Patents Issued in November 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9810018
    Abstract: An elastic cord device for use in combination with a window covering device of the type comprising a pulley, a plurality of lift cords, a head rail, the lift cords used to raise and lower a window covering material. The elastic cord device can have a spiral helical shape. The elastic cord device is exposed and accessible so that the elastic cord device can be pulled to raise and lower the window covering material. A window covering device comprising an elastic cord device, a head rail, a pulley, window covering material and lift cords; the elastic cord device is used to operate the window covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: David Louis Jaggli
  • Patent number: 9810019
    Abstract: A roller tube comprising a tube body which defines on its outwardly facing surface one or more blind substrate or shutter substrate receiving portions, wherein the tube body includes a plurality of sound damping elements located circumferentially around its inwardly facing surface, the sound damping elements extending longitudinally along at least part of the length of the tube body and defining a plurality of sound channels inside the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Louver-Lite Limited
    Inventors: Antony Barnes, Andrew Greening
  • Patent number: 9810020
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment may provide a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment may include a covering material (e.g., a cellular shade fabric or a roller shade fabric), a drive assembly for raising and lowering the covering material, and a motor drive unit including a motor configured to drive the drive assembly to raise and lower the covering material. The motorized window treatment may comprise one or more battery packs configured to receive batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The batteries may be located out of view of a user of the motorized window treatment (e.g., in a headrail or in a battery compartment). The motorized window treatment may use various power-saving methods to lengthen the lifetime of the batteries, e.g., to reduce the motor speed to conserve additional battery power and extend the lifetime of the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Edward J. Blair, Andrew Karl Cooney, Soumya Jain, David A. Kirby, Stephen Lundy, Justin J. Mierta, Daniel W. Mistarz, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Peter W. Ogden, Jr., Jonathan L. Roe, Chen Ming Wu, Justin M. Zernhelt, Samuel F. Chambers
  • Patent number: 9810021
    Abstract: A thermal expansion and contraction system secures cables to a ladder rung. The thermal expansion and contraction system includes a cable grip secured to the ladder rung. The cable grip includes a protective grommet for holding cables to the ladder rung, a metal plate and wire forms to secure the protective grommet to the metal plate. The thermal expansion and contraction system also includes a cable divider secured to the ladder rung to maintaining separation of cables and a cable containment clamp secured to the ladder rung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: David J. Sylvester, Rodney G. Rouleau, Samuel C. Ramey, Shaun P. Brouwer, Scott K. Benedict
  • Patent number: 9810022
    Abstract: A tool holder support structure is disclosed that may include a longitudinal support portion extending between a first end and a second end; a first brace connected to the first end, and a second brace slidably connected to the longitudinal support portion. The tool holder may include at least one threaded rod with at least one clamp surface, and a tool holder base connected to the longitudinal support portion, the tool holder base may include a tool holder opening for receiving a tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Lawrence Ayala
  • Patent number: 9810023
    Abstract: A climbing system for inhibiting a ladder from tipping includes a ladder that may be climbed. A platform is provided and the platform may be positioned on a support surface. The ladder is removably coupled to the platform such that the platform inhibits the ladder from tipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Craig Stewart
  • Patent number: 9810024
    Abstract: A drill system, a machine, and a method of operating the same, are disclosed. In one aspect, a machine includes a machine frame coupled to at least one ground engaging element, a power source configured to generate a power output for driving the at least one ground engaging element, and a cabin structure coupled to the machine frame and having an overhead portion configured to provide overhead protection to an operator. The machine further including a boom coupled to the overhead portion of the cabin structure and a drill assembly moveably coupled to the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC
    Inventor: Naveen Koka
  • Patent number: 9810025
    Abstract: A method of hydraulically activating a mechanically operated wellbore tool in a bottom hole assembly includes: holding moveable elements of the wellbore tool in an unactivated position using a shear pin; inserting one or more drop balls into a drilling fluid; and flowing the drilling fluid with the drop balls to a flow orifice located in or below the wellbore tool. The flow orifice is at least partially plugged with the drop balls to restrict fluid flow and correspondingly increases the hydraulic pressure of the drilling fluid. The hydraulic pressure is increased to a point beyond the rating of the shear pin, thereby causing the shear pin to shear and allowing the moveable elements of the tool to move to an activated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Mageren, Khac Nguyen Che
  • Patent number: 9810026
    Abstract: A fixed-cutter earth-boring tool includes a first blade substantially comprising a first material having a first elastic modulus at a temperature, and a second blade substantially comprising a second material having a second elastic modulus at the temperature. The second elastic modulus is different from the first elastic modulus. A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes forming a bit body having a plurality of blades, and providing at least one cutting element on at least one of the plurality of blades. Some fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bits include a first blade exhibiting a first deflection when subjected to a load, and a second blade exhibiting a second deflection when subjected to the load. The first deflection may be a continuous function of the load, and the second deflection may be a discontinuous function of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Anton F. Zahradnik
  • Patent number: 9810027
    Abstract: The drilling rig includes a first substructure and a second substructure. The second substructure is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the first substructure and generally the same height as the first substructure. The drilling rig further includes a drill floor coupled to the first and second substructures, where the drill floor positioned substantially at the top of the first and second substructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling USA, LP
    Inventors: Padira Reddy, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 9810028
    Abstract: An improved gap sub assembly that can withstand the rigors of directional drilling, while still being cost effective and easy to deploy at the drill site. Embodiments can be assembled by sliding a mandrel into a housing without any threading or clocking, filling the gap between the housing and mandrel with an electrically isolating material, and curing the electrically isolating material to mechanically couple the housing and mandrel. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise a plurality of complimentary axial sections having staggered diameters so that a constant dielectric gap is maintained. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise non-overlapping right- and/or left-handed helical grooves that, when filled with a cured electrically insulating material, forms a complex 3D shear resistance mechanism optimized to resist torsion or twisting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Vadim Minosyan, Peter Harvey
  • Patent number: 9810029
    Abstract: Drill string components having a thread extending around a body that have a configuration that resists jamming and cross-threading. A leading end of the thread includes a planar surface normal to the body that provides an abrupt transition to full thread depth to help reduce or eliminate cross-threading. When complementary male and female threads are similarly structured, the mating threads slide together along an interface at the thread start face and are drawn into a fully thread-coupled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BLY IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Drenth, Keith William Littlely
  • Patent number: 9810030
    Abstract: A housing for a mud motor is disclosed. The housing comprises a female member comprising a female mating section and a male member comprising a male mating section and a housing section. The male mating section is matingly received within the female mating section. The collar is positioned on the housing section. The collar is made up of a framework with a plurality of discrete bodies spaced about the framework and a portion of each of the discrete bodies protrudes above the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron W. Logan, Kevin Kalman, Vincent Gille Berube, Daniel W. Ahmoye
  • Patent number: 9810031
    Abstract: Coiled tubing optimized for long, horizontal completions is provided. The tubing comprises a body portion; at least two tapered portions, each tapered portion defining distal ends spaced apart from one another; and at least one bias weld portion. In some embodiments, the tapered portions are located between the body portion and the bias weld. The tubing has a weld thickness in the bias weld portion(s), a body thickness in the body portion, and a taper thickness in the tapered portions; generally, the thickness of the bias weld portion is greater than the body portion thickness. The wall thickness transitions from one end of each tapered portion to the other end of the same tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Global Tubing LLC
    Inventor: Neal A. Lux
  • Patent number: 9810032
    Abstract: A spooling system for deploying cable, hose, and/or umbilical connections may include a drum, an air motor, a sheave having one or more sensor, and an electronic control unit coupled to an electro-pneumatic drive for controlling the system. The sensors may provide information to the electronic control unit, such as a measured line tension and/or a length of cable, hose or umbilical connection that has been deployed, and the information may be displayed on the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit also may allow an operator to rotate the reel, stop rotation of the reel, increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the reel, increase or decrease pressure and/or line tension, and/or select between a normal mode of operation and a tensioning mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PATCO Machine & Fab., Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Dion
  • Patent number: 9810033
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing subsea drilling operations. An example method may include receiving drilling fluid from a drilling fluid source at a first pressure by a pressure exchanger located within a subsea environment and receiving seawater from the subsea environment at a second pressure by the pressure exchanger to increase pressure of the drilling fluid within the pressure exchanger to a third pressure. The second and third pressures are substantially greater than the first pressure. The method may further include discharging the drilling fluid from the pressure exchanger into piping to communicate the drilling fluid to a drill forming a wellbore in a seabed and discharging the seawater from the pressure exchanger into the subsea environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rod William Shampine, David Milton Eslinger
  • Patent number: 9810034
    Abstract: A tool equalizes a packer or bridge plug before it can release the slips and sealing element of the packer or bridge plug with a reconfigurable grip tool. In one configuration the grip tool is latched only into the equalizing mechanism for the packer or bridge plug. Having equalized the pressure and while still latched to the equalization mechanism the tool is reconfigured with a force and locked into a second configuration. From that position the grip tool can latch and move the release mechanism for total release and retrieval to the surface. Release force undermines a ratchet lock for the slips to allow extension as the sealing element extends axially and radially retracts. If the slips fail to release with undermining of the ratchet lock then a set down force can be applied to re-engage the lower slip cone to push it from the lower slips for a release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery S. Pray, Antonio C. Ruffo, David S. Bishop, Kent S. Meyer, Graeme M. Kelbie
  • Patent number: 9810035
    Abstract: A disposable setting tool (12) has a mandrel (18) and a barrel piston (16). The mandrel (18) has a power charge chamber (68), an intermediate section (76) having an exterior (80) of uniform circumference, and a lower section (96) having a lower exterior (98) of uniform circumference. The lower exterior (98) is in fluid communication with the power charge chamber (68). The barrel piston (16) has a tubular body (116) with an enclosed lower end (134), and a central portion (128) with a uniform interior circumference (130) for slidably receiving the intermediate exterior (80) and the lower exterior (98) of the mandrel (18). An annular-shaped space (94) is defined to extend between the central portion (128) of the barrel piston (16) and the lower exterior (98) of the mandrel (18). The enclosed lower end (134) of the barrel piston (16) has a bore (136) for slidably receiving the lower exterior (98) of said mandrel (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Diamondback Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy L Carr, Derrek D Drury, Trea H Baker
  • Patent number: 9810036
    Abstract: In a fracking context the object that will ultimately block a passage in an isolation device is introduced into the zone with the bottom hole assembly. The object is not released until the guns fire to create a pressure spike in the borehole that triggers the object retaining device to release the object. The retaining device is placed in close proximity to the isolation device and its setting tool to allow a larger object and passage in the isolation device to be used. If the guns misfire, the object is not released and comes out with the guns. The replacement guns can be pumped in because the passage in the isolation device has stayed open during the misfire. Direct and indirect object release in response to pressure created from the firing of the guns is contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes
    Inventors: Jason C. Mailand, Daniel S. Matthews, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 9810037
    Abstract: A tool for use in a wellbore comprising a seal assembly and a cone member configured to force the seal assembly radially outward into engagement with the wellbore. A shear thickening fluid is disposed within an area formed between the seal assembly and the cone member. The shear thickening fluid is configured to prevent relative movement between the cone member and the seal assembly when the shear thickening fluid is changed from a substantially fluid state to a substantially solid state due to a sudden force applied to the shear thickening fluid, by release of a sheared mechanism for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9810038
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a back pressure valve configured to mount in a mineral extraction system. The back pressure valve includes a body comprising a venting port coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the body, a plunger configured to be in sealing engagement with the body to seal the venting port, and a lock ring disposed about the body, wherein the lock ring is configured to automatically expand radially upon removal of a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: John Joseph Cocker, III
  • Patent number: 9810039
    Abstract: Disclosed are subsurface safety valves having a reduced spread between opening and closing pressures. One safety valve includes a housing having a piston bore defined therein and configured to receive hydraulic fluid pressure, the piston bore providing an upper bore having a first diameter, a lower bore having a second diameter, and an intermediate bore interposing the upper and lower bores and having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is greater than the second diameter and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter, and a piston assembly movably arranged within the piston bore and comprising an upper piston operatively coupled to a lower piston, wherein the upper piston sealingly engages the upper bore and the lower piston sealingly engages the lower bore, wherein, when the upper piston is arranged in the intermediate bore, the hydraulic fluid pressure acts on the lower piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Dan Vick, Jr., Bruce Edward Scott
