Tool Patents

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USP 7,311,150

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEANING A WELL BORE

A method for extracting accumulated material from a well bore includes pressurizing gas recovered from the well bore and disposing an extraction string in communication with a sump. The sump is disposed to receive liquid from the well bore. The method further includes sealing the sump and injecting at least a portion of the pressurized gas into the sump such that at least some of the liquid in the sump is driven upward into the extraction string.

USP 7,299,864

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW LINER

A system for lining a junction between a main bore and an auxiliary bore includes first tubing adapted to line at least a portion of the main bore. The first tubing has a lateral opening therein. Second tubing has a junction shield extending outward there from. The junction shield has a larger transverse dimension than the lateral opening and is adapted to contract to a smaller transverse dimension to pass through the lateral opening into the auxiliary bore.

USP 7,225,872

PERFORATING TUBULARS

A device for perforating a tubing string residing in a well bore includes a tubular housing adapted to pass through the tubing string. At least one perforating body is provided residing in the housing, and has a point adapted to pierce the tubing string. A piston is received within the housing, the piston configured such that pressure applied to a first side of the piston causes the piston to move in a first direction. An actuator body is received within the housing and configured for movement in the first direction with the piston. The actuator body has a sloped wedge surface adapted to wedge the at least one perforating body radically outward to pierce the tubing string with the point when the actuator body is moved in the first direction.

USP 7,213,644

CAVITY POSITIONING TOOL AND METHOD

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is provided for preventing formation of sludge in a subsurface cavity having particulate laden fluid disposed therein. The method includes positioning a down hole device having a fluid agitator into the fluid of the subsurface cavity and agitating the fluid using the fluid agitator.

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USP 7,207,390

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LINING MULTILATERAL WELLS

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for lining a lateral wellbore includes drilling a main wellbore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone, casing the main wellbore with a main casing having a plurality of lateral wellbore windows formed therein, positioning a whipstock having a longitudinal bore running therethrough adjacent a respective one of the lateral wellbore windows, forming a lateral well bore through the respective lateral wellbore window using the whipstock, lining the first lateral wellbore with a lateral liner and a portion of a tie-back assembly that has a pre-milled lateral wellbore window formed therein, aligning the pre-milled lateral wellbore window with the longitudinal bore, and coupling the tie-back assembly to the main casing.

USP 7,182,157

ENLARGING WELL BORES HAVING TUBING THEREIN

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore includes a fluid motor having a first body and a second body arranged about a longitudinal axis. The first body is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis in relation to the second body when fluid is passed between the first and second bodies. The fluid motor further defines a longitudinal tubing passage adapted to allow passage of the fluid motor over a tubing string. At least one cutting arm is coupled to rotate with the first body, and radially extendable into engagement with an interior of the well bore to form the cavity.

USP 7,178,611

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROTARY DRILLING UTILIZING CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for directional drilling within a wellbore includes a drill string having an upper portion, a lower portion, a bent motor coupled to the lower portion, and a drill bit coupled to bent motor, and a clutch assembly disposed between the upper and lower portions. The clutch assembly is operable to disengage the upper and lower portions of the drill string and allow the upper portion to rotate while the lower portion does not rotate.

USP 7,174,959

DOWNHOLE SEPARATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

According to one embodiment of the invention, a downhole separation method includes forming a main wellbore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone, disposing a production liner into the main wellbore proximate the subterranean zone, coupling a first end of the a first tube to the production liner, coupling an entrance portion of a second tube to an outside surface of and adjacent a second end of the first tube such that an entrance of the second tube is at a lower elevation that the second end of the first tube, and causing a flow of a mixture though the production liner and the first tube. The mixture includes gas, a liquid, and a plurality of coal fines. The method further includes retrieving the gas via the main wellbore after the mixture exits the second end of the first tube and retrieving at least the liquid through the second tube.

USP 7,086,470

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WELLBORE CLEARING

In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for clearing the inside of a wellbore including inserting a wellbore clearing system into the wellbore. The wellbore clearing system includes an anchor adapted to be positioned within the wellbore, an agitator operable to be moved relative to the interior surface of the wellbore, and a linkage coupling the agitator to the anchor. The method further includes securing the anchor within the wellbore and moving the agitator relative to the interior surface of the wellbore. The movement of the agitator is operable to at least partially eliminate a restriction to a flow of minerals or other resources in the wellbore.

