Boring Curved Or Redirected Bores Patents (Class 175/61)
  • Patent number: 10954773
    Abstract: An automated slide drilling system (ASDS) may be used with a drilling rig system to control slide drilling. The ASDS may autonomously control slide drilling without user input during the slide drilling. The ASDS may further support a transition from rotary drilling to slide drilling to rotary drilling without user input during the transitions. The ASDS may also support user input and user notifications for various steps to enable manual or semi-manual control of slide drilling by a driller or an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: MOTIVE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Teddy Chen, Joshua Miles Brinkley, John Jeremy Cantwell, Eric Alan Nolte, Robert Tyler Quarles, Sashmit Bhaduri, Zarko Bizaca, Kevin Mims, Brian Stokeld
  • Patent number: 10947784
    Abstract: A method for directional drilling including defining, by a sliding mode controller, a sliding hypersurface for reducing a trajectory error in one or more error dimensions; determining a current trajectory error between a current trajectory of a directional drilling tool and a reference trajectory for a curved path, the current trajectory error corresponding to a current error position in the one or more error dimensions; calculating a sliding mode vector originating from the current error position and substantially conforming to the sliding hypersurface in the one or more error dimensions; determining a feedback control input for the directional drilling tool based on the sliding mode vector; instructing the directional drilling tool to generate a wellbore path according to the feedback control input; and updating the current trajectory error based on either a change in position or a change in attitude of the directional drilling tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Umut Zalluhoglu, Yiming Zhao
  • Patent number: 10940514
    Abstract: An in-situ thermal desorption system, an in-situ thermal desorption-oxidation remediation system and a remediation method are provided, wherein the in-situ thermal desorption system comprises a heating device and an extraction device, wherein the heating device is used for transporting heated air to the contaminated soil to desorb the organic pollutants, and wherein the extraction device is used for sucking the desorbed organic pollutants. The in-situ thermal desorption-oxidation remediation system adds a thermal catalytic oxidation device based on the in-situ thermal desorption system, wherein the organic pollutants extracted by the extraction device are catalytically degraded in the thermal catalytic oxidation device, and a device for recycling and reprocessing an exhaust gas is further added. The present disclosure also provides an in-situ thermal desorption-oxidation remediation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences
    Inventors: Yonghai Jiang, Beidou Xi, Yu Yang, Xinying Lian, Huan Huan, Fu Xia, Xu Han, Xiangjian Xu
  • Patent number: 10934780
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for releasing a downhole tool of a BHA from a whipstock in a wellbore include a latch release mechanism disposed on a whipstock. The latch release mechanism has a latch actuator and a latch member. The latch actuator has a switch and an actuator piston disposed in housing having an inlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the actuator piston. The switch has first, intermediate, and second configurations. Fluid communication between the inlet and the actuator piston is blocked when the switch is in the first and intermediate configurations, and the fluid communication is unblocked when the switch is in the second configuration. The actuator piston is coupled to the latch member and configured to move the latch member out of engagement with a lock mechanism of the downhole tool in response to fluid communication from the inlet when the switch is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery Scott Pray, Michael T. Smalley, Joshua Matthew Korf
  • Patent number: 10934831
    Abstract: A method of drilling a first wellbore in an oilfield where an offset wellbore has been formed, the method including executing, using a computing system, at least a portion of a first set of instructions based on a well plan relating to the first wellbore; receiving, by the computing system, after the execution of at least the portion of the first set of instructions, offset drilling data associated with the drilling of the offset wellbore; generating, using the computing system, a second set of instructions based on the offset drilling data; wherein the second set of instructions is based on the well plan relating to the first wellbore; and wherein the second set of instructions is different from the first set of instructions; requesting confirmation to execute the second set of instructions; and executing the second set of instructions after receipt of confirmation to execute the second set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Papouras, Srikanth Valleru, Namitha Vinay
  • Patent number: 10934810
    Abstract: A multilateral tool and methods and systems related thereto, the multilateral tool conveyable into a parent wellbore and a lateral wellbore and having a plurality of components operatively coupled together such that movement of a component correspondingly moves the adjacent component. The plurality of components comprise a whipstock having a latch anchor, a drill bit, a measurement while drilling (MWD) tool, a motor, at least one well screen, and a multilateral junction having a primary leg and a lateral leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William Wallace Dancer
