Patents by Inventor Stephen Richard Braithwaite

Stephen Richard Braithwaite 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: 7946344
    Abstract: An assembly for producing oil and/or gas through a well traversing stacked oil and/or gas bearing earth layers comprises a series of expandable packers and integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assemblies mounted on a production tubing such that each integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assembly is located adjacent an oil and/or gas bearing earth layer and at least one expandable packer is located between a pair of adjacent oil and/or gas bearing earth layers, and at least one inflow opening arranged in the wall of the production tubing adjacent to each sandscreen assembly. The integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assemblies are installed in a single run into the well such that uncontrolled fluid and/or sand influx into the well before installation of the sandscreens and expandable packers is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Johannes Cornelis Maria Van Dongen
  • Publication number: 20090266549
    Abstract: An assembly for producing oil and/or gas through a well traversing stacked oil and/or gas bearing earth layers comprises a series of expandable packers and integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assemblies mounted on a production tubing such that each integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assembly is located adjacent an oil and/or gas bearing earth layer and at least one expandable packer is located between a pair of adjacent oil and/or gas bearing earth layers, and at least one inflow opening arranged in the wall of the production tubing adjacent to each sandscreen assembly. The integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assemblies are installed in a single run into the well such that uncontrolled fluid and/or sand influx into the well before installation of the sandscreens and expandable packers is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Johannes Cornelis Maria Van Dongen
  • Patent number: 6959760
    Abstract: A power generator for use in a wellbore formed in an earth formation, including an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a piston defining a combustion chamber in the cylinder, the engine being arranged to induce a reciprocating movement to the piston relative to the cylinder upon combustion of a combustible gas mixture in the combustion chamber, and a linear electricity generator having a stator and a drive shaft. The generator is arranged to generate electricity upon a reciprocating movement of the drive shaft relative to the stator, and the piston is connected to the drive shaft so as to transmit the reciprocating movement of the piston to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen
  • Patent number: 6742585
    Abstract: A device for sealing off an opening through the wall of a well tubular, which device comprises a tubular spacer having an outer diameter allowing the spacer to be arranged in the well tubular, a first seal collar assembly and a second seal collar assembly arranged opposite ends of the tubular spacer, each seal collar assembly comprising an activator ring and an annular seal collar, the activator rings being interconnected by a cylindrical system of shape memory alloy which system contracts when the temperature of the cylindrical system reaches the transition temperature of the shape memory alloy, and wherein each annular seal collar is arranged so as to be compressed against the inner surface of the well tubular upon contraction of the cylindrical system of shape memory alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen, Pieter Karel Anton Kapteijn
  • Patent number: 6705085
    Abstract: A power generator for use in a wellbore formed in an earth formation, comprising an internal combustion engine having a cylinder and a piston defining a combustion chamber in the cylinder, the engine being arranged to induce a reciprocating movement to the piston relative to the cylinder upon combustion of a combustible gas mixture in the combustion chamber, and a linear electricity generator having a stator and a drive shaft, the generator being arranged to generate electricity upon a reciprocating movement of the drive shaft relative to the stator, wherein the piston is connected to the drive shaft so as to transmit said reciprocating movement of the piston to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen
  • Patent number: 6464001
    Abstract: A wellbore system is provided, the wellbore including a main wellbore extending into an earth formation, a branch wellbore extending from a selected location of the main wellbore into the earth formation and a casing arranged in the main wellbore. A branching device is arranged in the casing and connected to a conduit extending through the casing to a wellbore facility at surface, the branching device having a main bore in fluid communication with the wellbore facility via the conduit, and a branch bore providing fluid communication between the main bore and the branch wellbore via a window opening provided in the casing. A seal is provided between said body and the inner surface of the casing so as to prevent fluid communication between the window opening and the interior of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen, Robert Nicholas Worrall
  • Patent number: 6460618
    Abstract: A method for improving the permeability of an earth formation zone surrounding a wellbore formed in the earth formation utilizing hydraulic shockwaves. The selected zone is isolated and fluid is pumped downhole to fracture the earth formation, the fluid extending into the fractures. A shock wave is then created in the fracturing fluid to reduce the presence of illite clays in the formation interstices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen
  • Patent number: 6460619
    Abstract: Following fracturing operations in a first zone of a well bore traversing an earth formation, a sealing assembly is lowered into the well bore to isolate the first zone from the remainder of the wellbore. The sealing assembly includes a reaction plate that rests on gravel within the borehole, a support strut having one end attached to the reaction plate with an elastomeric sealing member attached to the other end of the strut. The strut provides support for the sealing member and prevents it from being dislodged during subsequent fracturing operations. The sealing assembly is lowered downhole utilizing a mechanical running tool capable of running and retrieving the sealing assembly. A second zone in the well bore may then be subjected to fracturing operations without affecting the fractures in the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Braithwaite, Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen