flow through the ICD, and a shear device that initially prevents movement of the piston. The method may include increasing the pressure in the well tool (or tubing string) to be greater than or equal to the actuation pressure, thereby shearing the shear device and moving the piston.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Brandon T. Least, Stephen M. Greci
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Patent number: 9970269Abstract: An expandable well screen can include a filter section which is displaced outward when the well screen is positioned downhole, the filter section including an outer surface that is recessed relative to a raised boundary of the filter section adjacent the recessed outer surface. Another filter section can include an outer surface having one more structures thereon which space the outer surface away from a well surface when the filter section is displaced outward. Another filter section can include one or more structures on an interior thereof which space apart inner and outer sides of a wall of the filter section, a telescoping tubular connector which provides fluid communication between the filter section and a base pipe of the well screen, and a filter media being positioned in the tubular connector.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Jean-Marc Lopez, Luke W. Holderman, Stephen M. Greci, Gregory S. Cunningham
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Publication number: 20180119526Abstract: A sand control filter assembly and method for its manufacture. Multiple filter layers of a woven wire mesh arc wrapped directly onto the outer circumference of a perforated base pipe. A perforated shroud is slid over the outermost filter layer, and the assembly is run through a die to swage the shroud tightly over the multiple filter layers, thereby holding the filter layers in place and sealing their ends. In an embodiment, the woven filter mesh may be a volumetric mesh having irregular ridges and valleys to further enhance drainage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2014Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Jean Marc Lopez, Stephen M. Greci
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Publication number: 20170254174Abstract: An inflow control device (ICD) that may include a piston located in a flow passage, a barrier that prevents fluid flow through the ICD, and a shear device that prevents movement of the piston. A method of actuating one or more ICDs may include Preventing actuation of the devices by maintaining a pressure in an interior of a well tool (or tubing string) below an actuation pressure of the devices, where each device may include a piston located within a flow passage, a barrier that prevents fluid flow through the ICD, and a shear device that initially prevents movement of the piston. The method may include increasing the pressure in the well tool (or tubing string) to be greater than or equal to the actuation pressure, thereby shearing the shear device and moving the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2015Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Brandon T. LEAST, Stephen M. GRECI
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Patent number: 9598930Abstract: A flow control system for use with a subterranean well can include a flow chamber through which a fluid composition flows, and a closure device which is biased toward a closed position in which the closure device prevents flow through the flow chamber. The closure device can be displaced to the closed position in response to an increase in a ratio of undesired fluid to desired fluid in the fluid composition. A structure can prevent the closure device from being displaced to the closed position. The fluid composition can flow through the structure to an outlet of the flow chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Stephen M. Greci
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Publication number: 20170016310Abstract: A method of installing a sealing ring onto a wire wrap screen comprising: providing the sealing ring, wherein the sealing ring has an initial inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of an end of the wire wrap screen; reducing the inner diameter of the sealing ring, wherein the reduced inner diameter of the sealing ring is less than the outer diameter of the end of the wire wrap screen; heating the sealing ring; positioning the heated sealing ring over the end of the wire wrap screen; and allowing the sealing ring to decrease in temperature. Another method comprises positioning at least two sealing rings adjacent to a cut-out section of the wire wrap screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2014Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Stephen M. Greci, James Jun Kang
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Patent number: 9518455Abstract: Disclosed are improved flow control devices and methods of use thereof. One flow control device includes a body arranged within a cavity defined in a housing coupled to a base pipe, the housing defining a perforation and the base pipe defining one or more flow ports aligned with the perforation to allow fluid communication therethrough, and a flow chamber defined within the body and having a longitudinal portion and a radial portion, the radial portion being fluidly coupled to the perforation such that a fluid flowing through the flow chamber is conveyed directly to or from the perforation and the one or more flow ports.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Earl Franklin, Stephen M. Greci