Patents Issued in June 11, 2019
  • Patent number: 10316613
    Abstract: An oilfield tubular, such as a stinger (1), designed to be installed in a tubing hanger (2) in an XMT (Christmas tree) located on the sea bed, is presented. The oilfield tubular (1) is exposed to the production bore (4) pressure, and includes axial sealing means (6) located on an end (1a) of the tubular (1). The axial sealing means (6) includes a metal c-ring seal (6a), which metal c-ring seal (6a) is smaller in cross section than the thickness (t1) of the oilfield tubular wall (1c). The opening (6b) of the metal c-ring seal (6a) is facing the high pressure side of the production bore (4). This pressure tend to expand the c-profile to firm engagement with contacting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AKER SOLUTIONS AS
    Inventors: Stuart Spitz, Lukasz Topolski
  • Patent number: 10316614
    Abstract: An example wellbore isolation device includes a mandrel and one or more solid sealing elements disposed about the mandrel and plastically deformable to seal against an inner wall of a casing or an inner wall of a wellbore. A slip wedge is disposed about the mandrel on a first axial end of the one or more solid sealing elements, and a radial shoulder positioned on the mandrel at a second axial end of the one or more sealing elements. At least the slip wedge applies a compressive force on the one or more solid sealing elements and thereby plastically deforms the one or more solid sealing elements into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the casing or the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, John Charles Gano, Zachary Murphree, Zachary Walton
  • Patent number: 10316615
    Abstract: Devices and methods related to setting and testing a packer in a single trip are disclosed. Embodiments disclosed herein provide a tubing engagement element for applying longitudinal force to expand the packer element, such as by compressing an elastomeric element longitudinally to cause radial expansion. Further, upon application of longitudinal force, a second packer element, inside of the first, also sets, isolating the interior of the packer form the exterior. The isolation on the interior of the packer, or tubing attached thereto, permits formation of a pressure differential across the installed packer, facilitating a pressure test to ensure that the packers is adequately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Peak Completion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Fitzhugh, William Sloane Muscroft
  • Patent number: 10316616
    Abstract: A dissolvable bridge plug configured with components for maintaining anchoring and structural integrity for high pressure applications. These components may substantially dissolve to allow for ease of plug removal following such applications. The plug may effectively provide isolation in a cased well for applications generating over about 8,000-10,000 psi. At the same time, by employment of a dissolve period for the noted components, such a plug may be drilled-out in less than about 30 minutes, even where disposed in a lateral leg of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack Stafford, Billy Greeson, John Fleming, Manuel P. Marya
  • Patent number: 10316617
    Abstract: A downhole tool configured to pass through a narrowed diameter, the downhole tool having a mandrel made of a composite material; a fingered member disposed around the mandrel; a first cone disposed around the mandrel; a fingered bearing plate disposed around the mandrel; and a fingered lower sleeve disposed around and coupled to the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Downhole Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Evan Lloyd Davies, Duke VanLue, Luis Miguel Avila
  • Patent number: 10316618
    Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for determining and using liquid based chemical additives to modify the performance of various products used during downhole cementing of wells such as oil wells. The method comprises preparing a cement mix, determining a fluid properties profile for the mix corresponding to discrete elevations or sections within the well to be cemented, preparing chemical additives to modify the fluid properties of the mix, and pumping the cement mix while continuously injecting additives to ensure the cement mix conforms to the fluid properties profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BJ Services, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron James, T J McClure, Lucas Albrighton
  • Patent number: 10316619
    Abstract: A stage cementing tool includes a top sub-assembly; a bottom sub-assembly; a housing that connects the top and bottom sub-assembly and includes a bore therethrough from the top sub-assembly to the bottom sub-assembly, the housing including a plurality of ports radially arranged in the housing, each port including a fluid path between an interior radial surface of the housing and an outer radial surface of the housing; at least one sleeve that rides on a portion of the housing; and a controller mounted in the housing and configured to control the sleeve to adjust, based on receipt of a command to the controller from the terranean surface, between a first position such that the sleeve mandrel decouples fluid communication from the bore to an exterior of the housing through the fluid paths and a second position such that the sleeve mandrel fluidly couples the bore with the exterior of the housing through the fluid paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Victor Carlos Costa de Oliveira, Rodny Benjamin Masoud Zuleta, Khaled K. Abouelnaaj, Dean S. Porter
  • Patent number: 10316620
    Abstract: A system for selectively actuating sliding valves includes a segmented sleeve exhibiting a rocking (or pivoting) function. The rocking allows the bottom end of the sleeve to open wider when the front of a dart is pressed against it, provided the length of the dart is shorter than a “target length” determined by the sleeve geometry. When the dart is at least as long as the “target length” of the sleeve, the back of the dart prevents the sleeve from rocking as the front of the dart is pressed against the bottom seat. The dart remains pressed against the sleeve, effectively isolating the wellbore section above the dart from the one below it. Multiple zones can thus be independently isolated by using a set of sleeves with similar diameters, but different “target lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jahir Pabon
