Electrically Produced Heat Patents (Class 175/16)
  • Patent number: 12140850
    Abstract: An example laser system includes one or more optical transmission media that are part of an optical path originating at a laser generator configured to generate an input laser beam. The example laser system includes an analyzer for receiving the input laser beam and for characterizing at least a profile and energy of the input laser beam. The example laser system includes a circulator for receiving the input laser beam from the analyzer and for minimizing or eliminating reflections. The example laser system includes a beam transformer for receiving the input laser beam from the circulator and for altering at least one property of the input laser beam thereby generating an output laser beam. The example laser system includes a writing head for altering at least one optical property of the beam transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Damian Pablo San Roman Alerigi, Sameeh Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 12042992
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Seurat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. DeMuth, Erik Toomre, Francis L. Leard, Kourosh Kamshad, Heiner Fees, Eugene Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 11913303
    Abstract: Wellbore drilling and completion systems implement a method of completing a wellbore. A laser head is mounted to a wellbore drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone. The laser head emits a first laser beam in a downhole direction within the wellbore to form the wellbore through the subterranean zone. Doing so causes portions of the subterranean zone to be released as drill cuttings into the wellbore. The laser head emits a second laser beam in a radial direction within the wellbore. The second laser beam is incident on a portion of the drill cuttings. The second laser beam causes the portion of the drill cuttings to consolidate and form a casing of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Sameeh Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 11873716
    Abstract: A pulsed power drilling (PPD) component includes a functional gradient of material from a first portion to a second portion of the PPD component. The functional gradient of material provides a greater wear resistance of the first portion relative to the second portion and a greater electrical conductivity or resistivity of the second portion relative to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Krutibas Panda, Philip Park Hung Leung, Manoj Gangamwar, Daniel Brendan Voglewede
  • Patent number: 11773684
    Abstract: Wellbore drilling and completion systems implement a method of completing a wellbore. A laser head is mounted to a wellbore drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone. The laser head emits a first laser beam in a downhole direction within the wellbore to form the wellbore through the subterranean zone. Doing so causes portions of the subterranean zone to be released as drill cuttings into the wellbore. The laser head emits a second laser beam in a radial direction within the wellbore. The second laser beam is incident on a portion of the drill cuttings. The second laser beam causes the portion of the drill cuttings to consolidate and form a casing of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Sameeh Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 11629558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a melting head (1) for an ice melting apparatus (1, 8) comprising a rear, in relation to the propagation direction, attachment region (4) for attaching to a drilling apparatus (8) or a drilling rod assembly, and a forward, in relation to the propagation direction, heatable front region (1c), wherein the front region (1c) has a radially outer face region (1a) in which the front region (1c) has an outer cross section that tapers in the propagation direction (3) up to the forward axial melting head end (1d), in particular with a tapering outer diameter, and the radially outer face region (1a) surrounds an inner cavity (5), the free inner cross section of which reduces from the axial melting head end (1d) counter to the propagation direction (3). The invention also relates to an ice melting apparatus (1, 8) formed with the melting head (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE-TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
    Inventors: Peter Linder, Simon Zierke, Dirk Heinen, Christoph Wiebusch
  • Patent number: 11608739
    Abstract: The downhole tool may include an electrical power source, a positive and a negative electrode, and at least one sensor. The positive and negative electrodes may be configured to generate an electric field between the positive and the negative electrode with an electrical charge from the electrical power source and discharge the electric charge through a downhole formation. The at least one sensor may be configured to detect quantum particles dislocated by at least one of the electric field and the discharged electrical charge to determine downhole information from at least one of a travel time of the quantum particles, a composition of the quantum particles, a quantity of the quantum particles, and a charge of the quantum particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joerg Lehr
  • Patent number: 11548101
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Seurat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James A DeMuth, Erik Toomre, Francis L. Leard, Kourosh Kamshad, Heiner Fees, Eugene Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 11525306