  • Patent number: 9810040
    Abstract: Methods for inhibiting scale formation in a hydrocarbon well that includes a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation and a selective-release scale inhibitor located within a portion of the subterranean formation. The methods include locating a selective-release scale inhibitor within a portion of the subterranean formation and producing a reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation via the hydrocarbon well, including facilitating a change in environmental conditions present within the portion of the subterranean formation from initial environmental conditions to subsequent environmental conditions. Under the initial environmental conditions, the selective-release scale inhibitor is insoluble both in hydrocarbons and in water. Under the subsequent environmental conditions, the selective-release scale inhibitor is soluble in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Morrow, Geetha Mahadevan
  • Patent number: 9810041
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cleaning control particles in a wellbore of a subterranean formation to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases, said wellbore comprising a wall defining a borehole, at least one control equipment arranged into said borehole and a plurality of control particles arranged between said control equipment and said wall, said method comprising the steps of generating at least one shock wave nearby said control equipment and propagating said at least one shock wave through said control equipment toward said control particles for cleaning said control particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Blue Spark Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Parker, Shawn Carroll, Dan Skibinski
  • Patent number: 9810042
    Abstract: Various implementations directed to an oil well simulation tool are provided. In one implementation, the oil well simulation tool may include a reservoir tank configured to contain a working fluid, where the working fluid represents a reservoir fluid in a subterranean reservoir. The oil well simulation tool may also include a constant pressure device configured to receive the working fluid from the reservoir tank, where the constant pressure device is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure within the device. The oil well simulation tool may further include a well tank assembly configured to receive the working fluid from a pipe coupled to the constant pressure device. The oil well simulation tool may additionally include a separator tank configured to receive the working fluid from the well tank assembly and configured to store the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Olegario Rivas Romero
  • Patent number: 9810043
    Abstract: A self-setting casing protector secured to a slip type casing elevator for grabbing a casing tubular and running the casing tubular into and out of a wellbore having two C-shaped setting plates each with a plurality of fastening holes; a plurality of support tubes positioned between aligned fastening holes; a plurality of bolts each penetrating pairs of fastening holes and a support tube, the second C-shaped setting plate simultaneously engaging (i) two aligned slip setting segments, and (ii) two aligned die retainers. As the slip type casing elevator is hoisted, the casing tubular drops while attached to the first C-shaped setting plate setting the casing tubular in the slip type casing elevator while simultaneously (i) protecting each casing tubular as it is sequentially lowered into or pulled from the wellbore, and (ii) protecting an upsetting box with premium connections as the tubular is run into and out of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Dewayne Bentley
  • Patent number: 9810044
    Abstract: A running tool assembly for running a high pressure wellhead and a mudline closure device (MCD) to or near a seafloor includes test plug detachably attached within the running tool assembly. Methods of running a high pressure wellhead and a MCD to or near a seafloor using the running tool assembly are provided. Methods of testing the MCD are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Anthony Bergeron
  • Patent number: 9810045
    Abstract: In some aspects, flow path connection conditions are generated for a flow path intersection in a one-dimensional fluid flow model. The one-dimensional fluid flow model represents a flow of well system fluid in a well system environment. The flow path connection conditions conserve fluid momentum among three or more flow path branches that meet at the flow path intersection. Fluid flow is simulated in the fracture network by operating the one-dimensional fluid flow model based on the connection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Lin, Srinath Madasu
  • Patent number: 9810046
    Abstract: Disclosed is a screen packer assembly for use in filtering hydrocarbons in a wellbore at a subterranean location. The screen-packer assembly connects in a production tubing string and packs off the wellbore and provides an axial filter path for hydrocarbons through the assembly and into the productions tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumit Ramesh Songire, Amit Chandrakant Agrawal
  • Patent number: 9810047
