Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Watkins

Thomas J. Watkins 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).

  • Publication number: 20160333640
    Abstract: An acid tunneling system for forming lateral tunnels from a central wellbore. The acid tunneling system includes an acid tunneling tool having an acid injection nozzle which can be steered and oriented in response to downhole parameters that are detected and sent to surface in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Silviu Livescu, Thomas J. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20160298438
    Abstract: A re-fracturing method involves placement and centralization of a liner string that has shaped charges at predetermined locations that are externally isolated with packers. The shaped charges can be set off in a desired order and re-fracturing can then take place in new locations. In a bottom up order for perforating sequentially larger balls can be landed on seats and developed pressure or component movement generated by applying pressure can be used to set a shaped charge and isolate portions of the borehole below. The balls and even the seats can be later milled out or just allowed to disintegrate or dissolve with well fluids that are present or later added to clear the liner for subsequent production. Alternatively, the liner could be removed by release of the packers before production or injection begins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Silviu Livescu, Thomas J. Watkins, Jeyhun Najafov
  • Publication number: 20160208588
    Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulating hydrocarbon production from subterranean formations by heating. A dual-walled coiled tubing radio frequency heating arrangement is described that can be disposed into a wellbore and energized to heat the surrounding formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Richard Snow, Silviu Livescu, Geoffrey Presley, Thomas J. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20160186501
    Abstract: Electrically-operated downhole tools are run into a wellbore on a coiled tubing string which includes tube-wire that is capable of carrying power and data along its length. During operation, a downhole tool is provided power from surface using the tube-wire. Downhole data is provided to the surface via tube-wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Silviu Livescu, Thomas J. Watkins, Steven Craig, Luis Castro
  • Publication number: 20160097244
    Abstract: A method of increasing a roughness of coiled tubing injector blocks that includes providing a pair of gripper blocks each having a gripper surface configured to grip coiled tubing within an injector head and increasing a first roughness on the gripping surfaces to a second roughness. A coating may be applied to the gripping surfaces to increase the roughness. The coating may be chromium carbide, molybdenum boride, iron boride, titanium boride, or a transitional metal boride. The gripping surfaces may be treated to increase the roughness to a second roughness. The gripping surfaces may be blasted by abrasives or shot peened to increase the roughness. The second roughness may be greater than 20 ?m. A system to inject coiled tubing into a wellbore may include an injector head, coiled tubing, and at least two gripper blocks having a gripping surface with a roughness of at least 20 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Silviu Livescu, Vivekanand Sista, John Delorey, Thomas J. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20160069173
    Abstract: A method and system of treating a horizontal wellbore having multiple production zones. A bottom hole assembly connected to coiled tubing is positioned within the horizontal wellbore. The friction between the casing of the horizontal wellbore and bottom hole assembly and coiled tubing may prevent the bottom hole assembly from traversing the entire length of the horizontal wellbore. After treating a zone within the wellbore, a flush fluid with a lubricant may be pumped down the annulus between the coiled tubing and the casing. The lubricant may reduce the coefficient of friction between the casing and the coiled tubing permitting the bottom hole assembly to travel farther into the horizontal wellbore. The bottom hole assembly may include a vibratory device that may be actuated to reduce the coefficient of friction between the casing and the coiled tubing permitting the bottom hole assembly to travel farther into the horizontal wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: LUIS A. CASTRO, STEVEN H. CRAIG, THOMAS J. WATKINS, SILVIU LIVESCU, CHRISTOPHER W. THACKER
  • Publication number: 20150144331
    Abstract: A matrix acidizing monitoring system wherein a sensor array is operably associated with a matrix acidizing bottom hole assembly and contains first and second sets of sensors that detect a matrix acidizing operational parameter at different times at one or more particular locations along the wellbore. This allows the effectiveness of the acidizing to be modeled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Silviu Livescu, Trevor A. Sturgeon, Thomas J. Watkins
  • Patent number: D260368
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wayne K. Dunshee, Thomas J. Watkins