Patents by Inventor Tim H. Hunter

Tim H. Hunter 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: 11905132
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Chapman Lucas, Tim H. Hunter, Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Bryan John Lewis, Austin Carl Schaffner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja
  • Patent number: 11512989
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for determining the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into an inlet of a blender from one or more bulk material containers placed on a support structure are disclosed. The system includes sensors placed on the support structure beneath the one or more containers for determining the amount of bulk material contained within the container at any given time. By monitoring the change in the mass of the material in the containers overtime the amount of material being fed into the blender can be determined. The material is metered into a mixer within the blender using a metering mechanism, such as a sand screw, which supplies a fixed capacity of bulk material into the blender. The ability to precisely measure the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into the blender enables operators to calibrate the sand screw continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11434730
    Abstract: An injection pumping system is used to generate pressure pulses in a wellbore to create pressure spikes for stimulation treatment of the wellbore. An initial pressure pulse is generated with a known travel time from the surface to a termination point and back to a specified location within the wellbore. A subsequent pressure pulse with a known travel time from the surface to the specified location can be generated to collide with the initial pressure pulse at the specified location. Knowing the speed of sound throughout the wellbore allows for an accurate calculation of the required travel times for each of the pressure pulses. Multiple sections of the wellbore can be treated preferentially and independently without requiring multiple runs of a perforating tool as the pressure pulses can be manipulated to collide at different locations throughout the wellbore based on the known travel times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Tim H. Hunter, Stanley V. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 11415123
    Abstract: Certain conditions require powering down an engine driving a pump. During the down sequence the pump may continue pumping servicing fluid which may not be desirable. Activating one or more control valves may throttle or prevent the servicing fluid from being pumped from the pump during the power down sequence. Activation of an input control valve may introduce pressurized fluid into a cylinder of the pump extending a rod to force or maintain a suction valve in an open position. While the suction valve is in the open position, the stroke of the plunger may not create enough pressure to pump the servicing fluid causing the servicing fluid to flow between a fluid header and a chamber of the pump. Activation of an output control valve may divert servicing fluid pumped from the pump to a reservoir instead of to the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services. Inc.
    Inventors: Tim H. Hunter, Stanley V. Stephenson, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Billy Don Coskrey, John C. Reid
  • Patent number: 11395998
    Abstract: A site may require that multiple containers, such as bulk material containers, may be utilized to provide a required composition or mixture of materials at a required discharge rate. An arrangement of four or more containers on a frame disposed on a support platform where two faces of each container proximate or adjacent to a face of two other containers to form a rectangle provides a configuration that allows for safe and efficient removal and replacement of containers A rotary table coupled to a motor disposed on the support platform rotates the frame such that each container transitions to different positions. The containers discharge material through an opening of support platform. Containers may be retrieved from one position and replaced at another position or retrieved and replaced from a single position. Such a configuration allows for multiple transport devices to operate without interfering with the operations of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11346336
    Abstract: Certain conditions or triggering events require preventing or throttling the discharge of a servicing fluid from a pump to a wellhead or a borehole. Powering down may not be desirable or may require a duration that allows the condition or triggering event to persist. Selectively and automatically activating one or more pressure control valves may throttle or prevent the servicing fluid from being pumped from the pump during the power down sequence or without requiring a power down sequence. Selective activation of a pressure control valve may introduce pressurized fluid into a cylinder of the pump extending a rod to force or maintain a suction valve in an open position. While the suction valve is in the open position, the stroke of the plunger may not create enough pressure to pump the servicing fluid causing the servicing fluid to flow between a fluid header and a chamber of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Stanley V. Stephenson, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11248456