  • Patent number: 10316621
    Abstract: A system includes a downhole tool having a first load of a plurality of loads that receive power from a system power supply. The downhole tool includes a second load of the plurality of loads configured to receive power from the system power supply. The downhole tool includes control electronics that control a temporal distribution of power delivered from the system power supply to at least the first and second load such that timing of power drawn by the first load is based on timing of power drawn by the second load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Arthur Adolph, Tadashi Tajima, Julien Tavernier
  • Patent number: 10316622
    Abstract: A tracking system includes a tether, a buoyant transmitter assembly coupled to a first portion of the tether, an attachment component coupled to a second portion of the tether. The attachment component is configured to couple the tracking system to an object, and the tether enables the buoyant transmitter assembly to float above the object while the object and the tracking system are submerged in a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johnnie Kotrla, James Joseph Hogan, Ross Edward Stevenson, Jesse John Garcia, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10316623
    Abstract: A method for improving a redundancy and an uptime in a SCADA network for controlling a well operation includes executing control systems for the well operation in identical virtual simulated environments on at least two servers, storing all data for the control systems in a designated redundant cluster storage system, and setting-up the at least two servers with a load balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MHWIRTH AS
    Inventors: Jon Rune Fladmark, Marius Kjoelleberg
  • Patent number: 10316624
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a drilling-information-management system. The drilling-information management system includes a probe assembly disposed on a drill rod, a first computer interoperably coupled to the probe assembly via a conductor disposed in a drill rod, and a second computer in communication with the first computer. The second computer includes a barcode scanner. The drilling-information management system includes a database in communication with the second computer. Drilling-project data is transferred from the database to the second computer and calibration data is transferred from the second computer to the first computer. The first computer executes a drilling plan according to the drilling-project data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: REI, Inc.
    Inventors: Forrest Paul Schumacher, Jeffrey J. Schwoebel, Michael J. Hardin, Daniel J. Brunner, Randy Richardson, Robert Koontz, Alex Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10316625
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and computing systems for maintaining a well production model. The method includes receiving an update to a parameter of the model of a well, and updating the model based on the update. The method also includes splitting the model into at least two submodels after updating the model, and running the submodels to obtain results. The method further includes determining that the results obtained by running the submodels do not match, and in response to determining that the results obtained by running the submodels do not match, calibrating the model based on the update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Arturo Garcia Zurita, Franz Fuehrer, Riku Vilkki, Henry David Torres Rincon
  • Patent number: 10316626
    Abstract: A system includes a casing string and a buoyancy assist tool that is disposed in the casing string. The buoyancy assist tool includes a tubular body, a wiper plug assembly, and a degradable member. The wiper plug assembly is disposed inside the central passageway of the tubular body, and the degradable member retains the wiper plug assembly to the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Afou Keshishian, Isaac Aviles Cadena
  • Patent number: 10316627
    Abstract: In an assembly for lowering and expanding a tubular element in a borehole on an expansion string, at least part of the weight of the tubular element is transmitted to the expansion string via an internal upset and a support protruding from an outer surface of the expansion string below the internal upset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: David Paul Brisco, Walter Stam, Antonius Leonardus Maria Wubben
  • Patent number: 10316628
    Abstract: A liner having an outer surface coated with a fluid absorbing coating is cladded to a tubing string by inserting the folded liner into the tubing string and then unfolding the liner against the tubing string. The liner may be a long single thin foil corrosion resistant liner coated with a sticky glue and a hygroscopic and/or other fluid absorbing coating to absorb fluid pockets trapped between the tubing and liner and inhibit corrosion and leakage of, the elongate tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Petrus Cornelis Kriesels, Boo Young Yang, Heather L. Gower
  • Patent number: 10316629
    Abstract: As assembly for a pressure-restrictor plate for a partially loaded perforating gun is provided. The assembly can include a charge tube positioned in a loaded-gun section of a partially loaded perforating gun. The assembly can also include a pressure-restrictor plate positioned in a blank-gun section of the partially loaded perforating gun and adjacent to the charge tube. The assembly can further include a rod for securing the pressure-restrictor plate in a position, the rod having a first end that is coupled to the pressure-restrictor plate and a second end that is coupled to an end plate positioned within the partially loaded perforating gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Lee Mason