USP 7,007,758

CAVITY POSITIONING TOOL AND METHOD

A cavity positioning tool includes a housing adapted to be coupled to a downhole string. The cavity positioning tool includes at least one blunt arm pivotally coupled to the housing. Each blunt arm is configured to contact a surface of the cavity to position the tool in the cavity. The cavity positioning tool also includes a piston slidably disposed within the housing. The piston is operable to engage each blunt arm. The piston is also operable to receive an axial force operable to slide the piston relative to the housing. The sliding of the piston extends each blunt arm radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position.

USP 6,988,566

ACOUSTIC POSITION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR WELL BORE FORMATION

An acoustic position measurement system and method includes an acoustic transmitter operable to transmit a sound wave into an underground well bore in a target formation. The sound wave is configured to reflect from a boundary formation proximate the target formation. The system includes an acoustic receiver operable to receive a reflected sound wave. The reflected sound wave comprises a reflection of the sound wave from the boundary formation. The system also includes an electronics portion electrically coupled to the acoustic receiver. The electronics portion is operable to process the reflected sound wave and produce, based upon a characteristic of the reflected sound wave, data output indicative of a position of the acoustic position measurement system in the target formation.

USP 6,976,547

ACTUATOR UNDERREAMER

An underreamer for forming a cavity from within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be disposed within the well bore. The underreamer includes an actuator partially slidably positioned in the housing. The actuator comprises a first portion and a second portion. A cross-sectional area of the second portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first position. The underreamer includes at least one cutter set, wherein each cutter set has a first end and a second end. The first end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing. The second end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing. The second end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to a connector. An axial force applied to the actuator is operable to slide the actuator relative to the housing causing the second portion of the actuator relative to the housing causing the second portion of the actuator to contact each cutter set and extend each cutter set radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to a first position. The actuator may also include a stop member proximate an end of the actuator. The stop member may be operable to force the connector to slide relative to the housing during the application of the axial force, causing each cutter set to further extend radially outward relative to the housing from the first position to a second position.

USP 6,962,216

WEDGE ACTIVATED UNDERREAMER

An underreamer for forming a cavity from within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be disposed within the well bore. The underreamer includes at least one cutter, wherein each cutter has a first end and a second end. The first end of each cutter is pivotally coupled to the housing. The underreamer also includes an actuator slidably positioned in the housing, wherein the actuator has a first end and a second end. The underreamer includes an enlarged portion of the actuator proximate the second end of the actuator. A first axial force applied to the actuator is operable to slide the actuator relative to the housing causing the enlarged portion to contact each cutter and extend the second end of each cutter radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to a first position. A second axial force applied to the underreamer may be operable to further extend the second end of each cutter radially outward relative to the housing from the first position to a second position.

USP 6,953,088

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE PRODUCTION RATE OF FLUID FROM A SUBTERRANEAN ZONE TO MAINTAIN PRODUCTION BORE STABILITY IN THE ZONE

A system and method for controlling the production rate of fluid from a subterranean zone includes monitoring a production stream from the subsurface zone for an amount of particulate matter. The rate of the production stream from the subterranean zone is automatically controlled based on the amount of particulate matter in the production stream.

USP 6,945,755

FLUID CONTROLLED PUMPING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A fluid level controlled pumping system includes a pumping unit disposed within a fluid cavity. The pumping unit includes an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be pumped from the fluid cavity. The system also includes a valve slidably coupled to the pumping unit. The valve includes a passage fro receiving pumped fluid from an outlet of the pumping unit. In response to a decreasing fluid level within the fluid cavity, movement of the valve relative to the pumping unit aligns the passage with a port of the pumping unit to recirculate the pumped fluid from the outlet to the inlet.

USP 6,851,479

CAVITY POSITIONING TOOL AND METHOD

USP 6,848,508

SLANT ENTRY WELL SYSTEM AND METHOD

A guide tube bundle includes two or more guide tubes. Each guide tube includes a first aperture at a first end and a second aperture at a second end. The longitudinal axis of the first aperture of each guide tube is offset from the longitudinal axis of the second aperture of the guide tube Furthermore, the guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to each other and are twisted around one another.

USP 6,722,452

PANTOGRAPH UNDERREAMER

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be rotatably disposed within the well bore and a piston slidably coupled to the housing. The underreamer also includes a first cutter having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first cutter is pivotally coupled to the housing. The underreamer further includes a second cutter having a first end and a second end. The first end of the second cutter is coupled to the piston. The second end of the first cutter is coupled to the second cutter such that an axial force applied to the piston is operable to slide the piston relative to the housing and extend the second end of the second cutter radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to form the cavity when the housing is rotated relative to the well bore.

