Patents by Inventor William M. Richards
William M. 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).
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Publication number: 20140083690Abstract: A system for use with a well having multiple zones can include multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between a completion string and respective ones of the zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the completion string and at least one of the zones, multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the well screens. A completion string for use in a subterranean well can include at least one well screen, at least one flow control device which selectively prevents and permits substantially unrestricted flow through the well screen, and at least one other flow control device which is remotely operable, and which variably restricts flow through the well screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Timothy R. TIPS, William M. RICHARDS
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Publication number: 20140083684Abstract: A system for use with a well having multiple zones can include multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between a tubing string and respective ones of the zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the tubing string and at least one of the zones, multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the well screens. A tubing string for use in a subterranean well can include at least one well screen, at least one flow control device which selectively prevents and permits substantially unrestricted flow through the well screen, and at least one other flow control device which is remotely operable, and which variably restricts flow through the well screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Inventors: Timothy R. TIPS, William M. RICHARDS
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Publication number: 20140014373Abstract: A clamp system for use with a wellbore tubular comprises a wellbore tubular having a circumferential groove and a clamp, and the circumferential groove is configured to retain the clamp within the circumferential groove. The clamp system can be used to secure a control line to a wellbore tubular, which can comprise retaining the control line to an outside of a wellbore tubular that comprises the circumferential groove and resisting a force applied to the control line by transferring the force to the circumferential groove.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventor: William M. Richards
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Patent number: 8474535Abstract: A well screen inflow control device with check valve flow controls. A well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a flow control device which varies a resistance to flow of fluid in response to a change in velocity of the fluid. Another well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a flow resistance device which decreases a resistance to flow of fluid in response to a predetermined stimulus applied from a remote location. Yet another well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a valve including an actuator having a piston which displaces in response to a pressure differential to thereby selectively permit and prevent flow of fluid through the valve.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: William M. Richards, John C. Gano
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Publication number: 20130025880Abstract: A method of traversing a travel joint with a line can include, after the travel joint has been installed in a well, activating a connector which provides sealed fluid communication between sections of the line on respective opposite sides of the travel joint. A travel joint system for use with a subterranean well can include a travel joint comprising a releasing device which permits relative displacement between sections of the travel joint, and a connector which provides fluid communication between sections of a line.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: William M. Richards, Cody T. Krupala
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Patent number: 7909095Abstract: A valve device and associated methods of selectively communicating between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string. A valve device includes an openable and closable flowpath for selectively permitting and preventing flow between an interior and exterior of the valve device, and a lock assembly which prevents the flowpath from being opened greater than a predetermined number of times. A method of testing at least one annular seal in an annulus formed between a tubular string and a wellbore wall includes the steps of: sealingly engaging the annular seal to thereby prevent flow through the annulus across the annular seal; and applying a pressure differential across the annular seal to thereby test the annular seal, the pressure differential being applied via a valve device interconnected in the tubular string.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: William M. Richards, William D. Henderson
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Patent number: 7866405Abstract: Systems and methods for securing lines to well sand control screens. A method of securing at least one line to a tubular string includes connecting together longitudinal ends of longitudinal sections of the tubular string; then wrapping a shroud circumferentially about the connected tubular string sections; and securing the line to the shroud. A well screen assembly includes a generally tubular filter portion, a shroud wrapped circumferentially about the filter portion, and a retainer which connects opposite circumferential ends of the shroud to each other without being welded to at least one of the shroud ends, with the retainer being positioned on an interior of the shroud. Another well screen assembly includes multiple longitudinal sections of a tubular string, at least one of the longitudinal sections comprising a well screen, and a shroud wrapped circumferentially about the tubular string sections and rotationally secured to the tubular string.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: William M. Richards, Tommy F. Grigsby
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Patent number: 7837232Abstract: A hand held protective ski appliance including a ski no longer than 18? inches long and including a handle extensive with the direction of the ski and spaced therefrom about 3? inches.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Inventor: William M. Richards