  • Patent number: 10316630
    Abstract: A novel tool for improving the efficiency of extraction of hydrocarbons from underground formations is described. The tool is configured to produce localized waves of high pressure fluid at a location within a wellbore. These pressure waves are effective to displace hydrocarbons within a geological formation such that enter the interior of the wellbore where they can be more easily removed by means of an accompanying pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Shawn D Clark
  • Patent number: 10316631
    Abstract: A method of utilizing carbon monoxide to increase oil recovery includes injecting an effective amount of carbon monoxide, either as pure carbon monoxide or as a component of a gas mixture, into an oil reservoir. The carbon monoxide increases oil flow and rate of oil flow from the oil reservoir through a variety of chemical mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Paul Trost
  • Patent number: 10316632
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for steam-drive based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with steam drive, effectively allowing drive processes to be used where previously the reservoir lacked sufficient injectivity to allow steam drive or cyclic steam based methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: John A. Stanecki, Thomas J. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10316633
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating subterranean formations. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation including placing a first aqueous composition and a second aqueous composition in a subterranean formation. The placing includes injecting the first aqueous composition through a tubular passage in a wellbore. The placing also includes injecting the second aqueous composition through an annular passage in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharath Savari, Yogesh Kumar Choudhary
  • Patent number: 10316634
    Abstract: Methods and an apparatus to facilitate the creation of casing exit openings in the casing of parent wellbores. Methods and systems for azimuthally and longitudinally aligning drilling assemblies through openings in a parent wellbore casing to allow for drilling multiple lateral wellbores extending outwardly from a parent wellbore. A method of stimulating one or more subterranean zones intersected by multiple lateral wellbores extending outwardly from one or more patent wellbores includes the steps of: simultaneously injecting a stimulation fluid into the lateral wellbores; and stimulating the zones intersected by the lateral wellbores in response to the stimulation fluid injecting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Graham, Philip W. Woodard, Robert F. Shelley, Jim B. Surjaatmadja
  • Patent number: 10316635
    Abstract: The present invention is a method to determine where fractures are created within a wellbore during a formation fracturing operation, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one sensor within a carrier capable of measuring and recording a pressure difference across the carrier as a function of time; releasing the sensor into fracturing fluids; injecting fracturing fluids into a wellbore during a fracturing operation; after at least one fracture has formed, permitting fluids to flow back from the fractured formation into the wellbore and to a surface facility; capturing at least one sensor from the fluids which flowed back from the fractured formation; reading recorded data from the captured sensor; and determining the relative size of at least two different fractures based on the recorded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Menno Mathieu Molenaar, David Lindsay Alexander Langille
  • Patent number: 10316636
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation may include preparing a mortar slurry, injecting the mortar slurry into the subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create a fracture in the subterranean formation, and allowing the mortar slurry to set, forming a mortar in the fracture. The mortar slurry may be designed to form a pervious mortar, to crack under fracture closure pressure, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ernesto Rafael Fonseca, Arthur Herman Hale, Mauricio Jose Farinas Moya, Guy Lode Magda Maria Verbist, Gerardus Johannes Leonardus Van Der Wegen, Henricus Van Selst
  • Patent number: 10316637
    Abstract: A method of increasing a stimulated reservoir volume in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation in fluid communication with a wellbore, the method including drilling a plurality of lateral extensions at varying depths in the formation extending from a vertical wellbore using underbalanced coiled tubing drilling; and injecting an exothermic reaction component into the plurality of lateral extensions to create a plurality of fractures extending outwardly from and between the plurality of lateral extensions to create a multilateral fracture network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Mulhem
  • Patent number: 10316638
    Abstract: A method of drilling a well within a target stratum. The method can include drilling based upon a target window created from previously collected and/or extrapolated data. Data is collected while drilling and the target window can be adjusted “on the fly” as well as updating and correcting previously collected data. The method can be repeated to ensure optimal drilling efficiency and minimal down time while drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Danny T. Williams
  • Patent number: 10316639
    Abstract: A system and method for providing information regarding the tortuosity of a wellbore path is provided. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of survey stations of a wellbore survey. The method further includes defining a plurality of reference lines for the wellbore path. The method further includes determining a plurality of displacements of the wellbore path from the plurality of reference lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Gyrodata, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jon Bang, Onyemelem Jegbefume, Adrian Guillermo Ledroz, John Lionel Weston