  • Patent number: 10927624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling tool and a method for producing a bore in the ground, in which method ground material is carried away by a removal device on the underside of a main body of the drilling tool, flushing air is supplied by a feeding device into the bore, which is filled with drilling fluid, in the area of the removal device and ground material carried away by means of the flushing air is transported away through a discharge line. According to the invention, the ground material is transported to a receiving area in an upper section of the main body. A collecting hood is provided above the receiving area, which closes off the receiving area at the top, forming an air collecting space in which air collects. An outlet valve by means of which air is discharged from the air collecting space is arranged on the collecting hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BAUER Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Bauer
  • Patent number: 10907410
    Abstract: A bearing housing for a bottomhole assembly of a downhole tool includes an upper bearing housing, lower bearing housing, and a driveshaft. The upper bearing housing and lower bearing housing include a bore defining a bore longitudinal axis. The outer surface of the upper bearing housing defining a bearing housing longitudinal axis, the bearing housing longitudinal axis formed at an angle to the bore longitudinal axis. The upper bearing housing may be formed by forming a bore through an upper bearing housing blank and subsequently forming the outer surface of the upper bearing housing concentric with the bearing housing longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TURBO DRILL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon Ritchie, Chad Feddema
  • Patent number: 10890030
    Abstract: Directional drilling is an extremely important area of technology for the extraction of oil and gas from earthen formations. The technology of the present application relates to improved non-stabilizer guidance positioning members for directional drilling assemblies and for drill strings. It also relates to an improved method for analyzing the fit and engagement of a directional drilling assembly in curved and straight wellbores in order to produce improved guidance positioning members. It also relates to a method of designing guidance positioning members for directional drilling. It also relates to drilling directional wellbores using the guidance positioning members of the present technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: XR Lateral LLC
    Inventors: Edward Spatz, Michael Reese, David Miess, Gregory Prevost
  • Patent number: 10883355
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for a nonlinear toolface control system for a rotary steerable drilling tool is disclosed. The method includes determining a desired toolface of a drilling tool, calculating a toolface error by determining a difference between a current toolface and the desired toolface, generating a model to describe the dynamics of the drilling tool, modify the model, based on at least one intermediate variable, to create a modified model, calculating a correction to reduce the toolface error, the correction based on the modified model, transmitting a signal to the drilling tool such that the signal adjusts the current toolface based on the correction, and drilling a wellbore with a drill bit oriented at the desired toolface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuzhen Xue, Jason D. Dykstra, Xiaoqing Ge, Xingyong Song, Venkata Madhukanth Vadali
  • Patent number: 10883356
    Abstract: Automated control of a drillstring in a borehole, which is not in continuous rotation, the drillstring comprising an angled component (a bent sub or the like) and a downhole means of rotating the bit, such as a motor or turbine, which rotates the bit independently of drillstring rotation. Near the distal end of the drillstring are measurement devices, at least one and in some aspects two or more, which are used to measure the orientation of the drillstring/bent sub/bottomhole assembly/drill bit with respect to a geophysical field of the earth, such as magnetism (magnetic toolface) or gravity (gravitational toolface). These measurement devices may be connected to a communications module which transmits the downhole toolface information to the surface. The drillstring is controlled to provide that based upon the downhole measurements the drilling system drills the borehole in a desired trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Jeffryes, Rustam Isangulov, Ginger Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 10876367
    Abstract: The present disclosure is for a vibratory downhole rotary apparatus. The apparatus includes a cylindrical hollow body, a stator disposed within the cylindrical hollow body and a rotor disposed within the stator. The apparatus also includes a flow resistance system to vary the resistance of fluid flow through the apparatus to increase and decrease backpressure across the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Schultz, Brock Watson
  • Patent number: 10858890
    Abstract: A hydraulic jetting assembly is provided herein. The jetting assembly includes a jetting hose, with a jetting nozzle at its distal end. The jetting nozzle comprises a tubular stator body having a fluid discharge slot, and a tubular rotor body residing within a bore of the stator body. The jetting nozzle has one or more bearings residing between the stator body and the surrounding rotor body to accommodate relative rotational movement. The jetting nozzle includes a proximal end configured to sealingly connect to an end of a jetting hose, and to receive a high pressure jetting fluid. Preferably, the nozzle has an outer diameter that is equivalent to or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the jetting hose. Preferably, the jetting assembly has at least three actuator wires configured to induce a controlled bending moment at its distal end, thereby providing for a steerable downhole tool. Jetting collars may be placed along the jetting hose to overcome drag force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: COILED TUBING SPECIALTIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce L. Randall
  • Patent number: 10851649
    Abstract: A cutting head and support arms for mining, for example, for high wall mining, provides a modular design and includes a pair of support arms, a head shaft extending between and outside of each of the support arms, a central and outer drums about the head shaft, and a set of removable struts attached between the support arms. The struts can be removed so that the support arms can be separated for easier access to the drums and head shaft and other components. Further, the support arms are of several laminate layers, which can be separated for ready maintenance, particularly for components at or near the outside ends of the cutting head and support arms, or within or about the support arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Randy C. Shields, Winfred Lee Shrewsbury
  • Patent number: 10851591
    Abstract: An actuation apparatus includes a housing comprising a housing bore extending through the housing, an adjustment shaft comprising an adjustment shaft bore extending through the adjustment shaft, the adjustment shaft positioned at least partially within housing bore, and a steering shaft positioned at least partially within the adjustment shaft bore and rotatable with respect to the adjustment shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Martin Winslow
  • Patent number: 10851640
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for transitioning from a rotary drilling operation to a slide drilling operation on a drilling rig include rotary drilling a borehole in a subterranean formation by rotating a bottom hole assembly (BHA) on a drill string driven by a top drive and determining a trapped torque in a drill string. While maintaining weight on bit at the BHA, the drill string may be rotated in reverse to remove the trapped torque, and a slide drilling process may be performed without raising the bit from the bottom of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventor: Colin Gillan
  • Patent number: 10837235
    Abstract: A hybrid rotary guiding device, includes: rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is used to drive the head of a drill tool to rotate, the rotating shaft includes an upper shaft portion, a lower shaft portion, and a steerable portion, a separation distance exists between the upper shaft portion and the lower shaft portion in the axial direction, the upper shaft portion and the lower shaft portion are steerably connected by the steerable portion; the upper shaft portion is installed with at least three first hydraulic mechanisms, and the lower shaft portion is installed with at least three second hydraulic mechanisms, the second hydraulic mechanism is adapted to drive a pushing member against the wall of the well to guide the head of a drill tool, the first hydraulic mechanism and the second hydraulic mechanism are configured so that the first hydraulic mechanism can drive the second hydraulic mechanism to drive the pushing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Qingbo Liu, Qingyun Di, Tsili Wang, Wenxuan Chen, Jiansheng Du, Yongyou Yang, Xinzhen He, Linfeng Hong, Qijun Xie
  • Patent number: 10829998
    Abstract: A self-contained module for actuating an element of an earth-boring tool comprises a drive unit configured to be coupled to at least one actuatable element of the earth-boring tool. The drive unit is configured to be disposed at least partially within a compartment of a body of the earth-boring tool. The compartment is radially decentralized within the earth-boring tool. The drive unit includes a drive element configured to be coupled to the at least one actuatable element. The drive unit is configured to move the drive element in a manner moving the at least one actuatable element from a first position to a second position in a direction having a component parallel with a longitudinal axis of the earth-boring tool. The self-contained module is configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the earth-boring tool. Such a module may be attached to a tool body carrying extendable elements to form an earth-boring tool for borehole enlargement or stabilization within an enlarged section of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventor: Volker Peters
  • Patent number: 10822927
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for solid-state fluidized mining of natural gas hydrates in a shallow seabed, including: a sea surface support system, a pipeline delivery system, and an undersea drilling system. The sea surface support system includes a hydrate drilling vessel floating on seawater. The pipeline delivery system includes a continuous double-layer oil pipe, a recyclable conduit installed in a sediment cover, an open-hole steering packer installed outside the recyclable conduit. The undersea drilling system includes a hydrate slurry separator, a single screw pump, a hydraulic motor, a jet head and a differential pressure sliding sleeve close to the hydrate drill bit. The present invention has the following beneficial effects. The device achieves a multi-directionally horizontal drilling and production in the hydrate reservoir with a single well head, improving the drilling efficiency and single well production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yang Tang, Guorong Wang, Shouwei Zhou, Qingyou Liu, Lin Zhong, Wang Li, Qingping Li, Qiang Fu, Yufa He, Chuan Wang, Leizhen Wang
  • Patent number: 10808477
    Abstract: A device is for directing a fluid flow in an annulus around a pipe string in a horizontal or deviated well. The device has an orientation sensing member adapted to distinguish between the high-side and the low-side of the borehole along the well path. A fluid direction member is adapted to impede the fluid flow in one portion of the annulus so as to at the same time increase the fluid flow in another portion of the annulus; and an activation member for activating the fluid direction member in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Centraflow AS