    Abstract: A drill bit for downhole pulsed-power drilling is disclosed. A pulse-power drill bit may include a bit body; an electrode coupled to a power source and the bit body; a ground ring coupled to the bit body, the electrode and the ground ring positioned such that an electric field produced by a voltage applied between the ground ring and the electrode is enhanced at a portion of the ground ring proximate to the ground ring; a reinforcement material forming portions of the ground ring; a binder material infiltrated through the reinforcement material to form a composite material and forming a first portion of the ground ring; and an machinable material forming a second portion of the ground ring, wherein the composite material has a first resistance to abrasion greater than a second resistance to abrasion of the machinable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob H. Kronman
  • Patent number: 11480015
    Abstract: A electrocrushing drill bit may include a bit body; an electrode coupled to a power source and the bit body, the electrode having a distal portion for engaging with a surface of a wellbore; a ground ring coupled to the bit body proximate to the electrode and having a distal portion for engaging with the surface of the wellbore, the electrode and the ground ring positioned in relation to each other such that an electric field produced by a voltage applied between the ground ring and the electrode is enhanced at a portion of the electrode proximate to the distal portion of the electrode and at a portion of the ground ring proximate to the distal portion of the ground ring; and an insulator coupled to the bit body between the electrode and the ground ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., SDG LLC
    Inventor: William M. Moeny
  • Patent number: 11326399
    Abstract: A disclosed pulsed-power drilling system may include a controller that receives and analyzes feedback from downhole components reflecting changing conditions or performance measurements associated with a pulsed drilling operation to determine that an operating parameter of the drilling operation should be modified. The controller may output a control signal to cause an adjustment of a configurable downhole component, such as mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic component that affects the operating parameter, while the drill bit remains in the wellbore. The controller may adjust a segmented transformer of a pulse-generating circuit, changing the number of primary winding switches that are fired, or the timing of the firing of the switches, to modify characteristics of the generated pulses. Adjusting a downhole component may affect the drilling rate, the drilling direction, the flow of drilling fluid, a pulse rise time, a pulse repetition rate, or a rate of penetration for the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., SDG LLC
    Inventors: Daniel D. Gleitman, William M. Moeny
  • Patent number: 11293231
    Abstract: A multi-path combined high-low voltage plasma drilling method, a drill bit for drilling and a drill bit apparatus for drilling utilizing this method. The drilling method includes: disposing a plurality of mutually independent plasma generators on a plasma drill bit, wherein the plasma generators are independently connected to a plasma power source on the ground through wires; allowing each of the plasma generators to eject high-frequency pulsed plasma arc under the control of its corresponding combined high-low voltage pulse power source on the ground; ejecting the high-frequency pulsed plasma arc onto a wall of a drilling well, forming impulsive high temperature thermal shock stress inside the rocks on the wall of the drilling well; and breaking the rocks under the shock of thermal stress to form rock debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: China University of Petroleum (East China)
    Inventors: Yonghong Liu, Qiang Sun, Qingyun Li, Renjie Ji, Baoping Cai, Xiaopeng Li, Yancong Han, Peng Liu, Xinlei Wu, Hang Dong, Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11268796
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a borehole, a blast probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by a dielectric separator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the dielectric separator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises water. The adjustable tip permits fine-tuning of the blast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Petram Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Frank A. Magnotti, Igor S. Alexandrov
  • Patent number: 11236612
    Abstract: An advanced monitoring device and an implementation method for a whole-process deformation curve of a surrounding rock during tunnel excavation is disclosed, comprising a steel pipe elastic body, a cathetometer structure and an embedded optical fiber, and an implementation step; the cathetometer is an equidistant series structure, and fixed in the steel pipe; the embedded optical fiber is encapsulated in the surface slot of the steel pipe; the cathetometer and the embedded optical fiber and the steel pipe form a deformation coordination structure, and the deformation of the surrounding rock can be deduced by calculating the variation of the cathetometer and the deformation of the optical fiber. The invention can test and calculate the deformation curve of the surrounding rock in front of the excavation face during tunnel excavation, and provide support for engineering dynamic design, construction and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Xiaogang Wang, Lipeng Liu, Yujie Wang, Yongyu Ling, Yufeng Zhao, Xingsong Sun, Qingwei Duan, Ruizhi Fu, Ruilang Cao, Ping Sun, Jin Pi, Long Jiang, Xingchao Lin
  • Patent number: 11225836
    Abstract: A disclosed pulsed-power drill bit includes a bit body, an electrode coupled to the bit body and having a distal portion, a ground ring coupled to the bit body and having a distal portion for engaging with sidewall surfaces of a wellbore and defining an outer diameter of the ground ring, and actuatable, electrically conductive fins each coupled to the ground ring such that the fin and the distal portion of the ground ring are electrically continuous. Each fin is positioned such that when actuated, a distal portion of the fin is extended in a direction away from the bit body, increasing the effective outer diameter of the ground ring, or is retracted, decreasing the effective outer diameter of the ground ring. The fins may be spring loaded within a track, channel, or slot between fluid flow ports and may be actuated individually or collectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob H. Kronman
  • Patent number: 11078727
    Abstract: A disclosed pulsed-power drilling system may include a controller that receives and analyzes feedback from downhole components reflecting changing conditions or performance measurements associated with a pulsed drilling operation to determine that an operating parameter of the drilling operation should be modified. The controller may output a control signal to cause an adjustment of a configurable downhole component, such as mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic component that affects the operating parameter, while the drill bit remains in the wellbore. The controller may adjust a segmented transformer of a pulse-generating circuit, changing the number of primary winding switches that are fired, or the timing of the firing of the switches, to modify characteristics of the generated pulses. Adjusting a downhole component may affect the drilling rate, the drilling direction, the flow of drilling fluid, a pulse rise time, a pulse repetition rate, or a rate of penetration for the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Chevron U.S.A. Inc., SDG LLC
    Inventors: Daniel D. Gleitman, William M. Moeny
  • Patent number: 10870150
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SEURAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James A. DeMuth, Erik Toomre, Francis L. Leard, Kourosh Kamshad, Heiner Fees, Eugene Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 10866076
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a solid object having a borehole, a blast probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by a dielectric separator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the dielectric separator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises water. The adjustable tip permits fine-tuning of the blast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Petram Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor S. Alexandrov, Frank A. Magnotti
  • Patent number: 10690469
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a solid object having a borehole, a blast probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by a dielectric separator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the dielectric separator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises water. The adjustable tip permits fine-tuning of the blast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Petram Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor S. Alexandrov, Frank A. Magnotti
  • Patent number: 10683703
    Abstract: There are provided high power laser perforating tools and methods of delivering laser energy patterns that enhance the flow of energy sources, such as hydrocarbons, from a formation into a production tubing or collection system. These tools and methods precisely deliver predetermined laser beam energy patterns, to provide for custom geometries in a formation. The patterns and geometries are tailored and customized to the particular geological and structural features of a formation and reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian O. Faircloth, Mark S. Zediker, Daryl L. Grubb, Sam N. Schroit, Ronald A. De Witt, Sharath K. Kolachalam, Paul D. Deutch, Eugene J. Linyaev
  • Patent number: 10539012
    Abstract: Pulsed-electric drilling systems can be augmented with multi-component electromagnetic field sensors on the drillstring, at the earth's surface, or in existing boreholes in the vicinity of the planned drilling path. The sensors detect electrical fields and/or magnetic fields caused by the electrical pulses and derive therefrom information of interest including, e.g., spark size and orientation, bit position, at-bit resistivity and permittivity, and tomographically mapped formation strictures. The at-bit resistivity measurements can be for anisotropic or isotropic formations, and in the former case, can include vertical and horizontal resistivities and an orientation of the anisotropy axis. The sensors can illustratively include toroids, electrode arrays, tilted coil antennas, magnetic dipole antennas aligned with the tool axes, and magnetometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Burkay Donderici, Ronald J. Dirksen
  • Patent number: 10378284
    Abstract: A downhole device for rotary drilling is provided. The device includes a power generator installed at the end of a series of rods, a pulse generator which is mechanically and electrically connected to the electricity generator, an electric drilling tool, and an electrical sliding switch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: I.T.H.P.P.
