Patents by Inventor William Befeld

William Befeld 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: 9745808
    Abstract: An anchoring system for use with a downhole tool includes a body with anchor members mounted on the body that pivot radially outward from the body and into engagement with an inner surface of a tubular. Curved slots are provided along a portion of the members and a sliding block has a protrusion that projects into the slots. The slots are curved so that when the block is urged axially within the body, the interaction between the slots and protrusions pivots the members radially outward. A piston is urged through the body to drive the block. Optionally, an elongate helical gear may cooperate with grooves formed in an edge of the members so that rotating the gear pivots the members radially outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Andreas Peter, Matthias Moeller, Christian Weiner, Ulrich Michael, William Befeld
  • Publication number: 20150184475
    Abstract: An anchoring system for use with a downhole tool includes a body with anchor members mounted on the body that pivot radially outward from the body and into engagement with an inner surface of a tubular. Curved slots are provided along a portion of the members and a sliding block has a protrusion that projects into the slots. The slots are curved so that when the block is urged axially within the body, the interaction between the slots and protrusions pivots the members radially outward. A piston is urged through the body to drive the block. Optionally, an elongate helical gear may cooperate with grooves formed in an edge of the members so that rotating the gear pivots the members radially outward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Andreas Peter, Matthias Moeller, Christian Weiner, Ulrich Michael, William Befeld
  • Patent number: 9010446
    Abstract: An anchoring system for use with a downhole tool includes a body with anchor members mounted on the body that pivot radially outward from the body and into engagement with an inner surface of a tubular. Curved slots are provided along a portion of the members and a sliding block has a protrusion that projects into the slots. The slots are curved so that when the block is urged axially within the body, the interaction between the slots and protrusions pivots the members radially outward. A piston is urged through the body to drive the block. Optionally, an elongate helical gear may cooperate with grooves formed in an edge of the members so that rotating the gear pivots the members radially outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Andreas Peter, Matthias Moeller, Christian Weiner, Ulrich Michael, William Befeld
  • Patent number: 8899322
    Abstract: Autonomous control of a wellbore tool is provided by programming a memory module of a processor with a database having data relating to a selected parameter of interest; conveying a sensor and the processor along the wellbore; and activating the wellbore tool if the processor determines that a measurement provided by the sensor correlates with the database data. The processor may correlate the sensor measurements with a predetermined pattern associated with the data, a preset value, and/or a preset range of values. Well tool activation may occur when the processor finds: a substantial match between a predetermined pattern and at least one measured value; a present value and at least one measured value, and/or a preset range of values and at least one measured range of values. Also, activating the well tool may occur only if a measurement from a second sensor meets a preset criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary J. Cresswell, William Befeld, Robert Estes
  • Publication number: 20120273199
    Abstract: A bridge plug assembly having a nickel titanium alloy flexible member that can be selectively radially expanded so its outer surface sealingly engages a surrounding tubular. The flexible member can comprise an annular membrane like member having coaxial rings on the opposing ends of the flexible member. The percentage of weight of nickel can range up to about 40 to about 58%, 55% or to about 60%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary Cresswell, Freeman Hill, William Befeld, Gregory Rinberg, Dan Raz, Michael Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20120211245
    Abstract: An anchoring system for use with a downhole tool includes a body with anchor members mounted on the body that pivot radially outward from the body and into engagement with an inner surface of a tubular. Curved slots are provided along a portion of the members and a sliding block has a protrusion that projects into the slots. The slots are curved so that when the block is urged axially within the body, the interaction between the slots and protrusions pivots the members radially outward. A piston is urged through the body to drive the block. Optionally, an elongate helical gear may cooperate with grooves formed in an edge of the members so that rotating the gear pivots the members radially outward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karsten Fuhst, Andreas Peter, Matthias Moeller, Christian Weiner, Ulrich Michael, William Befeld
  • Publication number: 20110017475
    Abstract: A bridge plug assembly that can be set in a wellbore tubular using wellbore pressure to form a pressure differential on a piston that actuates sliding members. A resilient member, such as a spring, is compressed from a downhole pressure differential. The bridge plug assembly can be removed by equalizing pressure across the piston and the spring. The spring can expand and re-stow the expanded plug. The plug can be formed from a nickel titanium alloy flexible member that can be selectively radially expanded so its outer surface sealingly engages a surrounding tubular. The percentage of weight of nickel can range up to about 40 to about 58%, 55% or to about 60%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary Cresswell, Freeman Hill, William Befeld, Gregory Rinberg, Dan Raz, Michael Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20100288512
    Abstract: A bridge plug assembly having a mandrel and an annular flexible member that is selectively fashioned into a volute that extends radially outward from the mandrel for isolating a portion of a tubular. In an example, a web member is provided that runs between the flexible member and the mandrel, and exits an end of the flexible member. Pulling the web member inverts an end of the flexible member rolling the sidewall of the flexible member into a volute. In another embodiment, upper and lower series of collars circumscribe the mandrel that when pushed towards one another axially squeeze the flexible member therebetween to outwardly bulge the flexible member into contact with a tubular. Continued force applied to the collars causes the flexible member to roll into a volute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gregory Rinberg, Dan Raz, Michael Goldstein, Gary Cresswell, Freeman Hill, William Befeld
  • Publication number: 20080257546
    Abstract: Autonomous control of a wellbore tool is provided by programming a memory module of a processor with a database having data relating to a selected parameter of interest; conveying a sensor and the processor along the wellbore; and activating the wellbore tool if the processor determines that a measurement provided by the sensor correlates with the database data. The processor may correlate the sensor measurements with a predetermined pattern associated with the data, a preset value, and/or a preset range of values. Well tool activation may occur when the processor finds: a substantial match between a predetermined pattern and at least one measured value; a present value and at least one measured value, and/or a preset range of values and at least one measured range of values. Also, activating the well tool may occur only if a measurement from a second sensor meets a preset criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary J. Cresswell, William Befeld, Robert Estes
  • Publication number: 20080105423
    Abstract: A method for determining depth in a wellbore uses inertial navigation in conjunction with a database having one or more measured parameters correlated with depth. The measured parameter may be the lengths of stands forming a drill string, prior survey data relating to a naturally occurring feature such as formation lithology, or data relating to a human made feature such as collars in a casing string. The downhole processor may use accelerometer measurements to calculate a measured depth of a BHA and access the database to retrieve a predicted depth that corresponds with one or more sensor measurements (e.g., motion indicating the addition of a stand to a drill string). Thereafter, if the downhole processor determines that the predicted depth is in agreement with the calculated depth, the processor stores the predicted depth and/or associates the predicted depth with directional surveys taken along the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert Estes, Jerry Cerkovnik, Gary Cresswell, William Befeld