Patents by Inventor W. Mark Richards

W. Mark Richards 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: 7252153
    Abstract: A fluid loss device including a flapper and seat assembly that provide a seal on a lower flapper surface when the flapper is closed and resists pressure in either direction. The flapper and seat assembly is spring biased to contact a flapper support above the flapper to resist deformation of the flapper due to a pressure differential from below the flapper. The flapper and seat assembly may be moved by tubing pressure to release an opening prop that opens the flapper. The valve seat may include an elastomeric seal element to improve the fluid flow restriction. The flapper and seat assembly is also biased upward by a pressure differential from below to above the flapper, to thereby increase the flapper to valve seat pressure as the fluid pressure differential increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Hejl, W. David Henderson, W. Mark Richards
  • Patent number: 7152688
    Abstract: A positioning tool for moving an element in a flow path of a down hole system without actuating a pressure actuated device in the system. The positioning device includes a choke for restricting flow of fluid between the positioning device and the down hole system, a flow diversion path from the upper end of the positioning device to a lower end of the positioning device, and a valve allowing fluid to flow through the diversion path when the choke is proximate the pressure actuated device and blocking flow of through the diversion path when the choke is displaced from the pressure actuated device. The down hole system may be a flapper type fluid loss device with a pressure actuated opening prop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Mark Richards