    Inventors: Frédéric Bayol, Boni Dramane, Jean-Louis Gaussen, Christophe Goepfert
  • Patent number: 10042123
    Abstract: There are provided high power laser connectors and couplers and methods that are capable of providing high laser power without the need for active cooling to remote, harsh and difficult to access locations and under difficult and harsh conditions and to manage and mitigate the adverse effects of back reflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Foro Energy
    Inventors: Charles C. Rinzler, William C. Gray, Jason D. Fraze, Brian O. Faircloth, Mark S. Zediker, Ryan P. McKay
  • Patent number: 10036232
    Abstract: There is provided a mobile high power laser system and conveyance structure for delivering high power laser energy to and for performing high power laser operations in remote and difficult to access locations. There is further provide such systems with high power laser, handling equipment and conveyance equipment that are configured to avoid exceeding the maximum bending radius of high power optical fibers used with the conveyance structures. There are also provided embodiments of the conveyance structures having channels, lines and passages for delivering materials such as fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Foro Energy
    Inventors: Ronald A. DeWitt, Mark S. Zediker, Brian O. Faircloth, Daryl L. Grubb, Ryan P. McKay, William C. Gray, Joel F. Moxley, Charles C. Rinzler, Lance D. Underwood, Paul D. Deutch
  • Patent number: 9962792
    Abstract: A method for repairing one or more holes in a near wall of a component is provided. The method includes determining updated hole information, including an updated location, of a first hole in the near wall of the component. The method also includes directing a confined laser beam of the confined laser drill towards the near wall of the component at the updated location of the first hole to drill through a coating of the component extending over and/or positioned in the first hole. The method also includes sensing a characteristic of light reflected from the updated location of the first hole and determining the confined laser beam of the confined laser drill has drilled through a portion of the coating of the component extending over and/or positioned in the first hole based on the sensed characteristic of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhaoli Hu, Abe Denis Darling, Shamgar Elijah McDowell, Douglas Anthony Serieno, Jonathan Matthew Lomas
  • Patent number: 9939588
    Abstract: A cost efficient and pressure resistant system for interconnecting fiber optical cables in-situ at a hydrocarbon fluid production facility comprises:—a pressure resistant light transparent window (41);—a first lens system (48A-C), which is arranged at one side of the window and configured to convert a first light beam transmitted through a first fiber optical cable (46A-C) into a collimated light beam (51A-C) that is transmitted through the window; and—a second lens system (50A-C), which is arranged at an opposite side of the window and configured to receive and reconvert the collimated light beam into a second light beam that is transmitted into a second fiber optical cable (47A-C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Matheus Norbertus Baaijens, William Birch, Arthur Alexander Van Rooyen
  • Patent number: 9903171
    Abstract: A system for extracting oil and gas includes at least one drilling rod having an elongated body and a working head positioned at the distal end of the elongated body, wherein the working head has a proximal end and a distal end, a first mechanical drilling device positioned at the distal end of the working head, a second mechanical drilling device position at the proximal end of the working head, a central laser emitter positioned at the distal end of the working head, at least one lateral emitter positioned on a side wall of the working head between the distal end and the proximal end, a fiber optic cable positioned within a lumen of the elongated body and coupled to the central laser emitter and the at least one lateral emitter, and a laser source coupled to and supplying a laser beam to the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Alexander Petrovich Linetskiy
  • Patent number: 9890594
    Abstract: New systems and methods capable system for drilling are disclosed. An example system can include a vertically-moving platform supporting a gyrotron capable of transmitted electromagnetic energy down a waveguide such that, as the vertically-moving platform moves downward, energy transmitted by the gyrotron through the waveguide will progressively drill a borehole in the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: John Hanback
  • Patent number: 9784037
    Abstract: A high power laser drilling system utilizing an electric motor laser bottom hole assembly. A high power laser beam travels within the electric motor for performing a laser operation. A system includes a down hole electrical motor having a hollow rotor for conveying a high power laser beam having a wavelength less than 1060 nm through the electrical motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventors: Daryl L. Grubb, Brian O. Faircloth, Mark S. Zediker
  • Patent number: 9752206
