Patents by Inventor Tim Hanberry

Tim Hanberry 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).

  • Method for completing a well using increased fluid temperature
    Patent number: 7306042
    Abstract: Methods for forming a portion of a wellbore are provided. The well is drilled from a first selected depth to a second selected depth to form a bore through a surrounding earth formation. A fluid heating apparatus is disposed within the bore on a working string. Fluid is then heated by moving the fluid through the fluid heating apparatus in the wellbore. The process of circulating fluid adjacent the earth formation serves to also heat the surrounding formation so as to increase the fracture gradient. The fluid heating process may be conducted during a drilling procedure. Alternatively, the fluid heating process may be conducted in connection with a liner hanging and cementing process. A fluid flow restrictor is provided along a run-in assembly that serves to warm the fluids as they are circulated. The warm fluids provide convective heat to the surrounding earth formation, thereby reducing the formation's fracture gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: R. K. Bansal, David J. Brunnert, Michael Brian Grayson, James Ken Whanger, Evan Lowe, Abdolreza Gharesi, Tim Hanberry
  • Method for completing a well using increased fluid temperature
    Publication number: 20050045337
    Abstract: Methods for forming a portion of a wellbore are provided. The well is drilled from a first selected depth to a second selected depth to form a bore through a surrounding earth formation. A fluid heating apparatus is disposed within the bore on a working string. Fluid is then heated by moving the fluid through the fluid heating apparatus in the wellbore. The process of circulating fluid adjacent the earth formation serves to also heat the surrounding formation so as to increase the fracture gradient. The fluid heating process may be conducted during a drilling procedure. Alternatively, the fluid heating process may be conducted in connection with a liner hanging and cementing process. A fluid flow restrictor is provided along a run-in assembly that serves to warm the fluids as they are circulated. The warm fluids provide convective heat to the surrounding earth formation, thereby reducing the formation's fracture gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: R.K. Bansal, David Brunnert, Michael Grayson, James Whanger, Evan Lowe, Abdolreza Gharesi, Tim Hanberry