Flow Stopping Type, E.g., Plug Patents (Class 166/135)
  • Patent number: 12092255
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a pipeline plug may include a pressure head including a forcing face. The seal assembly may include a primary tapered ring including an expansion face. The expansion face may abut the forcing face. The seal assembly may include primary seal ring. The seal assembly may include a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including at least one seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring. The seal assembly may include a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly. The seal assembly may include a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Giles, Humon Glenn Fardsalehi
  • Patent number: 12043793
    Abstract: A method of making a cement composite can include contacting an aqueous solution comprising calcium ions with a carbon dioxide source producing a carbonated aqueous solution. Fine particles can be submerged in the carbonated aqueous solution to produce microaggregate particles comprising the fine particles coated with calcium carbonate. The microaggregate particles can be combined with cement particles to produce the cement composite. The cement composite can be used in cementing applications for hydrocarbon wells including for casing liners and well plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Caleb Kimbrell Carroll, Deryck Edward Matthew Williams
  • Patent number: 11879299
    Abstract: A dissolvable barrier assembly includes a holder configured to couple to the casing string in a generally transverse orientation and defining a central aperture, a barrier positioned in the central aperture of the holder and configured to prevent the communication of fluid across the barrier whereby an uphole chamber within the casing string extending uphole from the barrier and containing an uphole fluid is hydraulically isolated from a downhole chamber within the casing string extending downhole from the barrier, and wherein the barrier includes an outer surface including an uphole surface defining an uphole end and a downhole surface defining a downhole end, wherein the uphole surface is configured to corrode when in contact with the uphole fluid at a first corrosion rate and also wherein the downhole surface is configured to corrode when in contact with the uphole fluid at a second corrosion rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP
    Inventor: Steven Zakharia
  • Patent number: 11802454
    Abstract: An anchoring apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprises at least one movable wall engaging member for engaging a wall of a wellbore, wherein the at least one movable wall engaging member is movable from a retracted position to an expanded position to engage the wall, and from the expanded position to a retracted position to disengage the wall. Provision of one or more wall engaging members being movable from an expanded position to a retracted position allows the anchoring apparatus to be retrieved from the wellbore, and in particular, from an open hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD U.K. LIMITED
    Inventors: Philip C G Egleton, Stephen Reid
  • Patent number: 11698159
    Abstract: A pipeline plug includes a pressure head; a seal assembly; a seal expansion ring; a plurality of gripper bodies, a sliding gripper, and an actuator. Each gripper body is coupled to the seal expansion ring. Radial expansion of the gripper bodies supports radial expansion of the seal expansion ring. Additionally, radial expansion of the seal expansion ring supports radial expansion of the gripper bodies. The sliding gripper is slidingly coupled to a radially outer surface of the gripper body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SAFE ISOLATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul Giles, Humon Glenn Fardsalehi
  • Patent number: 11643904
    Abstract: Degradable downhole tools, tool components, and balls are formed from a processed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) compound that is degradable in a high-salinity environment. The PVA compound exhibits strength and elasticity properties that are comparable to existing degradable downhole polymers and further exhibits degradability properties that are superior to existing degradable downhole polymers, particularly in high-salinity fluids. For different components, the PVA compound may include a reinforcing material such as fiberglass. The PVA compound also includes a loading of degradable metal, such as a degradable magnesium alloy, rendering the material degradable at high salinity. Usage of tools, tool components, and balls formed from the disclosed materials eliminates the requirement that such equipment be drilled out after use as the PVA compound quickly degrades in high-salinity downhole fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Workover Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Andrew Rosenholm
  • Patent number: 11643892
    Abstract: A method of separating a downhole tubular includes running a tool into a wellbore to a predetermined location on a work string and actuating flow actuated slips. The method also includes maintaining slips in a set position by providing a first upward force on the work string. The method further includes rotating the work string to separate an upper portion of the tubular from a lower portion using a cutter assembly disposed on the work string below the slips and pulling the upper portion of the tubing and the tool from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: William Allen Schultz, Jr., David W. Teale, Richard C. Davis
  • Patent number: 11603726