    Abstract: A plurality of clean fluid pumps fluidically coupled to a common line, the plurality of clean fluid pumps configured to pump a clean fluid. A plurality of individual lines extending from the common line to a plurality of wellbores, each wellbore of the plurality of wellbores having at least one individual line of the plurality of lines solely fluidically coupled thereto. A plurality of dirty fluid pumps, each wellbore of the plurality of wellbores having at least one of the dirty pumps solely fluidically coupled thereto, the fluidic coupling being downstream from the common line. A flow control device, such as a choke, installed in at least one of the individual lines, the installation being downstream from the common line and upstream from the point of the fluidic coupling of the at least one dirty fluid pump to the corresponding wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Robert Bull, Tim H. Hunter, Kurt Rohrbough Harpold, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11192731
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Chapman Lucas, Tim H. Hunter, Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Bryan John Lewis, Austin Carl Schaffner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja
  • Publication number: 20210339966
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Bryan Chapman Lucas, Tim H. Hunter, Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Bryan John Lewis, Austin Carl Schaffner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja
  • Patent number: 11149515
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for injecting down-hole tools into a fracturing line. A fracturing system may include a fracturing line of a respective wellbore and a launcher operationally coupled to the fracturing line though a respective supply line at a pressure lower than a pressure of the fracturing line. The fracturing system may further include a magazine containing a plurality of down-hole tools that is operationally coupled to the launcher for sending a down-hole tool of the plurality of down-hole tools to the launcher. The fracturing system may also include a launching chamber operationally coupled to the respective supply line for receiving the down-hole tool and having a pressure automatically adjustable to substantially equal the pressure of the fracturing line after the launching chamber is sealed from the respective supply line for disposing the down-hole tool into the fracturing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Robert Bull, Tim H. Hunter, Kurt Rohrbough Harpold, Jr., William Joe Robinson, Glen L. Handke, Chad Adam Fisher
  • Publication number: 20210310346
    Abstract: A plurality of clean fluid pumps fluidically coupled to a common line, the plurality of clean fluid pumps configured to pump a clean fluid. A plurality of individual lines extending from the common line to a plurality of wellbores, each wellbore of the plurality of wellbores having at least one individual line of the plurality of lines solely fluidically coupled thereto. A plurality of dirty fluid pumps, each wellbore of the plurality of wellbores having at least one of the dirty pumps solely fluidically coupled thereto, the fluidic coupling being downstream from the common line. A flow control device, such as a choke, installed in at least one of the individual lines, the installation being downstream from the common line and upstream from the point of the fluidic coupling of the at least one dirty fluid pump to the corresponding wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Robert BULL, Tim H. HUNTER, Kurt Rohrbough HARPOLD, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210254439
    Abstract: An injection pumping system is used to generate pressure pulses in a wellbore to create pressure spikes for stimulation treatment of the wellbore. An initial pressure pulse is generated with a known travel time from the surface to a termination point and back to a specified location within the wellbore. A subsequent pressure pulse with a known travel time from the surface to the specified location can be generated to collide with the initial pressure pulse at the specified location. Knowing the speed of sound throughout the wellbore allows for an accurate calculation of the required travel times for each of the pressure pulses. Multiple sections of the wellbore can be treated preferentially and independently without requiring multiple runs of a perforating tool as the pressure pulses can be manipulated to collide at different locations throughout the wellbore based on the known travel times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Tim H. Hunter, Stanley V. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 11091332
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Chapman Lucas, Tim H. Hunter, Calvin L. Stegemoeller, Bryan John Lewis, Austin Carl Schaffner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja
  • Patent number: 11047717
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for determining the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into an inlet of a blender from one or more bulk material containers placed on a support structure are disclosed. The system includes sensors placed on the support structure beneath the one or more containers for determining the amount of bulk material contained within the container at any given time. By monitoring the change in the mass of the material in the containers overtime the amount of material being fed into the blender can be determined. The material is metered into a mixer within the blender using a metering mechanism, such as a sand screw, which supplies a fixed capacity of bulk material into the blender. The ability to precisely measure the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into the blender enables operators to calibrate the sand screw continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11021936