    Abstract: A bottom hole assembly to enable reperforation and refracturing a cased hole has a bottom end anchor seal to allow a larger drift dimension in the zones to be perforated and fractured between spaced external seals that preferably set by swelling. A separable section has a seal bore to protect lower pressure rated casing in the upper annulus from overpressure during the refracturing operations. Either existing perforations can be refractured or new perforations made and fractured. With a multiple shot perforating gun all the zones can be perforated and fractured in a single trip with a service string that supports a releasable plug, a gun and frac ports. The BHA can be remove with a line cut above the anchor seal at the bottom and a pull on the tubular sting that takes all the swelling packers out. Location devices can be employed for proper gun placement before firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES
    Inventors: Ruslan V. Filyukov, Bryan J. Tindall, Donald G. Parmer
  • Patent number: 9810048
    Abstract: The invention relates to a perforating gun used for hydraulic fracturing applications in a wellbore and has an outer tube having several recesses of a second kind. The recesses of a second kind are configured to absorb shock waves from a shape charge in the perforating gun to reduce the numbers of cracks that form on the perforating pun. In some embodiments, the recesses of a second kind have a variety of shapes and sizes to aid in the absorption of shock waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH
    Inventor: Jozef Balun
  • Patent number: 9810049
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for inline injection of water and chemicals for a dump flood. The techniques include collecting water from a source reservoir into a water collection zone of an adjacent water injection well, and injecting a chemical solution into the water injection well. The water and the chemical solution are then mixed downhole in a mixer, such as a static mixer. The mixed injection fluid is then directly injected into an adjacent target reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Dean, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Taimur Malik, Will Sherman Slaughter, Dustin L. Walker
  • Patent number: 9810050
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced recovery of coal bed methane. A method includes generating a diluent gas mixture comprising N2 and CO2 in a semi-closed Brayton cycle power plant, injecting at least a portion of the diluent gas mixture into a coal bed, and recovering a mixed production gas comprising methane from the coal bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: O. Angus Sites, Lalit K. Bohra
  • Patent number: 9810051
    Abstract: A well completion method can comprise, in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore: abrasively perforating the zone with a tubing deployed perforating assembly, fracturing the perforated zone with flow from surface via a well annulus, and then plugging the fractured zone with a removable plug substance, the perforating assembly displacing in the wellbore while the fractured zone is being plugged. Another well completion method can comprise, in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore: perforating the zone using an abrasive perforator, then displacing the perforator in the wellbore away from the earth's surface, then fracturing the zone, and plugging the fractured zone with a flowable plug substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Ferguson, Stanley W. Loving, Roger L. Schultz, Mark S. Britton, Brock W. Watson
  • Patent number: 9810052
    Abstract: A multilateral well placement methodology is provided for hydrocarbon reservoirs utilizing transshipment network optimization to best fit productivity conditions in the reservoir. Multilateral well trajectories are generated which ensure contact with hydrocarbon rich pockets in the reservoir. Different levels of branching for lateral wells are also permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Ghazi D. AlQahtani, Noah E. Berlow, Mohamed Y. Soliman
  • Patent number: 9810053
    Abstract: A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection arrangement at the drill rig for monitoring at least one operational parameter to produce a data signal relating to at least one of a utility to be installed in the underground bore, the drill rig and the boring tool. A portable device forms another part of the system for receiving the data signal relating to the operational parameter for use by the portable device. A communication arrangement, for example using telemetry, transfers the data signal from the drill rig to the portable device. The operational parameter may be monitored for the purpose of preventing equipment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Merlin Technology Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Mercer
  • Patent number: 9810054
    Abstract: A technique facilitates monitoring of load forces at various locations along a well string. The technique enables determination of loading based on measurement of hydraulic pressures, and the technique may be used to determine axial loading along a variety of downhole completions. A compensating piston may be disposed in a fluid chamber between a housing and a mandrel of one of the completions. The mandrel is slidably received in the housing and the fluid chamber is coupled with a sensor gauge via a pressure communication passage to facilitate accurate measurement of loading via the hydraulic pressures in the fluid chamber. The load forces may be monitored during, for example, landing of an uphole completion into a downhole completion. The sensor gauge also may be used for monitoring other pressures along the overall completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dinesh Patel
  • Patent number: 9810055
