Patents by Inventor Varadaraju Gandikota
Varadaraju Gandikota 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: 8499844Abstract: Methods and apparatus include tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a sealing material selected to cause forming of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. Various factors of the sealing material such as deviations in its thickness influence sealing performance of the tubing with the sealing material.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Lev Ring
-
Patent number: 8443881Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an expandable liner hanger capable of being expanded into a surrounding casing. In one aspect, an expandable tubular system is provided. The system includes an expandable tubular. The system further includes an expansion swage for expanding the expandable tubular, wherein the expansion swage is deformable from a compliant configuration to a smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. Additionally, the system includes a restriction member disposed on an exterior surface of the expandable tubular, wherein expansion of the expandable tubular in the location of the restriction member deforms the expansion swage from the compliant configuration to the smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a liner hanger using a cone is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Gordon Thomson, Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota, Paul Andrew Reinhardt, Mike A. Luke, David S. Li
-
Patent number: 8356663Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota, Mike A. Luke, David S. Li
-
Publication number: 20120273236Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for expanding an anchoring device in a borehole. In one aspect, an anchoring device is provided. The anchoring device includes an expandable tubular. The anchoring device further includes a plurality of bands disposed on an outer surface of the expandable tubular. Each band is attached to the tubular at a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein each band is configured to bow radially outward as the expandable tubular shortens in length in response to the expansion of the tubular. In a further aspect, a method of attaching an anchoring device in a borehole is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Larry A. Kendziora, Richard Lee Giroux
-
Publication number: 20120273237Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for expanding an expandable tubular assembly in a borehole. In one aspect, a system for expanding a tubular having an anchor portion in a borehole is provided. The system includes a running tool configured to position the tubular in the borehole. The running tool including a first expander configured to activate the anchor portion by expanding the tubular to a first diameter. The system further includes a second expander configured to expand the tubular to a second larger diameter, wherein the second expander is movable between a retracted position and an expanded position. In another aspect, a method of expanding a tubular having an anchor portion in a borehole is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Richard Lee Giroux, Varadaraju Gandikota, Nader E. Abedrabbo, Larry A. Kendziora, Lev Ring
-
Publication number: 20120267123Abstract: Methods and apparatus include tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a sealing material selected to cause forming of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. Various factors of the sealing material such as deviations in its thickness influence sealing performance of the tubing with the sealing material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Lev Ring
-
Publication number: 20120205124Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore. An expandable tubular may comprise a first end having a first wall thickness, a second end having a second wall thickness, and a middle section disposed between the first and second ends and having a third wall thickness that is less than the first and second wall thicknesses. The first and second ends may include grooves. A method for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore may comprise running the tubular past the restriction, wherein the tubular comprises a first end and a second end, each end having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of a middle section disposed between the ends. The method may include expanding the tubular, wherein the first and second ends of the expanded tubular have outer diameters greater than the outer diameter of the middle section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota
-
Patent number: 8201636Abstract: Methods and apparatus include tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a sealing material selected to cause forming of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. Various factors of the sealing material such as deviations in its thickness influence sealing performance of the tubing with the sealing material.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Lev Ring
-
Patent number: 8162067Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore. An expandable tubular may comprise a first end having a first wall thickness, a second end having a second wall thickness, and a middle section disposed between the first and second ends and having a third wall thickness that is less than the first and second wall thicknesses. The first and second ends may include one or more grooves disposed along a length of the ends. A method for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore may comprise running the tubular past the restriction, wherein the tubular comprises a first end and a second end, each end having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of a middle section disposed between the ends. The method may include expanding the tubular, wherein the first and second ends of the expanded tubular have outer diameters greater than the outer diameter of the middle section.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota
-
Publication number: 20120055667Abstract: Anti-extrusion devices, packer elements, and inflatable packers include shape memory polymer (SMP) materials to enhance the operation of a packer, a bridge plug, or other downhole isolation tool. Seal system use seals of various material including SMP materials as booster for the seal produced. Tool for flow shut-off and sliding sleeve applications use SMP materials to open or close off flow through a tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Gary Ingram, Minh-Tuan Nguyen, Paul Wilson, Chris Johnson, Deborah L. Banta, Jacob Bramwell, Stone Fagley, Varadaraju A. Gandikota
-
Publication number: 20110232900Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: LEV RING, VARADARAJU GANDIKOTA, MIKE A. LUKE, DAVID S. LI
-
Publication number: 20110220369Abstract: An expansion tool for use in a wellbore includes an expansion surface made up of a concave portion, a convex portion and a straight section therebetween. In one aspect, the center section is formed according to a formula Y=(1.26) (X)?0.13, where X is the wall thickness of a tubular and Y is the length of the center section. In another aspect, the expansion surface includes a first concave portion and a convex portion having an arc length extending the concave portion to a trailing edge of the tool. In another embodiment, the concave and convex portions are radius-shaped. The arrangement of the shapes and their relation to each other reduces relatively high and low contact pressures and lessens the effects of axial bending in a tubular or a connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Richard W. DeLange, Scott H. Osburn, Varadaraju Gandikota, Ghazi J. Hashem
-
Patent number: 7980302Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota, Mike A. Luke, David S. Li
-
Publication number: 20100270035Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore. An expandable tubular may comprise a first end having a first wall thickness, a second end having a second wall thickness, and a middle section disposed between the first and second ends and having a third wall thickness that is less than the first and second wall thicknesses. The first and second ends may include one or more grooves disposed along a length of the ends. A method for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore may comprise running the tubular past the restriction, wherein the tubular comprises a first end and a second end, each end having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of a middle section disposed between the ends. The method may include expanding the tubular, wherein the first and second ends of the expanded tubular have outer diameters greater than the outer diameter of the middle section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: LEV RING, Varadaraju Gandikota
-
Publication number: 20100089592Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota, Mike A. Luke, David S. Li
-
Publication number: 20100089591Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an expandable liner hanger capable of being expanded into a surrounding casing. In one aspect, an expandable tubular system is provided. The system includes an expandable tubular. The system further includes an expansion swage for expanding the expandable tubular, wherein the expansion swage is deformable from a compliant configuration to a smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. Additionally, the system includes a restriction member disposed on an exterior surface of the expandable tubular, wherein expansion of the expandable tubular in the location of the restriction member deforms the expansion swage from the compliant configuration to the smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a liner hanger using a cone is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Gordon Thomson, Lev Ring, Varadaraju Gandikota, Paul Andrew Reinhardt, Mike A. Luke, David S. Li
-
Publication number: 20090205843Abstract: Methods and apparatus include tubing expanded to create a seal in an annulus surrounding the tubing. The tubing includes a sealing material selected to cause forming of undulations in a diameter of the tubing upon expansion of the tubing. Various factors of the sealing material such as deviations in its thickness influence sealing performance of the tubing with the sealing material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Lev Ring