    Abstract: In the present pelletizing apparatus, the induration of iron ore concentrate pellets is achieved in a tunnel furnace heated by plasma torches, wherein the generation of CO2 by the conventional iron ore pelletizing processes is reduced by using electricity powered plasma torches instead of burning natural gas, heavy oil or pulverized coal in burners, thereby reducing considerably industrial pollution of the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PYROGENESIS CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Michel G. Drouet, Pierre Carabin
  • Patent number: 9677339
    Abstract: A method of developing oil and gas fields includes creating a well by mechanically displacing rock material via a drilling device, increasing a well diameter by impacting the rock material via laser beams emitted from a central emitter, and reinforcing inner walls of the well by impacting wall material via laser beams emitted from a lateral emitter. A system includes a drilling device with a hollow lumen and a central drilling head, at least one fiber optic cable positioned within the lumen, a laser source coupled to a proximal end of the cable, a central emitter positioned inside the central drilling head and coupled to a distal end of the cable, at least one lateral emitter positioned on a side wall of the drilling device and coupled to the cable, and a controller coupled to the central and lateral emitters for controlling at least one laser beam characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Alexander Petrovich Linetskiy
  • Patent number: 9631433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sinking or introducing cavities in rock, wherein the face of the cavity (2) is melted using electrical plasma generators. In order in such a method to produce an energy density at the face of the cavity (2), the energy density being sufficient to completely or partially evaporate the in-situ stone, the invention proposes arranging a heat shield (4) immediately over the face of the cavity (2), the heat shield (4) forming with the face of the cavity (2) a dynamic pressure space (7) in which a temperature of more than 2000° C. is established at a pressure of more than 2 bar by heating with plasma generators (8). This supply of energy is sufficient to melt the stone in-situ at the face of the cavity (2), to completely or partially gasify it and to remove it from the cavity (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Josef Grotendorst
  • Patent number: 9624432
    Abstract: A soil stabilization mixture comprising a mixture of soil to be stabilized, fibers and binder. The soil and the fibers are mixed together. The binder, which acts as a chemical stabilizer, is then added and mixing continues. The mixture is then applied to the soil to be stabilized and the stabilized soil is then compacted. The fibers can be recycled carpet fibers, fiber reinforced polymer, biofibers or a mixture thereof. The binder includes mixtures of Portland cement and at least one of crushed glass, metakaolin and ground blast furnace slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Asia Shvarzman
  • Patent number: 9545692
    Abstract: There are provided high power laser cutting tools, optics assembly and laser beam configurations having long stand off distances, which provide high power laser beams, greater than 1 kW, to cut and volumetrically remove targeted materials. There is also provided methods of using these tools using a beam delivery angle that provides for molten material to be removed by flowing out of the targeted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FORO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian O. Faircloth, Mark S. Zediker, Shararth K. Kolachalam, Daryl L. Grubb
  • Patent number: 9512679
    Abstract: The removal of material from the path of a high power laser beam during down hole laser operations including drilling of a borehole and removal of displaced laser effected borehole material from the borehole during laser operations. In particular, paths, dynamics and parameters of fluid flows for use in conjunction with a laser bottom hole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Rinzler, Mark S. Zediker, Brian O. Faircloth, Joel F. Moxley
  • Patent number: 9284783
    Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for providing a laser beam to borehole surface in a predetermined and energy deposition profile. The predetermined energy deposition profiles may be uniform or tailored to specific downhole applications. Optic assemblies for obtaining these predetermined energy deposition profiles are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FORO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian O. Faircloth, Mark S. Zediker, Charles C. Rinzler, Yeshaya Koblick, Joel F. Moxley
  • Patent number: 9181754