    Abstract: A drilling area network hub is located proximate to a drill rig and includes an uphole transceiver in bidirectional communication with a downhole transceiver by utilizing the drill string as an electrical conductor. Certain information is collected including rig-based and/or location information. At least one field report is generated based on the certain information to characterize at least one of an inground operation, an operational condition of the downhole transceiver, an operational condition of the uphole transceiver, and an operational condition of the drill rig. A drilling area network server receives the field report from the Internet at a remote location and can generate a custom report and/or recommended actions based on field data. Region specific parameters can be applied to the operation of a drilling system. The drilling area network hub can transfer data logs to the remote location according to assigned priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hall
  • Patent number: 9810056
    Abstract: An MWD system with a BHA sensor assembly that can be assembled and tested off-site and then transported to the field and that requires fewer on-site workers to install and operate the system. The BHA sensor assembly can include a sensor for monitoring at least one physical parameter of the BHA and a processor for collecting the data from the sensor, analyzing the data to determine whether a physical condition has been met, and, if so, activating the telemetry system to begin transmitting drilling information to the surface. In some embodiments, a determination that a physical condition has been met can be used to activate or discontinue local logging of data to memory. Data from sensors can also be used to trigger a modification of the types and/or rates of data that are transmitted to the surface and/or logged to memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Batke, Matthew White
  • Patent number: 9810057
    Abstract: Systems for determining a size, extent, and orientation of a hydraulic fracture of a reservoir, are provided. An exemplary system can include a plurality of RFID transponders modified to include an acoustic transmitter, and an RFID reader modified to include both an RF transmitter and a pair of acoustic receivers, to be deployed in a wellbore adjacent a hydraulic fracture. In embodiments, the acoustic transmitter includes a thermo-acoustic device. The system includes program product configured to receive acoustic return signal data to determine the three-dimensional location of each RFID transponder within the reservoir, to map the location of each RFID transponder, and to responsively determine the size, extent, and orientation can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Howard Khan Schmidt, Abdullah Awadh Al-Shehri
  • Patent number: 9810058
    Abstract: The invention is a petroleum well downhole logging tool (0) comprising —a wireline telemetry controller unit (6) comprising —a downhole modem (61) for transmitting data at a first bitrate uplink on a wireline (8) to a surface telemetry unit (106) connected to a surface read-out unit (SRO) with a memory (123)), a server toolbus controller (62) connected between said downhole modem (61) and an internal tool databus (7) operating at a second bitrate (r2) higher than the first bitrate; —one or more logging tools (4) each with sensors (40a, 40b, 40c, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BERGEN TECHNOLOGY CENTER AS
    Inventors: Dag-Håkon Frantzen, Tarjei Rommetveit
  • Patent number: 9810059
    Abstract: Wireless power transmission to downhole well installations is provided using acoustic guided Lamb waves and a tubular conduit (production tubing, casing) as the power transmission medium. A phased array of acoustic transmitters is present at the transmitting end (surface) and an array of acoustic receivers at the receiving end (downhole). Both transmitter and receiver arrays are coupled to the tubular conduit. Beamforming techniques are used along with power amplifiers to generate directional, high power and low frequency acoustic guided Lamb waves along the wellbore to transmit power over long distances. A downhole multi-channel acoustic energy collecting system receives the transmitted acoustic signal, and generates electrical power and stores the power in downhole electrical power storage. This power is used to operate downhole well equipment including sensing, control and telemetry devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Talha Jamal Ahmad
  • Patent number: 9810060
    Abstract: A formation tester for use in a subterranean well can include a probe which extends outward into contact with an earth formation, and an adjustable flow control device which limits an extension pressure applied to extend the probe. A method of testing a subterranean formation can include positioning a formation tester in a wellbore, extending a probe of the formation tester outward into contact with the formation, and limiting a force applied by the probe to the formation, the limiting being performed by variable actuation of a flow control device downhole. Another formation tester can include a probe which extends outward into contact with an earth formation, with a force applied by the probe to the formation being remotely adjustable downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristopher V. Sherrill
  • Patent number: 9810061