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and system, and a method of using the same, comprising An apparatus comprising: a first outer pipe; a central housing attached to the first outer pipe, an annular piston that can impact a brittle barrier, the annular piston comprising an impact surface; a brittle barrier, wherein the brittle barrier is separated from the impact surface by a distance, and wherein the brittle barrier comprises a set of materials; and a second outer pipe attached to the central housing, wherein the central housing is positioned between the first outer pipe and the second outer pipe; wherein the brittle barrier is positioned within one or more of the central housing and the second outer pipe; wherein the annular piston is attached to one or more of the first outer pipe and the central housing via a releasable fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RUBICON OILFIELD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Harris, Kenneth Anton, Brandon Goodman
  • Patent number: 11572757
    Abstract: A backup ring for a seal assembly including a body having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, an opening in the body extending from the radially outer surface toward the radially inner surface, the opening being receptive to a line to guide and protect the line. A wellbore system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, a seal system disposed in the string, the system including a backup ring comprising a body having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface and an opening in the body extending from the radially outer surface toward the radially inner surface, the opening being receptive to a line to guide and protect the line and a method for running a line along a seal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Matt Krueger, Frank Maenza, Dennis Jiral, Chee Kong Yee, Daniel Sequera
  • Patent number: 11377923
    Abstract: An isolation device can include a packer element that is actuated via a slip system to engage with an inner diameter of a tubing string to set the plug. The isolation device can be a frac plug. Top and bottom slip props of the slip system can be shaped such that the packer element is inhibited or prevented from engaging with an inner mandrel after the plug has been set within a wellbore. The slip props can be self-supporting; thus, the inner mandrel can be removed from the isolation device after setting and can be reused in other downhole tools. The isolation device can be used for zonal isolation to treat a zone of interest within a subterranean formation. The treatment can be a fracturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Donald Ray Smith
  • Patent number: 11359757
    Abstract: A pipeline plug includes a pressure head; a seal assembly; a seal expansion ring; a plurality of gripper bodies, a sliding gripper, and an actuator. Each gripper body is coupled to the seal expansion ring. Radial expansion of the gripper bodies supports radial expansion of the seal expansion ring. Additionally, radial expansion of the seal expansion ring supports radial expansion of the gripper bodies. The sliding gripper is slidingly coupled to a radially outer surface of the gripper body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SAFE ISOLATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul Giles, Humon Glenn Fardsalehi
  • Patent number: 11180972
    Abstract: The disclosed is a method of isolating zones in a wellbore and tools thereof, specifically implementing a slip carrier with tongue and groove design purposed to secure an anchor, including parts with different durometers additionally with a nose cone on a bridge plug/frac plug to be able to displace sand between plugs, and a mandrel with a J-latch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Stanley Keeling
  • Patent number: 10954045
    Abstract: A thread protector for coupling with an end of a tubular member includes a hub, a connector extending from the hub, and a plurality of splines formed on an outer surface of the connector and configured to releasably couple with a threaded connector of the tubular member, wherein each spline includes an inclined shoulder disposed at an acute angle to a central axis of the thread protector, and a locking shoulder disposed orthogonal to the central axis of the thread protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP
    Inventors: Benjamin Vascal Knight, James Edward Kash
  • Patent number: 10927639
    Abstract: A method can include conveying a dispensing tool through a wellbore, the dispensing tool including an enclosure containing plugging devices, and then opening the enclosure by cutting a material of the enclosure, thereby releasing the plugging devices from the enclosure into the wellbore at a downhole location. A dispensing tool can include a container having an enclosure therein, the enclosure including a flexible material that contains the plugging devices, and an end of the enclosure being secured to a member displaceable by an actuator. The enclosure material is cut in response to displacement of the member by the actuator. A plugging device can include at least one body configured to engage an opening in the well and block fluid flow through the opening, and multiple fibers including staple fibers or filaments formed into yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 10920564
    Abstract: Embodiments of a downhole drilling assembly generally include rotatable upper and lower drilling assemblies, and a drill bit, wherein an upper drilling assembly contains a mud motor adapted for clockwise stator rotation and counter-clockwise rotor rotation, whereby a lower drilling assembly is rotatable in the opposite direction of the upper drilling assembly or maintainable in a non-rotating state. The apparatus further includes sensors for continuously transmitting information relating thereto to the surface. Embodiments of a downhole clutch joint generally include a box end sub, a pin end sub, and a ratchet sleeve system containing a clutch joint mechanism, wherein the downhole clutch joint prevents rotation of a downhole drilling assembly in an undesired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventor: Gary Smith
  • Patent number: 10907441
    Abstract: A downhole tool suitable for use in a wellbore that includes a wedge mandrel having a distal end; a proximate end; an outer surface; and a flowbore. The tool includes a fingered member disposed around the wedge mandrel. The tool includes a ball seat insert disposed in the flowbore, as well as a support platform disposed in the flowbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: The WellBoss Company, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Hou, Luis Miguel Avila, Evan Lloyd Davies, Duke Vanlue
  • Patent number: 10871254
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water-soluble pipe-plugging device, comprising a circular plugging plate made of a water-soluble material. Several support plates made of a water-soluble material are provided on a side surface of the circular plugging plate. The outer side faces of the support plates are flush with the outer side face of the circular plugging plate. The pipe-plugging device has a simple structure, is convenient to use, has high strength, uniform load under stress, good pressure-bearing capacity and good plugging effects, can ensure the safety of construction with welding during repair and replacement, can thoroughly decompose without needing to be removed so as to avoid pollution and pipe plugging, and is biodegradable so as to avoid environmental pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventor: Deen Li
  • Patent number: 10822902
    Abstract: A pump down ring is utilized in a downhole tool for use in a subterranean well. The pump down ring is positioned around the outer surface of a sleeve and is slidably disposed thereon. The pump down ring slidably engages the sleeve so as to have a radially-relaxed position and an expanded position where the pump down ring is expanded radially outward from the radially-relaxed position. Accordingly, the pump down ring can be placed in its expanded position to facilitate placement of the downhole tool in a wellbore by use of fluid pressure and can be placed in its radially-relaxed position to facilitate removal of the downhole tool from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Davis, Matthew James Merron
  • Patent number: 10807189
    Abstract: A technique facilitates a welding operation in a variety of difficult environments, including downhole environments, to enable formation a dependable connection between components. A tool may be constructed to contain a material mixture used in the welding operation. The tool is conveyed to a position adjacent a weld region of components to be welded together. The material mixture is of a type which may be ignited to initiate a reaction which forms a molten metal from at least one constituent in the material mixture. Additionally, the tool comprises a nozzle oriented to direct the molten metal to the weld region so as to form a secure, welded connection between the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hongfa Huang
  • Patent number: 10487625
    Abstract: A technique that is usable with a well includes deploying a segmented ring assembly in the well; and disposing the segmented ring assembly between a first element fixed in place in the well and a second unfixed element. The technique includes using the second element to compress the assembly to produce radially and tangentially acting forces on segments of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregoire Jacob
  • Patent number: 10480267
    Abstract: A downhole tool suitable for use in a wellbore, the tool having a mandrel made of a reactive metallic material. The mandrel further includes a mandrel end having a failure point defined by an inner groove and a failure point wall thickness may be in the range of about 0.03 inches to about 0.1 inches. The downhole tool also has a first slip disposed about the mandrel; a second slip disposed about the mandrel; and a lower sleeve disposed about the mandrel proximate to the second slip. The lower sleeve is engaged with the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: The WellBoss Company, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Hou, Luis Miguel Avila, Evan Lloyd Davies, Duke Vanlue
  • Patent number: 10364626
    Abstract: A plug is engageable with a ball for seating in a tubular having an internal profile. The plug's body has a bore with a seat. Blocks disposed on the body are temporarily held in a retracted condition, but the blocks are biased outward to an expanded condition for engaging inside the tubular. The plug sets in the tubular with the blocks released from the retracted condition to the expanded condition. With the ball dropped downhole, the seat engages the ball so that fluid pressure is sealed from uphole to downhole through the bore. With applied fluid pressure against the seated ball, the plug can move through the tubular until the blocks seat in the internal profile of the tubing, sliding sleeve, or other component. A seal on the plug can then seal inside the tubular while the blocks seat in the profile and applied pressure pushes on the seated ball on the plug's mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Justin P. Vinson, Matthew A. Crump, Chad H. Picciotti
  • Patent number: 10138701
    Abstract: A swab-resistant downhole tool comprising a body and a sealing element, wherein at least a portion of the sealing element is composed of a shape memory polymer, the shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature (“Tg”), and exhibiting a resilient characteristic above the Tg and a rigid characteristic below the Tg, and wherein the Tg is in the range of about 50° C. to about 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Zachary Ryan Murphree, Xiaoguang Allan Zhong, Thomas Frosell
  • Patent number: 9945189
    Abstract: A travel joint comprises an outer housing, an inner mandrel slidingly disposed within the outer housing, and a release device positioned between the outer housing and the inner mandrel. The release device is configured to selectively prevent and allow relative axial movement between the outer housing and the inner mandrel in response to a fluid pressure supplied to the release device from a flowbore of the outer housing or a flowbore of the inner mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William Mark Richards, Timothy Edward Harms
  • Patent number: 9617802
    Abstract: An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, including a flexible member rolled into a helix and comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member. The flexible member is selectively changeable between a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Rafael Adolfo Lastra
  • Patent number: 9453379
    Abstract: An activating device is provided for location in downhole tubing. The device defines an activation profile which is initially maintained at a larger diameter than a tubing seat, such that the device may land on and be held up by the seat. The profile may be subsequently re-configured to radially retract, allowing the device to pass through the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Churchill Drilling Tools Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Churchill
  • Patent number: 9404337
    Abstract: A caged ball fractionation plug for use in a wellbore with a crown engagement having a tapered nose cone and various load ring, slips, slip backups, lubricating spacers and seals can all be slidably engaged to the mandrel. Upon applying pressure, the slidably engaged components can be compressed against each other and the plug can expand and bite into the casing of the wellbore. The caged ball portion of the plug seats the ball internal to the plug to create two separate fractionation zones in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: MCCLINTON ENERGY GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Tony D. McClinton, Stanley Keeling, Buster Carl McClinton
  • Patent number: 9284803
    Abstract: A one-way flowable anchoring system includes a plurality of same anchors that are sealedly fixedly engagable within a structure and each of the plurality of same anchors has a flow bore longitudinally therethrough with a first seat and a second seat on opposing ends thereof The system also has a plug positionable within the structure between two of the plurality of same anchors positioned longitudinally adjacent one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Patrick C. Stone, Douglas J. Lehr, Gregory Lee Hern, Levi B. Oberg, Jim H. Roddy
  • Patent number: 9038741
    Abstract: A flow control device comprises a fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, a flow restriction disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow restriction is disposed in a radial alignment with respect to the wellbore tubular, and a flow blockage disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow blockage substantially prevents a fluid flow through the fluid pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Marc Lopez, Stephen Michael Greci, Luke William Holderman
  • Patent number: 9016363
    Abstract: A frustoconical member includes a metal composite that has a cellular nanomatrix comprising a metallic nanomatrix material; a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix; and a first frustoconical portion. A process of making the frustoconical member includes combining a metal matrix powder, a disintegration agent, and metal nanomatrix material to form a composition; compacting the composition to form a compacted composition; sintering the compacted composition; and pressing the sintered composition to form the frustoconical member having a tapered portion on an outer surface of the frustoconical member. The frustoconical member can be used by contacting a frustoconical portion of the frustoconical member to a tapered surface of an article; applying pressure to the frustoconical member; urging the frustoconical member in a direction relative to the article to expand a radial dimension of the article; and contacting the frustoconical member with a fluid to disintegrate the frustoconical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, YingQing Xu, Gregory Lee Hern, Bennett M. Richard
  • Publication number: 20150075774
    Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug includes a cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body made of a tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends with a tapered outer diameter surface extending along its length between the ends. The frac plug further includes a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to, and compressible against, the plug member outer diameter surface, thus allowing the seal expand radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe. The frac plug is anchored in the pipe bore with clamping portions on axially opposite ends of the plug member. The clamping portion may include bore engagement portions that are arcuate or radially expanding fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: William Raggio
  • Publication number: 20150075773
    Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a bore of a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug comprises a generally cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body. The glass body may be tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends and a length extending between the axial ends. The plug member has an outer diameter surface extending along the length. The outer diameter surface is tapered. The frac plug further comprises a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends generally corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to the plug member outer diameter surface. The seal is compressible against the plug member outer diameter surface and expandable radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: William Raggio
  • Publication number: 20150060047
    Abstract: A composite frac plug (12) is provided which is formed of composite polymer materials, except for shear pins (52) and anchor cleats (96, 112) which are formed of metal. The composite materials provide for easy drilling of the frac plug (12) at the end of fracturing operations. The frac plug (12) has an elastomeric ball seat (44) which sealing engages with a frac ball (18). A ratchet lock assembly (26) has a split ratchet ring (82) which moves over the mandrel (22) in a downward direction only, and prevents movement of the mandrel (22) downward within the ratchet ring (92). An anchor assembly (28) has slip bodies (92, 108) which are segmented and separately urge anchor cleats (96, 112) into the interior surface of a well casing (136).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jimmy L. Carr, Derrek D. Drury, Robert C. Andres, Trea H. Baker