    Inventors: Grant Knight, Nader Behjat, Craig Usher
  • Patent number: 10787866
    Abstract: A chain of bend-limiter segments is coupled together. The chain has a first end and a second end. The chain is bendable such that an angle between the first end and the second end is at least N degrees and a radius of curvature of the chain is at least M. A cable is inserted through the chain from the first end to the second end. The chain and the cable are coupled to a tool. The tool is pulled using the cable. The chain maintains a radius of curvature of the cable greater than M and prevents a stress level in the cable from exceeding a yield point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Gregory Thomas, Jack Gammill Clemens, Richard Mineo
  • Patent number: 10781684
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are described herein for automating toolface control of a drilling rig. Such apparatuses, methods, and systems may change operating parameters of the drilling rig responsive to detected toolface orientations. Thus, if a toolface orientation of the drilling tool is determined to be outside an advisory sector, updated operating parameters may be determined and provided to the drilling tool. The updated operating parameters may change at least one of a clockwise rotation target or counterclockwise rotation target of the drilling tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Wagner, Jesse Johnson, Kenneth Barnett, Austin Groover
  • Patent number: 10774590
    Abstract: A method can include asynchronously receiving a well trajectory as part of a well plan, a fluid plan as part of the well plan and a bottom hole assembly plan as part of the well plan where the well trajectory is based at least in part on information associated with a geologic environment; asynchronously determining coherency metrics as to dependencies between the well trajectory, the fluid plan and the bottom hole assembly plan; and, based at least in part on the coherency metrics, issuing one or more messages that call for adjusting one or more of the well trajectory, the fluid plain and the bottom home assembly plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lucian Johnston, Mark S. Passolt
  • Patent number: 10760341
    Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore is described using a BHA including an RSS that comprises an adjustment mechanism movable between first and second configurations to alter a drilling direction of the BHA, BHA sensor(s), and a controller. The method includes drilling, using the BHA, the wellbore with the adjustment mechanism in the first configuration; receiving, by the first controller, real-time data including inclination and azimuth angle data from the BHA sensor(s); determining, by the first controller and based on the real-time data, a relationship between an actual measurement and a target measurement that is associated with a target well path; automatically moving, by the first controller and in response to the determination of the relationship, the adjustment mechanism from the first to the second configuration; and drilling, using the BHA, the wellbore while the adjustment mechanism is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: NABORS LUX 2 SARL
    Inventors: Andrew Gorrara, Ola Stengel, Knut-arve Johnsen
  • Patent number: 10738593
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are described herein for automating toolface control of a drilling rig. Such apparatuses, methods, and systems may determine an average drilling resistance function during a rotary drilling segment and, based on the average drilling resistance function during the rotary drilling segment, determine a target set of oscillation values to be used during a slide drilling segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Wagner, Jesse Johnson, Kenneth Barnett, Austin Groover
  • Patent number: 10738587
    Abstract: An example drilling system includes a rotary steerable system (RSS) having an inner shaft configured to rotate during drilling performed by the drilling system. One or more sensors are associated with the inner shaft to obtain one or more readings based on the drilling performed by the RSS. One or more processing devices may receive data based on the sensor readings and process that data in order to generate an output based on the sensor readings. The data may relate to stresses on the inner shaft and the data may be used for purposes including, but not limited to, controlling operation of the RSS in real-time, determining current condition of the RSS, and estimating a potential life expectancy of the RSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ossama R. Sehsah, Mohammed A. Alkhowaildi
  • Patent number: 10731418
    Abstract: A drilling assembly for drilling deviated wellbores is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a steering unit having an upper section coupled to a lower section through a tilt device, wherein an electro-mechanical actuation device tilts the tilt device about a selected location in the drilling assembly to cause the lower section to tilt relative to the upper section along a selected direction while the drill string is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Volker Peters
  • Patent number: 10711551
    Abstract: A central shaft defines a first interior flow path. The central shaft disposed at least partially within a washover pipe. A lead tapered mill is positioned at a downhole end of the central shaft to center the downhole-type milling tool within a tubular. The lead tapered mill defines a second central flow path in line with the first interior flow path. Milling blades extend between the central shaft and the washover pipe. The milling blades are arranged to allow fluid flow around the milling blades. Each of the milling blades includes a tungsten-carbide hardened face and a soft steel body configured to support a load of the downhole-type milling tool during milling operations. A junk basket is positioned within the washover pipe uphole of the milling blades to receive and retain cuttings formed by the milling blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ahmed A. Al-Ramadhan
