Patents by Inventor William Banning Vail, III
William Banning Vail, III 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).
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Publication number: 20150315863Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: SMART DRILLING AND COMPLETION, INC.Inventors: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL III, ROBERT L. DEKLE, DAMIR S. SKERL, JAMES E. CHITWOOD
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Publication number: 20150292265Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: SMART DRILLING AND COMPLETION, INC.Inventor: WILLIAM BANNING VAIL, III
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Patent number: 9051781Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Patent number: 9027673Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, Damir S. Skerl, James E. Chitwood
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Publication number: 20150083500Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Tomislav Skerl, Damir S. Skerl
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Publication number: 20140196953Abstract: A drilling apparatus comprised of a multiplicity of subassemblies for drilling an open-hole extension from within an existing cased borehole located in a geological formation for the production of oil and gas. In one embodiment, one subassembly includes a motor located within a cased section of the borehole that rotates a drill pipe segment attached to a rotary drill bit in the open-hole to drill the open-hole extension of the well. In another embodiment, a shroud encloses the motor located within the cased portion of the well that is used to control the mud flow to and from the bit in the open-hole during the drilling process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland
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Publication number: 20140088364Abstract: The Personal Pelvic Viewer™, abbreviated PPV™, is a hand-held instrument which a woman may place by herself into her own vagina to conveniently view images of the interior of her vagina, cervix, external os and other anatomical organs. The PPV provides a convenient instrument that allows a lone female to observe the interior of her own vagina and related organs in total privacy for educational purposes, to determine her own fertility, and to observe her sexual response. Different types of tubular Personal Pelvic Viewers may be used by a lone female to view the interior of her vagina by using a mirror and a hand-held light. The slotted elongated tubular shaped personal pelvic viewer is particularly well suited for simultaneously examining the paraurethral sponge, the Skene's glands, and the urethra during orgasm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Patent number: 8651177Abstract: A well conveyance apparatus for conveying equipment into a wellbore possessing long-lasting movable and slidable hydraulic seals against the interior of a borehole casing located within a wellbore in a geological formation in the earth that is caused to move by the application of pressurized wellbore fluids against the seals. The seals are allowed to rotate on bearings about the tool mandrel to prevent the build-up of torque on the seals to minimize wear and to extend the life of the seals. Vibratory means are attached to the tool mandrel to vibrate the sealing portion of the seals, so as the extend the life of the seals and to minimize wear of the seals. Sensor arrays provide information to a computer system that is used to control the vibratory means, pressure relief valves, and other parameters to minimize wear of the hydraulic seals.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, James E. Chitwood, Damir S. Skerl
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Patent number: 8353348Abstract: Method and required apparatus to provide the closed-loop feedback control of a remote electric motor that has specific required operating parameters which is used to turn a rotary drill bit to drill a borehole in the earth that receives electrical energy through a long umbilical possessing insulated electrical conduits that includes the steps of measuring a set of electrical parameters with a multiplicity of sensors located near the electric motor, sending that measured information to a computer on the surface of the earth, comparing the measured information with the required operating parameters within the computer, adjusting an uphole power generator system to adjust its electrical output parameters to provide electrical energy to a portion of the umbilical located on the surface of the earth, repeating the measurements and adjustments to provide the closed-loop feedback control of the electric motor having specific required operating parameters.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Smart Drilling and Completion, Inc.Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland
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Publication number: 20120234603Abstract: A longer-lasting, lower cost, more powerful, all metal, mud motor than the presently available progressing cavity type mud motors for drilling boreholes into the earth. A mud motor apparatus possessing one single drive shaft that turns a rotary drill bit, which apparatus is attached to a drill pipe which provides high pressure mud to the mud motor, wherein the drive shaft receives at least a first portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a first hydraulic chamber within the apparatus, and receives at least a second portion of its rotational torque from any high pressure mud flowing through a second hydraulic chamber within the apparatus. The mud motor apparatus possesses two hydraulic chambers, each having its own power stroke, and return stroke, and acting together in a controlled fashion, provide continuous power to a rotary drill bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Publication number: 20120043134Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for the efficient installation a cemented steel cased well wherein the drill string and the drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass down into the earth. The normal mud passages or watercourses present in the rotary drill bit are used for the second independent purpose of passing cement into the annulus between the casing and the well while cementing the drill string into place during one single pass into the earth. A one-way cement valve is installed near the drill bit of the drill string that allows the cement to set up efficiently under ambiently hydrostatic conditions while the drill string and drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass into the earth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Publication number: 20110214920Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to drill and complete wellbores. Such wellbores include extended reach horizontal wellbores, for example in shales, deep subsea extended reach wellbores, and multilateral wellbores. Specifically, the invention provides simple threaded subassemblies that are added to existing threaded tubular drilling and completion equipment which are used to dramatically increase the lateral reach using that existing on-site equipment. These subassemblies extract power from downward flowing clean mud, or other fluids, in an annulus to provide additional force or torque on tubular elements within the wellbore, while maintaining circulation, to extend the lateral reach of the drilling equipment and completion equipment. These added elements include combinations of The Leaky Seal™, a Cross-Over, The Force Sub™ and The Torque Sub™. The use of such additional simple elements allow lighter drilling equipment to be used to reach a given lateral distance, therefore reducing drilling costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, Damir S. Skerl, James E. Chitwood