    Abstract: Pulsed-electric drilling systems can be augmented with multi-component electromagnetic field sensors on the drillstring, at the earth's surface, or in existing boreholes in the vicinity of the planned drilling path. The sensors detect electrical fields and/or magnetic fields caused by the electrical pulses and derive therefrom information of interest including, e.g., spark size and orientation, bit position, at-bit resistivity and permittivity, and tomographically mapped formation structures. The at-bit resistivity measurements can be for anisotropic or isotropic formations, and in the former case, can include vertical and horizontal resistivities and an orientation of the anisotropy axis. The sensors can illustratively include toroids, electrode arrays, tilted coil antennas, magnetic dipole antennas aligned with the tool axes, and magnetometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Haliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Burkay Donderici, Ronald J. Dirksen
  • Patent number: 9138786
    Abstract: There is provided a high power laser tool system for transmitting and delivering high power laser energy within the interior of pipes, which includes a high power laser-pig and long distance high power optical tether. The high power laser system performs high power laser pigging operations and other operations, such as, cleaning, assembling, maintaining and monitoring of pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FORO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan P. McKay, Charles C. Rinzler, Joel F. Moxley, Paul D. Deutch, Mark S. Zediker, Ronald A. DeWitt, Brian O. Faircloth
  • Patent number: 9085018
    Abstract: A method of clearing a pipe of contents with an air system. The method may include providing air by the air system at high pressure and low velocity until the contents begin to move within the pipe, providing air by the air system air at low pressure and high velocity until a majority of the contents are removed from the pipe, and continuing to provide air at low pressure and high velocity until substantially all remaining contents are removed from the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Rémi Lafon, Alexis Pierrot, Jean-lue Combal
  • Patent number: 9062499
    Abstract: A laser drilling system (100) for drilling rocks, soil and engineering materials with the aid of high-intensity laser light is described, which comprises an optical drill (104) for supplying laser light for the drilling of said materials provided with sensors (106); a control and operations center (101) comprising computer and supervising software with integrated logic; a cooling and debris withdrawal system (105) an energy source (102); an energy conductor (103) provided with sensors (107) and laser systems (201) for emitting high-intensity laser light and optical fibers (123) for conducting the so-generated laser light, so that the information collected by sensors (106), (107) supply said control and operations center (101) and said control and operations center (101) determines improved operation conditions of the optical drill (104) for the drilling of said solid materials or mixtures of solid and liquid materials relative to state-of-the-art drilling systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Faculdades Catolicas, Sociedade Civil Mantenedora Da PUC Rio
    Inventors: Arthur Martins Barbosa Braga, Cicero Martelli
  • Patent number: 9027668
    Abstract: A control and monitoring system controls and monitors a high power laser system for performing high power laser operations. The control and monitoring system is configured to perform high power laser operation on, and in, remote and difficult to access locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Siamak Makki, Brian O. Faircloth, Ronald A. DeWitt, Erik C. Allen, Lance D. Underwood
  • Patent number: 9010458
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an assembly for creating a pressure pulse in a liquid-filled cavity within a fracturable material such as a boulder wherein the primary energy storage element is disposed in a transducer at the boulder to improve the coupling of energy between the energy storage unit and the fluid in the boulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SDG, LLC
    Inventor: William M. Moeny
  • Publication number: 20150083491
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for isolating and switching lower voltage pulses from high voltage pulses in electrocrushing and electrohydraulic drills. A transformer with a high permeability core acts as a magnetic switch or saturating inductor to switch high voltage pulses to initiate an electrocrushing arc and lower voltage pulses to sustain the arc. The transformer isolates the lower voltage components from the high voltage pulses, and switches to deliver the low voltage current when the core saturates. The transformer enables impedance matching to the arc during all stages of drilling. The saturation time of the transformer core is the time delay between initiation of delivering the high voltage pulse and initiation of delivering the lower voltage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: William M. Moeny, Josh Gilbrech, Richard Adler
  • Publication number: 20150068804
    Abstract: A downhole tool for increasing a diameter of a wellbore disposed within a subterranean formation. The downhole tool includes an underreamer having a plurality of cutter blocks moveably coupled thereto that move radially-outward from a refracted state to an expanded state. The cutter blocks cut the subterranean formation to increase the diameter of the wellbore from a first diameter to a second diameter when in the expanded state. A formation weakening tool may be coupled to the underreamer. The formation weakening tool weakens a portion of the subterranean formation positioned radially-outward therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: MADAPUSI K. KESHAVAN, PRAFUL C. DESAI, IAIN M. COOPER