USP 6,644,422

PANTOGRAPH UNDERREAMER

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore is provided. The underreamer may include a housing rotatably disposed within the well bore. The underreamer may also include an actuation rod slidably positioned in the housing. The underreamer may further include a plurality of cutter sets where each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing and the actuation rod. The cutter sets are also pivotally coupled together. An axial force applied to the actuation rod operates to slide the actuation rod relative to the housing and extend the cutter sets from a retracted position radially outward relative to the housing to form the cavity when the housing is rotated.

USP 6,604,910

FLUID CONTROLLED PUMPING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A fluid controlled pumping system includes a pumping unit disposed within a fluid cavity. The pumping unit includes a passage extending to a suction end of the pumping unit. The system also includes a pressure source coupled to the passage and operable to force a fluid outwardly from the passage proximate to the suction end of the pumping unit. The system includes a pressure sensor coupled to the passage and operable to determine a fluid pressure within the passage. The system further includes a controller coupled to the pumping unit and operable to regulate an operating parameter of the pumping unit using the fluid pressure.

USP 6,595,302

MULTI-BLADE UNDERREAMER

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore includes a housing rotatably disposed within the well bore. The underreamer also includes a plurality of cutting blades pivotally coupled to the housing. The underreamer further includes a piston slidably disposed within the housing and adapted to engage the cutting blades. The piston is operable to receive a downwardly disposed force operable slide the piston relative to the housing. The sliding movement of the piston extends the cutting blades outwardly from a retracted position relative to the housing. The underreamer also includes a passage disposed within the piston and operable to communicate a fluid received via an annulus of the housing to the cutting blades.

USP 6,595,301

SINGLE-BLADE UNDERREAMER

A single-blade under reamer for forming a cavity within a well bore includes a housing rotatably disposed within the well bore, and a stabilizer coupled to the housing. The stabilizer is operable to stabilize the housing within the well bore during formation of the cavity. The under reamer also includes a single cutter pivotally coupled to the housing, and a piston slidably disposed within the housing and adapted to engage the cutter. A downwardly disposed force applied to the piston is operable slide the piston relative to the housing to correspondingly extend the cutter outwardly relative to the housing from a retracted position to form the cavity during rotation of the housing.

USP 6,591,922

PANTOGRAPH UNDERREAMER AND METHOD FOR FORMING A WELL BORE CAVITY

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore may include a housing rotatably disposed within the well bore. The underreamer may also include an actuation rod slidably positioned in the housing. The underreamer may further include a plurality of cutter sets nested together around the actuation rod while the cutter sets are in a retracted position where each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing and the actuation rod. The cutter sets are also pivotally coupled together. An axial force applied to the actuation rod operates to slide the actuation rod relative to the housing and extend the cutter sets radially outward relative to the housing to form the cavity when the housing is rotated.

USP 6,575,255

PANTOGRAPH UNDERREAMER

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore is provided. The underreamer may include a housing rotatably disposed within the well bore. The underreamer may also include a sleeve slidably positioned around the housing. The underreamer may further include at least one cutter set where each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing and the sleeve. An axial force applied to the sleeve operates to slide the sleeve relative to the housing and extend each cutter set from a retracted position radially outward relative to the housing to form the cavity when the housing is rotated.

USP 6,497,556

FLUID LEVEL CONTROL FOR A DOWNHOLE WELL PUMPING SYSTEM

A fluid level controlled pumping system includes a pumping unit disposed within a fluid cavity. The pumping unit includes an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be pumped from the fluid cavity. The system also includes a valve slidably coupled to the pumping unit. The valve includes a passage for receiving pumped fluid from an outlet of the pumping unit. In response to a decreasing fluid level within the fluid cavity, movement of the valve relative to the pumping unit aligns the passage with a port of the pumping unit to recirculate the pumped fluid from the outlet to the inlet.

USP 6,454,000

CAVITY WELL POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A subterranean cavity positioning system includes a down-hole device and a cavity positioning device rotatably coupled to a well portion of the down-hole device. The cavity positioning device includes a counterbalance portion operable to automatically rotate the cavity positioning device from a retracted position to an extended position as the cavity positioning device transitions from a well bore into the subterranean cavity. The counterbalance portion is also operable to align the cavity positioning device with the well bore as the down-hole device is withdrawn from the subterranean cavity.

USP 6,412,556

CAVITY POSITIONING TOOL AND METHOD

A cavity positioning tool is provided that includes a head piece adapted to receive a downhole string having a longitudinal axis. A plurality of blunt arms are coupled to the head piece. The blunt arms are operable to be radially extended outward from a first position of substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second extended position.