  • Publication number: 20150053395
    Abstract: A seal element for sealing a conduit is described. The seal element comprises a frusto conical portion and a first lip extending from an external edge of the frusto conical portion, the lip being adapted to be pivoted into engagement with a conduit surface. In a described embodiment, two seal elements are provided on a plug for sealing a conduit, the seal elements facing in opposite directions to seal from above and below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Lee Mercer, Stewart Christie
  • Publication number: 20150027737
    Abstract: A slip assembly for a downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, has a slip body and at least one insert unit with a base and one or more inserts. The slip body has an incline at one end that interfaces with an inclined surface of a cone. As this occurs, the slip body is pushed away from the tool's mandrel against a surrounding casing wall. The insert unit is disposed in the slip body with the base oriented at an angle relative to the incline, and with the one or more inerts extending from the base. In particular, the base can be disposed at or parallel to the incline, and the one or more inserts with less surface area than the base can extend perpendicular to the inline for the insert's distal ends to engage a surrounding wall of casing or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: James Alan Rochen, Shawn J. Treadaway
  • Publication number: 20150013964
    Abstract: A treatment plug includes, an anchor runnable and settable within a structure having, at least one slip movably engaged with the anchor to move radially into engagement with the structure in response to longitudinal movement of the at least one slip relative to surfaces of the treatment plug, at least one seal having a deformable metal member configured to radially deform into sealing engagement with the structure in response to being deformed radially outwardly, and a seat that is sealingly receptive to a plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: YingQing Xu, Graeme Michael Kelbie
  • Publication number: 20150007980
    Abstract: A series of down hole plugs are made from a common subassembly including, in some embodiments, a mandrel, a slips/seal section, a setting assembly and a mule shoe. To make the flow back plug, a ball check is placed in the mule shoe. To make the bridge plug, an obstruction is inserted in the mule shoe. To make the ball drop plug, the mule shoe is left unobstructed so any ball dropped in a well seats in a tapered inlet to the mandrel. To make a plug with a disintegratable check, a ball dropped in the well is of a type that disintegrated in frac liquids. Another embodiment is an improved adapter sleeve used on conventional setting tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: W. Lynn Frazier
  • Patent number: 8899317
    Abstract: A plug for isolating a wellbore. The plug can include a body having a first end and a second end, at least one malleable element disposed about the body, at least one slip disposed about the body, at least one conical member disposed about the body, and an insert secured to an inner surface of the body proximate the second end of the body. The insert can be adapted to receive a setting tool that enters the body through the first end thereof. The insert can include a passageway extending therethrough. The insert can be adapted to release the setting tool when exposed to a predetermined axial force, thereby providing a flow passage through the insert and the body. At least one of the body and the insert can be adapted to receive an impediment that restricts fluid flow in at least one direction through the body, wherein the impediment comprises one or more decomposable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: W. Lynn Frazier
  • Patent number: 8875800
    Abstract: A downhole sealing system includes a reactive material provided on a tubular and including an oxidizable substance; and a sealing material, wherein the oxidizable substance oxidizes when in contact with the sealing material. Also included is a method of providing a seal in a downhole system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Justin Cash Bowersock, James R. Korte
  • Patent number: 8839855
    Abstract: A modular changeable fractionation plug for use in a wellbore with a crown engagement and a plug receiving end formed on a mandrel which is adapted to be a caged ball configuration, a drop ball configuration and a bridge plug configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: McClinton Energy Group, LLC
    Inventors: Tony D. McClinton, Stanley Keeling
  • Publication number: 20140224476
    Abstract: A down hole tool or plug includes a segmented back up ring acting to minimize extrusion of a seal in an axial direction thereby promoting radial expansion of the seal into engagement with the internal diameter of a casing string. The segments of the ring are joined to a ring body having a passage thereby by a junction having, as its outer dimension, the outside diameter of the tool and an inside dimension provided by a groove opening into the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: W. Lynn Frazier
  • Publication number: 20140209294
    Abstract: Device, system, and method to adhesively bond a sleeve to a mandrel are disclosed. The sleeve and the mandrel may be used as part of frac plug or a bridge plug in oil and gas applications. The bonded adhesive connection with grooves is strengthened to reliably achieve higher levels of lap shear strengths than attainable by conventional means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CCDI Composites Inc.