  • Patent number: 10316640
    Abstract: Systems and methods of pressure testing well production equipment, such as a blowout preventer stack and a choke manifold are disclosed. The system may include a pressure testing tool disposed in selective fluid communication with the blowout preventer stack and the choke manifold and may be arranged to permit independent pressure testing of valves of the blowout preventer stack and valves of the choke manifold without breaking connections between the blowout preventer stack and the choke manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Fox, Joey Peyregne
  • Patent number: 10316641
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for acquiring strain profiles of an optical conductor of a wireline cable in a wellbore, either while the cable is lowered and/or at intervals during the lowering when the cable is briefly stationary. Changes in the acquired strain profiles are utilized to infer or otherwise determine changes in the disposition of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexis Constantinou, Alireza Farahani
  • Patent number: 10316642
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to tracking a borehole drilling direction and magnetic azimuth and orienting the tool face which controls the direction of drilling in a generally horizontal path between a specified borehole entry point and a predetermined exit location. The generally horizontal path may be disposed under a geographic obstacle such a river, a highway, a railroad, or an airport runway wherein the ground above the borehole is difficult or impossible to access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Vector Magnetics, LLC
    Inventor: Arthur F. Kuckes
  • Patent number: 10316643
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium for obtaining a temperature profile of a wellbore is disclosed. Raw temperature data are obtained from the wellbore using a distributed temperature sensing system. The raw temperature data includes noise. A numerical decomposition is performed on the raw temperature data within a dynamic window in a measurement space of the raw temperature data to obtain decomposition terms of order of first order and higher. An adaptive filter is applied to the decomposition terms of first order and higher within the dynamic window to reduce noise from the decomposition terms of first order and higher. The filtered decomposition terms of first order and higher are used to obtain a temperature profile of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Jeff Chen
  • Patent number: 10316644
    Abstract: A system for assessing one or more temperatures in an opening in a subsurface formation includes an electrical conductor and electrical insulation at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor. The electrical insulation includes magnesium oxide and a ferroelectric material. An electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounds the electrical insulation. A profile of one or more dielectric properties of the electrical insulation along a length of the electrical insulation is assessed during use to assess a temperature profile with spatial resolution along the length of the electrical insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Kelvin Harris, Edward Everett De St. Remey, Stephen Taylor Thompson
  • Patent number: 10316645
    Abstract: A technique includes deploying an untethered object though a passageway of a tubular member; and acquiring a plurality of measurements that represent an environment of the tubular member as the object is being communicated through the passageway. The technique includes cross-correlating the plurality of measurements and using results of the cross-correlating to identify at least one feature of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derek Ingraham, Eugene Janssen
  • Patent number: 10316646
    Abstract: A well system can include a completion string adjacent to a target formation and a service tool extending within the completion string. When the service tool is in an aligned position with respect to the completion string, the service tool can prevent fluid communication between the target formation and a return conduit to facilitate fluid slurry injection. In such an alignment, a reader of the service tool is positioned within a threshold distance of a tag of the completion string to receive an indicator from the tag. From the tag, the reader receives confirmation that the service tool and the completion string are properly aligned. A pulser of the service tool transmits a signal to a surface location to convey the confirmation. A user may then pump the fluid slurry through an internal fluid flow passage of the service tool to the target formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph DeWitt Parlin
  • Patent number: 10316647
    Abstract: A flow restriction tool can include a closure device having positions in which flow is permitted through the tool, in one position a flow passage is open to the flow and the closure device blocks flow through another flow passage, and in another position both passages are open to the flow, and a biasing device which displaces the closure device to the former position in response to a flow rate being less than a predetermined level. A well tool string can include an orientation tool that intermittently permits flow through a wall of the tool string to transmit orientation data via pressure pulses in a flow passage through the string, and a flow restriction tool that permits flow through one flow area when a flow rate of the flow is less than a predetermined level, and permits flow through a larger flow area when the flow rate is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: William S. Renshaw
  • Patent number: 10316648