  • Patent number: 10706483
    Abstract: A method can include receiving information that includes well trajectory information, wellsite equipment information and driller information; based at least in part on the information, determining a level of detail of human executable well plan instructions; based at least in part on the information, generating a well plan where the well plan includes human executable well plan instructions based on the determined level of detail; and outputting the well plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Passolt, Lucian Johnston, Jean-Marc Pietrzyk
  • Patent number: 10697285
    Abstract: A downhole intelligent reamer controller detects the difference between rotary drilling and sliding drilling, responds appropriately and quickly to multiple changes between rotary drilling and sliding drilling that may occur several times each stand of pipe. Additional controls prevent deployment of reamer members at inappropriate times such as when drilling out cement, testing, and running in and out of the wellbore. In one embodiment, a separate modular control sub is disclosed that may be utilized with and/or removably secured to an expandable reamer and/or other types of downhole tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Mark May
  • Patent number: 10683704
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drilling system with a multi-function drill head used in, among other applications, oil and gas drilling. The system is used to enhance the effective permeability of an oil and/or gas reservoir by drilling or cutting new structures into the reservoir. The system is capable of cutting straight bores, radius bores, or side panels, by water jets alone or in combination with lasers. In various embodiments, a device for remotely controlling the mode of the system by variations in the pressure of a drilling fluid is also provided, allowing an operator to switch between various modes (straight drilling, radius bore drilling, panel cutting, etc.) without withdrawing the drill string from the well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Ramax, LLC
    Inventors: Fun-Den Wang, Horace M. Varner
  • Patent number: 10662754
    Abstract: Apparatus for directional drilling allows an uphole section of drill string to be rotated while maintaining a desired orientation of a bent section of the drill string. In some embodiments, clutches above and below the bent section are selectively operated to rotate the bent section to a desired orientation. Reducing transmissions may reduce the rotation rate of the bent section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron W. Logan, Justin C. Logan
  • Patent number: 10663372
    Abstract: A rig management system is disclosed. The rig management system may be configured to receive vibration data from a set of sensors installed on one or more elements of a hydraulic fracturing rig. The rig management system may be configured to perform a first processing of the vibration data utilizing a moving window technique to identify a possible failure of a set of bearings. The rig management system may be configured to perform a second processing utilizing a set of processing techniques after identifying the possible failure of the set of bearings. The rig management system may be configured to determine that the possible failure is an actual failure based on a result of performing the second processing. The rig management system may be configured to perform an action after determining that the possible failure is the actual failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Yong Sun, Mingang Wang, Xuefei Hu, Zhaoxu Dong, Chunhui Pan
  • Patent number: 10655394
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus including a housing having a housing bore, a proximal housing end, and a distal housing end, a driveshaft rotatably supported within the housing bore, a fixed first angular offset axially located between the proximal housing end and the distal housing end, and a variable second angular offset axially located between the proximal housing end and the distal housing end. The drilling apparatus may have a reduced stiffness section so that the drilling apparatus bends preferentially at the reduced stiffness section, and the variable second angular offset may be axially located at the reduced stiffness section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hamid Sadabadi, Hossam Gharib
  • Patent number: 10655447
    Abstract: A directional drilling system includes a rotary steerable tool. The rotary steerable tool includes an extendable member configured to extend outwardly from the rotary steerable tool upon actuation, and a geolocation electronics device configured to track a position of the rotary steerable tool and the extendable member and control actuation of the extendable member. The geolocation electronics device and extendable member are configured to rotate with the rotary steerable tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Darin Tilley, Neelesh Deolalikar, Ravi Prabath Nanayakkara, Michael Dewayne Finke
  • Patent number: 10648248
    Abstract: A device and a method are for slanting a conductor casing when establishing a petroleum well where a supporting pipe has been inserted into the seabed. The supporting pipe is arranged to receive the conductor casing. The supporting pipe is provided with a casing shoe at a vertical distance below it upper end portion, the casing shoe forming a through casing-shoe opening eccentric relative to the supporting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NeoDrill AS