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and devices for increasing well and oil field productivity. The method comprises positioning an acoustic device in a well located within the geological formation and performing an acoustic treatment impacting a muddled zone in cycles comprising one or more manipulated waves of ultrasonic pressure on the muddled zone. The cycles comprise a Fourier transformation of a periodic function. The transformation determines a rate at which an acoustic treatment pressure of each cycle rises from zero to a maximum value. This rate is directly proportional to a force of an impact on the formation, and the greater the rate, the greater the impact. The acoustic treatment can further be detected by placing emitters and receivers in surrounding wells and calculating the signal received to determine if wells are hydrodynamically connected, such that a synergistic effect may be achieved through simultaneous treatment at several well locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WELL-SMART TECHNOLOGIES GLOBAL, INC
    Inventor: Yevgeny B. Levitov
  • Patent number: 9810062
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a formation including collecting and analyzing a formation sample, drilling operation data, and wellbore pressure measurement, estimating a reservoir and completion quality, and performing an oil field service in a region of the formation comprising the quality. In some embodiments, the formation sample is a solid collected from the drilling operation or includes cuttings or a core sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ridvan Akkurt, Romain Charles Andre Prioul, Andrew E. Pomerantz
  • Patent number: 9810063
    Abstract: A method of evaluating the effectiveness of matrix acidizing treatment in a subterranean formation surrounding a wellbore that involves injecting a plurality of cationic salts into multiple sections of the subterranean formation before acidizing treatment, followed by collecting the cationic salts at the surface of the wellbore after producing the wellbore. A permeability recovery factor is calculated from a concentration ratio of the injected salt to the collected salt. The permeability recovery factor shows the effectiveness of the acidizing treatment. The permeability recovery factor also indicates the contribution of each individual section of the formation to the total production flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Salah El-Din Elkatatny, Mohamed Mahmoud
  • Patent number: 9810064
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of monitoring recovery site hydrocarbons (HC) using an unconventional method which permits quantifying the HC present in zones above the exploration and development zone. The method according to the invention is based on the adjustment of a model describing the gas concentration as a function of time, using in-situ geochemical analyzes of rare gases and, when appropriate, of injected gas used for fracturing, contained in fluid phases of subsoil samples. By use of rare gas analysis, the method according to the invention allows anticipation of hydrocarbon leakage above the exploration/development site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: IPF ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventor: Bruno Garcia
  • Patent number: 9810065
    Abstract: Controlling an output of a mining system. The control includes receiving, at a processor, a first signal associated with a position of the shearer, determining, using the processor, the position of the shearer based on the first signal, receiving, at the processor, a second signal associated with a load of a conveyor, and determining, using the processor, the load of the conveyor based on the second signal. The method further includes determining, using the processor, an output of the mining system based on the position of the shearer and the load of the conveyor and controlling a speed of the shearer based on the output of the mining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth Rimmington
  • Patent number: 9810066
    Abstract: A method of controlling a shearer is disclosed. The shearer may be configured to travel along a longwall face to extract material with a first cutting drum and a second cutting drum. The method may include setting a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in a first travel direction (E). Further, the method may include determining a plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi) indicating a change of a position of the shearer resulting from advancing the shearer towards the longwall face. The method may also include determining a plurality of shearer orientations (Oi) along the longwall face. In addition, the method may include generating a second cutting profile to be approached by at least one of the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in a second travel direction (F) of the shearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Johannes Westphalen, Euan Kirkhope, Siddartha Saikia, Hrishikesh Ranjalkar
  • Patent number: 9810067
    Abstract: A spray system for dust control on a shearer machine that operates laterally with respect to a mining floor surface is provided where the spray system is provided with a set of first ranging arm sprays mounted on a first ranging arm and wherein said first ranging arm is located on a first end of a shearer machine chassis. A set of second ranging arm sprays is optionally provided and is mounted on the upper side of the first ranging arm and resides approximate to and in operational relationship to the set of first ranging arm sprays. Furthermore, a plurality of chassis spray sets may also be optionally provided and are located on a mining side of said shearer machine chassis and reside in a non-linear format. Moreover, a set of shearer-clearer venturi arm sprays may also optionally be provided and is mounted on a shearer-clearer venturi arm that resides as an angular extension of the set of first shearer-clearer arm sprays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University
    Inventors: Yoginder P. Chugh, Harrold G. Gurley, John W. Pulliam