    Abstract: A system and method of estimating properties of a wellbore fluid that directs the fluid through a cavity, and generates acoustic waves in the fluid while in the cavity. The acoustic waves are generated by oscillating an electroactive material over a range of frequencies. An electrical admittance spectra of the electroactive material is measured over the range of frequencies; where the electrical admittance spectra includes the magnitude, real, and imaginary components. Differences between the maximum values for each component and a vacuum electrical spectra are calculated, the differences are substituted into estimator equations to estimate the fluid properties. Electrical admittance spectra of the electroactive material was simulated for a series of known fluids flowing through the cavity, and a multi-regression statistical analysis was then used to derive the estimator equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Dwight W. Swett
  • Patent number: 10316649
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of calculating fluid distribution from a hydraulically fractured well, especially during a plug-and-perf hydraulic fracturing operation. The Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data is used to quantify the fluid distribution in separate perf clusters during fracturing, and the result can be used for completion design and optimization, hydraulic fracturing, and ultimately for oil and gas production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Kyle Friehauf, Mark R. Gibson
  • Patent number: 10316650
    Abstract: A downhole tool for analyzing reservoir fluids includes a mechanism for extracting a fluid sample (e.g., single phase liquid sample) from a wellbore, a sample depressurization module to liberate the gas phase from the extracted fluid sample, and a gas sensor utilized to detect one or more components of the gas phase. In certain embodiments, the downhole tool may be a formation testing tool, and the depressurization module may be a bubble point measurement module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Cyrus Aspi Irani
  • Patent number: 10316651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oilfield management system. The oilfield management system comprises: one or more devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells, the one or more devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells are installed on one or more oil wells respectively for measuring working conditions of the one or more oil wells, the working conditions of oil wells at least comprise indicator diagrams of oil wells; one or more remote transmission units, each of the remote transmission units receives the working conditions measured by one or more of the devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells; and server, which determines running status of the one or more oil wells according to the working conditions of oil wells from the one or more remote transmission units; maintenance staff or administrators manage the one or more oil wells according to the running status of the one or more oil wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Xinhua Li
  • Patent number: 10316652
    Abstract: A method for selecting a drilling fluid pressure pulse transmission frequency in a downhole telemetry tool comprises: emitting a frequency sweep wave in a drilling fluid that comprises pressure pulses over a range of frequencies and over a period of time; measuring a pressure of the drilling fluid at the telemetry tool while the frequency sweep wave is being emitted; determining a signal strength at each frequency in the range of frequencies from the measured pressure of the drilling fluid; and selecting at least one frequency in the range of frequencies that meets a selected signal strength threshold as a telemetry signal transmission frequency for the telemetry tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Gaw-Wae Lee, Justin C. Logan, Kurtis West, Luke Stack, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 10316653
    Abstract: A method for optimizing drilling includes initializing values of a plurality of drilling operating parameters and drilling response parameters. In a computer, an initial relationship between the plurality of drilling operating parameters and drilling response parameters is determined. A drilling unit to drill a wellbore through subsurface formations. The drilling operating parameters and drilling response parameters are measured during drilling and entered into the computer. A range of values and an optimum value for at least one of the drilling response parameters and at least one of the drilling response parameters is determined in the computer. A display of the at least one of the plurality of drilling operating parameters and the at least one of the drilling response parameters is generated by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chunling Gu Coffman, Rustam Isangulov, Oney Erge, John Christian Luppens, Ginger Hildebrand, Wayne Kotovsky
  • Patent number: 10316654
    Abstract: A coring method includes disposing a coring tool in a borehole adjacent a subterranean formation to be sampled. The method further includes determining a property of the formation and selecting a coring tool operational mode based on the property of the formation. The method also includes obtaining a sample from the formation using the coring tool operational mode. A type of coring shaft also may be selected based on the property of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barry Moon, Vincent Jeffrey Pisio, Steven E. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 10316655
    Abstract: A method for performing contamination monitoring through estimation wherein measured data for optical density, gas to oil ratio, mass density and composition of fluid components are used to obtain plotting data and the plotting data is extrapolated to obtain contamination levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Adriaan Gisolf, Ryan Lee, Cosan Ayan, Hadrien Dumont, Kang Wang, Chetankumar Desai, Oliver Mullins, Beatriz Barbosa
  • Patent number: 10316656