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Patent number: 7802621Abstract: Inflow control devices for sand control screens. A well screen includes a filter portion and at least two flow restrictors configured in series, so that fluid which flows through the filter portion must flow through each of the flow restrictors. At least two tubular flow restrictors may be configured in series, with the flow restrictors being positioned so that fluid which flows through the filter portion must reverse direction twice to flow between the flow restrictors. A method of installing a well screen includes the step of accessing a flow restrictor by removing a portion of an inflow control device of the screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2006Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: William M. Richards, Ronald G. Dusterhoft, William D. Henderson, Travis T. Hailey, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100018697Abstract: Systems and methods for securing lines to well sand control screens. A method of securing at least one line to a tubular string includes connecting together longitudinal ends of longitudinal sections of the tubular string; then wrapping a shroud circumferentially about the connected tubular string sections; and securing the line to the shroud. A well screen assembly includes a generally tubular filter portion, a shroud wrapped circumferentially about the filter portion, and a retainer which connects opposite circumferential ends of the shroud to each other without being welded to at least one of the shroud ends, with the retainer being positioned on an interior of the shroud. Another well screen assembly includes multiple longitudinal sections of a tubular string, at least one of the longitudinal sections comprising a well screen, and a shroud wrapped circumferentially about the tubular string sections and rotationally secured to the tubular string.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2008Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: William M. Richards, Tommy F. Grigsby
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Patent number: 7594763Abstract: A fiber optic delivery system and side pocket mandrel removal system. In one example, a system for making optical connections in a well includes an optical connector positioned in the well, and another optical connector displaceable into operative connection with the first optical connector after the first optical connector is positioned in the well. In another example, a method of making optical connections in a well includes the steps of: positioning a tubular string in the well; then installing an assembly in the tubular string, the assembly including an optical connector; and then displacing the optical connector into operative engagement with another optical connector in the tubular string.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: William M. Richards, Paul D. Ringgenberg, Cynthia S. Tuckness, Chester S. McVay
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Publication number: 20090151925Abstract: A well screen inflow control device with check valve flow controls. A well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a flow control device which varies a resistance to flow of fluid in response to a change in velocity of the fluid. Another well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a flow resistance device which decreases a resistance to flow of fluid in response to a predetermined stimulus applied from a remote location. Yet another well screen assembly includes a filter portion and a valve including an actuator having a piston which displaces in response to a pressure differential to thereby selectively permit and prevent flow of fluid through the valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services Inc.Inventors: William M. Richards, John C. Gano
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Patent number: 7469743Abstract: Inflow control devices for sand control screens. A well screen includes a filter portion and at least one flow restrictor configured so that fluid which flows through the filter portion also flows through the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor includes at least one tube which forces the fluid to change momentum within the tube. An inflow control device for restricting flow into a passage of a tubular string in a wellbore includes at least one flow restrictor configured so that fluid flows between the passage and the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor includes at least one tube which forces the fluid to change momentum within the tube.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: William M. Richards
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Publication number: 20080041588Abstract: Inflow control devices for sand control screens. An inflow control device for restricting flow into a passage of a tubular string in a wellbore includes at least two of a flow restrictor section, a fluid discriminator section and a reverse flow preventer section, and the inflow control device is configured so that fluid which flows between an exterior of the tubular string and the passage also flows through each of the at least two sections. A well screen or liner includes a filter or inlet portion and an inflow control device including a flow restrictor section, a fluid discriminator section, and a reverse flow preventer section, the inflow control device being configured so that fluid which flows through the filter portion also flows through the flow restrictor, fluid discriminator and reverse flow preventer sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventors: William M. Richards, William D. Henderson, Geirmund Saetre, Floyd R. Simonds, William J. Martin
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Publication number: 20070222202Abstract: A hand held protective ski appliance including a ski no longer than 18? inches long and including a handle extensive with the direction of the ski and spaced therefrom about 3? inches.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Inventor: William M. Richards
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Patent number: 5549161Abstract: A shifting tool is disclosed which allows movement of a shifting sleeve, to be followed by an additional force applied to ensure complete stroking of the shifting sleeve. This is accomplished by a shifting key to normally shift the shifting sleeve, followed by an overpull key which engages while the shifting key is still engaged. Once a predetermined force has been applied to the overpull key, the force applied from the surface is removed so that the tool may disengage from the sleeve. Subsequent manipulation, without necessarily any removal from the wellbore, if it does not result in a reengagement, provides feedback that the shifting sleeve has, in fact, shifted its full stroke. An emergency release is available which actuated by an overpull force beyond a predetermined level, applied while the overpull key is engaged for an emergency release from the shifting sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1995Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Alfredo Gomez, William M. Richards, Douglas J. Murray
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Patent number: 5431412Abstract: The invention comprises a uniquely shaped sealing element or elements for a packer. In an application using a stack of elements, the upper element is configured so that at least a portion of its inside diameter represents an interference fit with the mandrel onto which it is mounted. A built-in moment within the packing element occurs as a result of the partial interference fit. Additionally, a taper is provided which, in effect, shifts the point of contact of the upper element closer to a central element, tending to better give extrusion support to the central element. The taper also facilitates the creation of a resistive moment which fights the tendency of the upper element to extrude in the upper outermost corner of the upper element, for example. The central element can also be installed on a mandrel with interference throughout its length to create a built-in radial force urging the element back into its original shape after it is expanded and allowed to relax.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1993Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Paul A. Reinhardt, William M. Richards, Daniel E. Dinhoble