    Inventor: Rob Sjostedt
  • Publication number: 20140209321
    Abstract: A plug includes a slip actuator for setting and release of slips, and a locking element in contact with the slip actuator. The locking element includes multiple parts with internal threads which constitute an enclosure around threads of a pipe. On the radial outer surface of the locking element are provided resilient elements. When setting the plug, the locking element is capable of sliding over the pipe threads for movement of the slip actuator and setting of the slips, until the locking element comes into engagement with a locking sleeve, fixed relative to the pipe, which prevents rotation of the locking element. When releasing the plug, the locking element is released from the locking sleeve, and the locking element rotates off the pipe threads, and the slip actuator follows the movement of the locking element and releases the slips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ARCHER OIL TOOLS AS
    Inventors: Tor Eivind Hansen, Krzysztof Klimas
  • Patent number: 8783341
    Abstract: A downhole plug includes a body and an element system disposed about the body. The plug further includes a first and second back-up ring member having two or more tapered wedges. The tapered wedges are at least partially separated by two or more converging grooves. First and second cones are disposed adjacent the first and second back-up ring members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: W. Lynn Frazier
  • Publication number: 20140196913
    Abstract: A bridge plug tool for use in a well, comprising: a tool body; a mandrel (3) extending through the tool body; a setting sleeve (2) positioned on the tool body; a packer module (4,5,6) located below the setting sleeve, the packer module having an expanded position in which its outer surface is expanded radially with respect to the tool body and a contracted position in which its outer surface is substantially the same as that of the tool body; and an anchor module (9,10,11) located below the packer module, the anchoring module comprising anchor elements moveable between an expanded position in which the anchor elements extend radially from the tool body and a contracted position in which the anchor elements are substantially aligned with the surface of the tool body; wherein the mandrel extends through the sleeve, packer module and anchor module; the mandrel and setting sleeve are relatively moveable between an axially extended position and an axially contracted position; and wherein the mandrel and setting sl
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: EXTREME INVENT AS
    Inventors: Dag Pedersen, Robin Lovslett, Tore Vedal
  • Publication number: 20140190685
    Abstract: Downhole tools for use in oil and gas production which degrade into non-toxic materials, a method of making them and methods of using them. A frac ball and a bridge plug comprised of polyglycolic acid which can be used in fracking a well and then left in the well bore to predictably, quickly, and safely disintegrate into environmentally friendly products without needing to be milled out or retrieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Frazier Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: W. Lynn Frazier, Garrett Frazier, Derrick Frazier
  • Patent number: 8739870
    Abstract: A system having a sealing assembly for a gravel port in a gravel pack apparatus. The sealing assembly includes a sealing element around an outer circumference of the gravel pack assembly above the gravel pack and below the gravel port. The sealing element is on the outside housing of the gravel pack apparatus or on a separate piece of equipment located above the gravel pack and below the gravel port, permitting a larger flow bore through the gravel pack apparatus. The sealing element may be selectively actuated after the gravel pack operation has concluded, thus maintaining the gravel pack in the desired location. The removal of a gravel pack tool may permit the sealing element to be actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Superior Energy Services, LLC
    Inventor: John Barton Weirich
  • Publication number: 20140096949
    Abstract: The present device relates to a drill hole plug system, and more specifically, to a plug used to seal off rods or casings left in the ground after exploration diamond drilling. The present drill hole plug system is primarily comprised of a basket, connected to a basket adapter, which is in turn threaded onto a primary module. The basket initially locks the drill hole plug system into place, and the primary module is subsequently rotated, such that corresponding parts move forward and anchor the primary module into place within the casing. Afterwards, continued rotation of the primary module engenders a lead-in ring to compress a sealant, expanding said sealant within the drill hole plug system and effectively sealing it off. The drill hole plug system can also incorporate optional modular add-ons, such as a check valve and a shut-off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: 7092601 CANADA, INC.
    Inventor: GORD MCLAREN
  • Patent number: 8678081
    Abstract: A downhole tool such as a bridge or frac plug includes a combination anvil and coupler that forms both the anvil or bottom stop on a mandrel, and a coupler to attach a burn device. One or more members, including a packer ring, can be disposed on the mandrel and movable with respect to the central mandrel along a longitudinal axis of the central mandrel. The combination anvil and coupler includes an upper attachment section attached to the mandrel, an upper surface against which the members are compressed, and a lower attachment section attached to a burn device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall W. Nish
  • Publication number: 20140076571
    Abstract: Downhole tools for use in oil and gas production which degrade into non-toxic materials, a method of making them and methods of using them. A frac ball and a bridge plug comprised of polyglycolic acid which can be used in fracking a well and then left in the well bore to predictably, quickly, and safely disintegrate into environmentally friendly products without needing to be milled out or retrieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: W. Lynn Frazier, Garrett Frazier, Derrick Frazier