    Abstract: A method includes identifying linearly behaving data within obtained data associated with fluid obtained from a subterranean formation. Shrinkage factor is determined based on the linearly behaving data. A function relating GOR data of the obtained fluid with the determined shrinkage factor is determined. A first linear relationship between optical density (OD) data of the obtained fluid and the function is determined. A second linear relationship between density data of the obtained fluid and the function is determined. An oil-based mud (OBM) filtrate contamination property of OBM filtrate within the obtained fluid based on the first linear relationship is determined. A native formation property of native formation fluid within the obtained fluid based on the second linear relationship is determined. A volume fraction of OBM filtrate contamination within the obtained fluid based on the OBM filtrate contamination property and the native formation property is estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Kang Wang, Adriaan Gisolf, Ryan Sangjun Lee, Oliver C. Mullins, Shu Pan
  • Patent number: 10316657
    Abstract: An extendable probe for a formation testing tool includes a piston housing having a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion thereof. A piston including a piston base and a piston conduit. A piston base seal disposed between the piston base and the first diameter portion of the piston housing. The piston base seal representing an area; a piston conduit seal disposed between the piston conduit and the second diameter portion, the piston conduit seal representing an area. A pin in operative communication with the piston housing and extending though the piston; a pin seal disposed between the pin and the piston base, the pin seal representing an area; and wherein the piston conduit seal. Piston base seal and pin seal each are configured to adhere to the equation: piston conduit seal area=piston base seal area?pin seal area. A method for querying a formation fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Shiva Paramhans, David A. Hejl, Russell W. Mceacharn
  • Patent number: 10316658
    Abstract: A formation sampling method includes disposing a downhole tool that has an expandable packer and an extendable probe within a wellbore disposed in a subterranean formation, pumping formation fluid into the downhole tool through the extendable probe to move heavy oil from within the subterranean formation towards the wellbore, detecting arrival of the heavy oil at the wellbore, and performing formation sampling with the expandable packer in response to detecting the arrival of the heavy oil at the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hazim Ayyad, Sarah Jamal
  • Patent number: 10316659
    Abstract: A mining machine including a frame, a cutting head moveably coupled to the frame and pivotable about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a first mine surface, and a first actuator for stabilizing the frame relative to the first mine surface. The first actuator is coupled to the frame and includes a first end extendable in a first direction to engage the first mine surface. The extension of the first actuator is automatically controlled based on measurements of at least one indicator of the force between the first actuator and the first mine surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    Inventors: Colin Anthony Wade, Jacobus Ignatius Jonker
  • Patent number: 10316660
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a system for removing road material. In an embodiment, the system may include a milling drum and at least one pick mounted on the milling drum. The pick may include polycrystalline diamond at least partially forming one or more working surfaces of the pick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: APERGY BMCS ACQUISITION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Regan Leland Burton, Andrew E. Dadson, Mohammad N. Sani
  • Patent number: 10316661
    Abstract: A fire and/or water resistant expansion joint system for installation between substrates of a tunnel. The system includes a fire resistant coating applied at a predetermined thickness to achieve a substantially uniform layer on the substrates and a fire and water resistant expansion joint. The expansion joint includes a core having an edge, wherein the substantially uniform layer of the coating extends along the substrates of the tunnel to the edge of the core, and a fire retardant infused into the core. The core is configured to facilitate the compression of the expansion joint system when installed between the substrates. The coating and the fire and water resistant expansion joint are each capable of withstanding exposure to a temperature of at least about 540° C. or greater for about five minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: EMSEAL JOINT SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Lester Hensley, William Witherspoon
  • Patent number: 10316662
    Abstract: A construction layout for underground caverns in a nuclear island powerhouse of an underground nuclear power plant, including: two primary caverns accomodating nuclear reactor powerhouses, combined caverns, electric powerhouse caverns, pressure relief caverns, a first primary traffic tunnel, a second primary traffic tunnel, a third primary traffic tunnel, a top adit system, a ground adit system, secondary traffic tunnels, and a side traffic tunnel. Each combined cavern and each electric powerhouse cavern are disposed at two sides of each primary cavern, respectively. Two combined caverns are in end-to-end connection and the arrangement direction of the two combined caverns are in parallel to the connecting line of the medial axes of the two primary caverns. Each pressure relief cavern is disposed between each combined cavern and a corresponding electric powerhouse cavern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CHANGJIANG SURVEY PLANNING DESIGN AND RESEARCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qigui Yang, Xinqiang Niu, Lixin Liu, Baixing Liu, Xin Zhao, Lijun Su, Feng Li, Xuehong Yang, Zhijun Zhang, Zhengjian Miu, Zhiguo Zhang, Haibo Liu, Tieling Tao, Yanlei Wan