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).

  • Publication number: 20140083690
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy R. TIPS, William M. RICHARDS
  • Publication number: 20140083684
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy R. TIPS, William M. RICHARDS
  • Publication number: 20140014373
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: William M. Richards
  • Patent number: 8474535
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, John C. Gano
  • Publication number: 20130025880
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, Cody T. Krupala
  • Patent number: 7909095
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, William D. Henderson
  • Patent number: 7866405
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, Tommy F. Grigsby
  • Patent number: 7837232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: William M. Richards
  • Patent number: 7802621
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, Ronald G. Dusterhoft, William D. Henderson, Travis T. Hailey, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100018697
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, Tommy F. Grigsby
  • Patent number: 7594763
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, Paul D. Ringgenberg, Cynthia S. Tuckness, Chester S. McVay
  • Publication number: 20090151925
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Richards, John C. Gano
  • Patent number: 7469743
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Richards
  • Publication number: 20080041588
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: William M. Richards, William D. Henderson, Geirmund Saetre, Floyd R. Simonds, William J. Martin
  • Publication number: 20070222202
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventor: William M. Richards
  • Patent number: 5549161
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Alfredo Gomez, William M. Richards, Douglas J. Murray
  • Patent number: 5431412
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul A. Reinhardt, William M. Richards, Daniel E. Dinhoble