    Inventors: Harald Strand, Wolfgang Mathis
  • Patent number: 10626674
    Abstract: A drilling machine for a wellbore is provided. The drilling machine may include a dynamic lateral pad that is movable between an extended and retracted position. In the extended position, the pad moves the drill bit in a direction for drilling. The drilling machine may include a dynamic lateral cutter that is movable between an extended and retracted position. In at least the extended position, the cutter engages the wellbore and removes formation. The drilling machine may include a monolithic or integral drill bit/drive shaft to reduce the distance between a positive displacement motor and a distal end of the monolithic or integral drill bit/drive shaft. The drilling machine may include separate cutting structures that have different rotational speeds and can further utilize the integral drill bit/drift shaft and/or a bent housing that generates an off-axis rotation which helps optimize the formation removal in the center area of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: XR LATERAL LLC
    Inventors: Edward Spatz, Michael Reese, James Dudley
  • Patent number: 10612373
    Abstract: An illustrative electromagnetic logging while drilling system includes a drill string having a bottomhole assembly with a bit that operates to extend a borehole; and further includes a removable add-on antenna unit that cooperates with at least one other antenna unit in the drill string to provide electromagnetic signal measurements indicative of at least one formation property. Some embodiments of the add-on antenna unit encircle an existing tool or tubular, attaching to a sidewall readout port to receive power and exchange communications over the internal tool bus with at least one other antenna unit. At least one disclosed method embodiment includes: assembling the bottomhole assembly; securing at least one add-on antenna unit around a downhole tool or tubular in the bottomhole assembly; and using the at least one add-on antenna unit in combination with at least one other antenna in the bottomhole assembly to obtain electromagnetic signal measurements formation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hau Jiun Chen, Paul F. Rodney
  • Patent number: 10612316
    Abstract: A universal joint includes a joint housing and a joint shaft. The joint housing includes a socket having one or more recesses. The joint shaft includes a head positioned in the socket of the joint housing. The head includes one or more lobes corresponding with the recesses of the socket. The universal joint includes a drive key positioned between each lobe drive face and each recess drive face and an anti-backlash key positioned between each lobe back face and each recess back face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TURBO DRILL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon Ritchie, Chad Feddema
  • Patent number: 10584574
    Abstract: An automated slide drilling system (ASDS) may be used with a drilling rig system to control slide drilling. The ASDS may autonomously control slide drilling without user input during the slide drilling. The ASDS may further support a transition from rotary drilling to slide drilling to rotary drilling without user input during the transitions. The ASDS may also support user input and user notifications for various steps to enable manual or semi-manual control of slide drilling by a driller or an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Motive Drilling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Teddy Chen, Joshua Miles Brinkley, John Jeremy Cantwell, Eric Alan Nolte, Robert Tyler Quarles, Sashmit Bhaduri, Zarko Bizaca, Kevin Mims, Brian Stokeld
  • Patent number: 10584575
    Abstract: A method for making dynamic gravity toolface measurements while rotating a downhole measurement tool in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes processing magnetic field measurements and accelerometer measurements to compute a toolface offset and further processing the toolface offset in combination with a magnetic toolface to obtain the dynamic gravity toolface. Methods for correcting dynamic and static navigational sensor measurements to remove sensor biases, for example, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew G. Brooks, Junichi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10577866
    Abstract: A method for causing a desired drilling direction of a steerable subterranean drill in consideration of a contemporaneously detected formation tendency force acting on a drill bit of the steerable subterranean drill. The method includes detecting, utilizing a steering direction setting device, a direction and magnitude of a formation tendency force acting on the drill bit of the steerable subterranean drill. Further the steering direction setting device is configured to contemporaneously cause the drill bit of the steerable subterranean drill to drill in the desired direction, counteracting the formation tendency force based on the detected direction and magnitude of the formation tendency force acting on the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Kennedy J. Kirkhope, Jonathan Peter Zacharko
  • Patent number: 10571605
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems to enhance subsurface models of fractured reservoirs. In particular, the methods and systems described herein incorporate the effects of “dynamic” compressible fractures and, thus, can improve predictions of fractured reservoir performance over time. The methods and systems may utilize predictive algorithms for mechanical and hydraulic stiffness properties of the fracture network that are based at least in part on a database of measurements derived from single fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Brian R. Crawford, Janelle M. Homburg, Jordan A. Freysteinson, William C. Reese, Michael C. Tsenn
  • Patent number: 10563483