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Publication number: 20110079439Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for the efficient installation a cemented steel cased well wherein the drill string and the drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass down into the earth. The normal mud passages or watercourses present in the rotary drill bit are used for the second independent purpose of passing cement into the annulus between the casing and the well while cementing the drill string into place during one single pass into the earth. A one-way cement valve is installed near the drill bit of the drill string that allows the cement to set up efficiently under ambiently hydrostatic conditions while the drill string and drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass into the earth.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Publication number: 20110036560Abstract: A well conveyance apparatus for conveying equipment into a wellbore possessing long-lasting movable and slidable hydraulic seals against the interior of a borehole casing located within a wellbore in a geological formation in the earth that is caused to move by the application of pressurized wellbore fluids against the seals. The seals are allowed to rotate on bearings about the tool mandrel to prevent the build-up of torque on the seals to minimize wear and to extend the life of the seals. Vibratory means are attached to the tool mandrel to vibrate the sealing portion of the seals, so as the extend the life of the seals and to minimize wear of the seals. Sensor arrays provide information to a computer system that is used to control the vibratory means, pressure relief valves, and other parameters to minimize wear of the hydraulic seals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Robert L. Dekle, James E. Chitwood, Damir S. Skerl
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Patent number: 7836950Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for conveying an electrically energized hydraulic pump into a wellbore surrounded by steel casing and thereafter using that hydraulic pump to pump oil, water and gas to the surface of the earth. The apparatus may be used as a well tractor conveyance system to service a perforated steel cased wellbore located in a geological formation that incorporates means to prevent any reverse fluid flow into the geological formation through any perforations in the steel cased wellbore during movement within the wellbore of the tractor conveyance means.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, James E. Chitwood
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Patent number: 7820210Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to prevent, treat, and cure chemotherapy induced nausea in human beings. The inhalation of an effective amount of vaporized essential oil from Mentha piperita (peppermint oil) has been shown in practice to prevent, treat, and cure chemotherapy induced nausea. A simple hand-held apparatus provides the vapors to be inhaled through the nostril to prevent, treat, and cure chemotherapy induced nausea.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Inhalation, Inc.Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Marilyn L. Vail
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Publication number: 20100012320Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for the efficient installation of a cemented steel cased well wherein the drill string and the drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass down into the earth. Methods of operation are described wherein at least one geophysical parameter is measured with a geophysical parameter sensing member located within the drill string. A one-way cement valve is installed near the drill bit of the drill string that allows the cement to set up efficiently under ambient hydrostatic conditions while the drill string and drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass into the earth.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Publication number: 20090308656Abstract: Method and required apparatus to provide the closed-loop feedback control of a remote electric motor that has specific required operating parameters which is used to turn a rotary drill bit to drill a borehole in the earth that receives electrical energy through a long umbilical possessing insulated electrical conduits that includes the steps of measuring a set of electrical parameters with a multiplicity of sensors located near the electric motor, sending that measured information to a computer on the surface of the earth, comparing the measured information with the required operating parameters within the computer, adjusting an uphole power generator system to adjust its electrical output parameters to provide electrical energy to a portion of the umbilical located on the surface of the earth, repeating the measurements and adjustments to provide the closed-loop feedback control of the electric motor having specific required operating parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventors: James E. Chitwood, William Banning Vail, III, Damir S. Skerl, Robert L. Dekle, William G. Crossland
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Publication number: 20090194338Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for the efficient installation a cemented steel cased well wherein the drill string and the drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass down into the earth. The normal mud passages or watercourses present in the rotary drill bit are used for the second independent purpose of passing cement into the annulus between the casing and the well while cementing the drill string into place during one single pass into the earth. A one-way cement valve is installed near the drill bit of the drill string that allows the cement to set up efficiently under ambiently hydrostatic conditions while the drill string and drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass into the earth.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
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Publication number: 20090143646Abstract: The Personal Pelvic Viewer™, abbreviated PPV™, is a hand-held instrument which a woman may place by herself into her own vagina to conveniently view images of the interior of her vagina, cervix, and external os. The PPV provides a convenient instrument that allows a lone female to observe the interior of her own vagina in total privacy for educational purposes, to determine her own fertility, and to observe her sexual response. Different types of tubular Personal Pelvic Viewers may be used by a lone female to view the interior of her vagina by using a mirror and a hand-held light. Those images may also be recorded with a camera or video camera. Other types of Personal Pelvic Viewers incorporate a sealed video camera and use wireless communications to display images of the interior of the vagina on a television set or video monitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: June 4, 2009Inventor: William Banning Vail, III