  • Publication number: 20150042145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sinking or introducing cavities in rock, wherein the face of the cavity (2) is melted using electrical plasma generators. In order in such a method to produce an energy density at the face of the cavity (2), the energy density being sufficient to completely or partially evaporate the in-situ stone, the invention proposes arranging a heat shield (4) immediately over the face of the cavity (2), the heat shield (4) forming with the face of the cavity (2) a dynamic pressure space (7) in which a temperature of more than 2000° C. is established at a pressure of more than 2 bar by heating with plasma generators (8). This supply of energy is sufficient to melt the stone in-situ at the face of the cavity (2), to completely or partially gasify it and to remove it from the cavity (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Josef GROTENDORST
  • Patent number: 8936108
    Abstract: Downhole cutting systems, devices and methods for utilizing 10 kW or more laser energy transmitted deep into the earth with the suppression of associated nonlinear phenomena. Systems and devices for the laser cutting operations within a borehole in the earth. These systems and devices can deliver high power laser energy down a deep borehole, while maintaining the high power to perform cutting operations in such boreholes deep within the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Charles C. Rinzler, Brian O. Faircloth, Yeshaya Koblick, Joel F. Moxley
  • Patent number: 8908266
    Abstract: A method of delivering a desired relatively high optical power to a well tool in a subterranean well can include coupling to an optical waveguide an optical source which combines multiple optical frequency ranges, respective centers of the frequency ranges being separated by at least a peak shift frequency in a Raman gain spectrum for a corresponding pump wavelength generated by the optical source, and transmitting the desired optical power to the well tool via the optical waveguide positioned in the well. Another method of delivering optical power to a well tool in a subterranean well can include coupling to an optical waveguide an optical source, the optical source comprising a sufficient number of lasing elements to transmit the optical power, with the optical power being greater than a critical power for stimulated Brillouin scattering in the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal G. Skinner
  • Publication number: 20140346157
    Abstract: A method of controlling the environment intermediate a laser head and a targeted portion of a bore wall to remove solid material at the wall includes running an umbilical into the bore to position the head, irradiating the targeted portion of the wall using laser light, sensing a light spectrum resulting from irradiation of the solid material, comparing the sensed light spectrum to a light spectrum corresponding to favorable irradiation of the solid material, adjusting the rate of introduction of a laser-compatible material to displace laser-incompatible materials from the laser light path to obtain more favorable irradiation of the solid material. The method enable the conservation of the source of the laser-compatible material or improved irradiation of the solid material for solid removal by using the laser to cut, heat, fracture or melt the solid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tamas Bozso, Robert Bozso
  • Patent number: 8869914
    Abstract: Workover and completion systems, devices and methods for utilizing 10 kW or more laser energy transmitted deep into the earth with the suppression of associated nonlinear phenomena. Systems and devices for the laser workover and completion of a borehole in the earth. These systems and devices can deliver high power laser energy down a deep borehole, while maintaining the high power to perform laser workover and completion operations in such boreholes deep within the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Charles C. Rinzler, Brian O. Faircloth, Yeshaya Koblick, Joel F. Moxley
  • Publication number: 20140305635
    Abstract: A method of developing oil and gas fields includes creating a well by mechanically displacing rock material via a drilling device, increasing a well diameter by impacting the rock material via laser beams emitted from a central emitter, and reinforcing inner walls of the well by impacting wall material via laser beams emitted from a lateral emitter. A system includes a drilling device with a hollow lumen and a central drilling head, at least one fiber optic cable positioned within the lumen, a laser source coupled to a proximal end of the cable, a central emitter positioned inside the central drilling head and coupled to a distal end of the cable, at least one lateral emitter positioned on a side wall of the drilling device and coupled to the cable, and a controller coupled to the central and lateral emitters for controlling at least one laser beam characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Alexander Petrovich Linetskiy