    Abstract: A completion sleeve includes a body that defines an inner passage and a window that provides a lateral exit from the inner passage. A deflector is positioned within the inner passage and is pivotable between a stowed position, where the deflector is received within a pocket defined in a sidewall of the body, and a deployed position where the deflector is positioned to deflect downhole tools laterally through the window. An actuator is positioned within the sidewall and operatively coupled to the deflector. The actuator is actuatable to move the deflector between the stowed and deployed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 10563498
    Abstract: Adjustable drill string housings are described for use in the directional drilling of wellbores, e.g. wellbores for hydrocarbon recovery wells. The adjustable drill string housings permit adjustment of a bend angle in the housings without removing the housings from a wellbore. In some exemplary embodiments, the bend angle can be adjusted by changing the internal stresses in a support member carried by the housings. In other embodiments, the bend angle may be adjusted by causing failure of sacrificial support members carried by the housings, and the failure may be caused by delivering chemicals through a chemical delivery system to the sacrificial support members. Methods of operating the adjustable drill string housings include multi-lateral drilling operations wherein the bend angle is adjusted when a casing window has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav Lange, Kennedy John Kirkhope
  • Patent number: 10550689
    Abstract: A pressure pulse tool includes a tool housing, a valve disposed in the housing and having first and second valve components that are each rotatable relative to the housing and that cooperate to open and close a fluid flow path through the valve. The tool may include first and second power section coupled to the first and second valve components, respectively, for rotating the respective valve components. The power sections may each include a turbine rotor and the first and second rotors may have different geometries or may be powered by different amounts of fluid flow therethrough. Flowing fluid through the tool generates a pressure pulse having a desired pressure pulse frequency that may be lower than the first or second turbine rotor would generate alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TURBO DRILL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon Ritchie, Chad Feddema, Malcolm Grant
  • Patent number: 10526847
    Abstract: A downhole adjustable drilling inclination tool including an outer housing, an inner housing, a compression spring, a piston assembly, and a tilt housing. The piston assembly is fluidly controlled to move axially along the outer diameter of a bottom end portion of the inner housing so that a rotatable control ring moves about a guide pin to hold a neutral, straight, or bent position of the piston assembly corresponding to an amount of compression of the compression spring. The tilt housing partially disposed within the outer housing includes a bolt plate pin channel configured to receive a bolt plate pin of the piston assembly that travels to tilt the tilt housing by a tilting mechanism that connects the tilt housing to the outer housing and position the tilt housing in a neutral, straight, or bent position corresponding to the neutral, straight, or bent position of the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SMART DOWNHOLE TOOLS B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Thomas Bleeker
  • Patent number: 10514324
    Abstract: Generally, assessing the properties of a plug comprising wellbore strengthening materials may enable the design of more efficient wellbore strengthening additives and fluids because the properties of the plug may translate to the near wellbore strengthening effect of the wellbore strengthening materials of the plug. Assessing such properties may involve applying a differential pressure to a plug formed in a passageway of a tool comprising at least one sensor proximal to the passageway plug, and then measuring at least one attribute selected from the group consisting of a normal plug pressure, a normal plug displacement, and any combination thereof with the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharath Savari, Arunesh Kumar, Jason T. Scorsone
  • Patent number: 10501994
    Abstract: Directional drilling of a borehole involves: positioning an apparatus in a borehole such that a housing of the apparatus and the borehole wall define an outer annular space; flowing drilling fluid to the outer annular space via an inner annular space defined between the housing and an inner drive shaft of the apparatus; actuating a clutch for selectively coupling the housing to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft and for adjusting the tool face of the housing; and actuating a valve to control drilling fluid flow between the outer annular space to a piston chamber, relative to drilling fluid flow between the inner annular space and the piston chamber to thereby control drilling fluid pressure in the piston chamber. The drilling fluid pressure in the piston chamber and a biasing means act in opposing directions on a piston to urge the piston either towards or away from the borehole wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Duane Xiang Wang
    Inventor: Duane Xiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10494885
    Abstract: A system for performing a wellbore operation while a fluid circulates in a wellbore may include a string, a fluid circulation system, a control device, The string may include at least a first tubular section and a second tubular section. The a fluid circulating system has a first fluid path and a second fluid path, wherein only one of the first fluid path and the second fluid path circulate the fluid into the string at a specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Lehr, Christian Fulda