    Abstract: Electrically ignitable and electrically controllable explosive material (EIECEM) may be disposed within a shaped charge for deployment downhole. An explosion of the EIECEM is controlled by limiting the duration of excitation at the EIECEM, for example, the duration that an electrical source provides an electrical charge, electrical current or electrical signal. The shaped charge may be insulated from an electrical source to prevent explosion of the EIECEM and coupled to the electrical source to create ignite or explode the EIECEM. A plurality of shaped charges may be disposed downhole and may be ignited or exploded in any suitable order. The EIECEM may be ignited multiple times such that multiple explosions are created. The explosion of the EIECEM creates or extends a perforation or fracture in a formation. The shaped charges may be excited in a predetermined sequence and for a predetermined duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Stanley V. Stephenson, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20210156719
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for determining the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into an inlet of a blender from one or more bulk material containers placed on a support structure are disclosed. The system includes sensors placed on the support structure beneath the one or more containers for determining the amount of bulk material contained within the container at any given time. By monitoring the change in the mass of the material in the containers overtime the amount of material being fed into the blender can be determined. The material is metered into a mixer within the blender using a metering mechanism, such as a sand screw, which supplies a fixed capacity of bulk material into the blender. The ability to precisely measure the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into the blender enables operators to calibrate the sand screw continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11002576
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for determining the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into an inlet of a blender from one or more bulk material containers placed on a support structure are disclosed. The system includes sensors placed on the support structure beneath the one or more containers for determining the amount of bulk material contained within the container at any given time. By monitoring the change in the mass of the material in the containers overtime the amount of material being fed into the blender can be determined. The material is metered into a mixer within the blender using a metering mechanism, such as a sand screw, which supplies a fixed capacity of bulk material into the blender. The ability to precisely measure the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into the blender enables operators to calibrate the sand screw continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10961828
    Abstract: Electrically ignitable and electrically controllable explosive material (EIECEM) may be disposed within a shaped charge for deployment downhole. An explosion of the EIECEM is controlled by limiting the duration of excitation at the EIECEM, for example, the duration that an electrical source provides an electrical charge, electrical current or electrical signal. The shaped charge may be insulated from an electrical source to prevent explosion of the EIECEM and coupled to the electrical source to create ignite or explode the EIECEM. A plurality of shaped charges may be disposed downhole and may be ignited or exploded in any suitable order. The EIECEM may be ignited multiple times such that multiple explosions are created. The explosion of the EIECEM creates or extends a perforation or fracture in a formation. The perforation or fracture (or cavity) may be filled by a fluid to repair or plug and abandon a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Stanley V. Stephenson, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10955271
    Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for determining the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into an inlet of a blender from one or more bulk material containers placed on a support structure are disclosed. The system includes sensors placed on the support structure beneath the one or more containers for determining the amount of bulk material contained within the container at any given time. By monitoring the change in the mass of the material in the containers overtime the amount of material being fed into the blender can be determined. The material is metered into a mixer within the blender using a metering mechanism, such as a sand screw, which supplies a fixed capacity of bulk material into the blender. The ability to precisely measure the amount of bulk material being choke-fed into the blender enables operators to calibrate the sand screw continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley John Warren, Bryan John Lewis, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10957300
    Abstract: A system for reducing far-field noise produced by well operations includes a passive sound barrier shielding an area, in which the well operations are performed, in an open-air environment. The system further includes a sound sensor to receive near-field noise from the well operations. The system further includes an analysis module, coupled to the sound sensor, to generate an anti-noise signal. The system further includes active anti-noise generators, coupled to the analysis module, to generate anti-noise, based on the anti-noise signal, that destructively interferes with noise from the well operations outside of the passive sound barrier at a predetermined distance from the passive sound barrier. The analysis module generates the anti-noise signal based on the near-field noise, the predetermined distance, and adjustable positions and orientations of the active anti-noise generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Lewis, Kenneth R. Coffman, Bruce C. Lucas, Adam Marks, Tim H. Hunter