| Frank's International, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120061076 | Stop Collar for Tubulars - Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a stop collar for tubulars, wherein the collar includes an annular stop collar member formed from at least one collar segment, and a weld joint attaching each of the at least one collar segments together, each of the weld joint(s) having a head and stem, wherein in certain embodiments the head has a width that is generally greater than the stem. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20110198090 | Device and Method for Affecting the Flow of Fluid in a Wellbore - An apparatus to alter the flow of a fluid (e.g., drilling fluid, mud, cement, etc.) in a wellbore for example by creating turbulence in the flowing fluid. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a plurality of blade members extending outward from an elongated member. The elongated member is attached to the exterior surface of a tubular that is then positioned in a wellbore. The apparatus passively altering the flow of a fluid in the wellbore. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110186289 | Expandable Centralizer For Expandable Pipe String - A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110174542 | TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTOR APPARATUS - Apparatuses, systems, and methods in accordance with the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The system includes a gripping tool operatively connected to and suspended from the top drive assembly, in which the gripping tool includes an axis defined therethrough and a gripping member, and an adaptor apparatus having a first end and a second end. The at least one gripping member engages the adaptor apparatus, and the second end includes a connection member to connect with the tubular member. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110146971 | Low Clearance Centralizer and Method of Making Centralizer - A bow-spring centralizer ( | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110139435 | CASING MAKE-UP AND RUNNING TOOL ADAPTED FOR FLUID AND CEMENT CONTROL - The apparatus of the present invention provides a top drive supported tool for making up and running casing strings into a borehole. The tool comprises a fill-up and circulation assembly and a launcher assembly that is adapted to cooperate with a connectable cement wiper plug assembly for launching wiper plugs that control cement placement in the annulus between a casing string and a borehole containing the casing string. The tool of the present invention shortens or eliminates delays in well operations, thereby improving integrity of cement liners formed by placing cement slurry in a targeted interval. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110114306 | Methods and Devices for Forming a Wellbore with Casing - A method for cementing a tubular in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, comprises connecting a circulating tool to a slip and a top drive; gripping a first tubular with the slip above the surface of the wellbore; sealingly engaging the first tubular with a seal member; fluidly connecting a wiper plug to the circulating tool; connecting the first tubular to a second tubular; and lowering the second tubular into the subterranean formation. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110042102 | METHOD OF AND KIT FOR INSTALLING A CENTRALIZER ON A PIPE SEGMENT - First and second centralizer portions, comprising a first end collar coupled to a plurality of first bow spring segments and a second end collar coupled to a plurality of second bow spring segments, respectively, may be received onto the pipe segment on opposite sides of an installed stop collar. The plurality of first bow spring segments are coupled to the plurality of second bow spring segments, such as by welding, to form a bow spring centralizer with a plurality of bow springs extending between the first and second end collars, the bow spring centralizer movable along the pipe segment within a limited range defined by the separation of the first and second end collars. In one embodiment, the first centralizer portion and the second centralizer portion may be formed by cutting through the bow springs of a bow spring centralizer. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20100326671 | INTERFERENCE-FIT STOP COLLAR AND METHOD OF POSITIONING A DEVICE ON A TUBULAR - A stop collar is assembled using a method including the steps of receiving a bore of a base having a set of fingers extending along an exterior of a tubular, receiving a bore of a sleeve onto the tubular adjacent the set of fingers, and receiving the sleeve onto the set of fingers in an interference-fit. In alternate embodiments, the base comprises a plurality of angularly distributed fingers and/or the base comprises a gap to permit conformance of the base to the tubular. A fingerless base may cooperate with one or more separate fingers to form a base. In an embodiment of the method, the sleeve may be thermally expanded prior to the step of receiving the sleeve onto the set of fingers. The sleeve may be heated to expand the bore prior to being received onto the set of fingers. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100252279 | Reduced Drag Centralizer - An apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure comprises at least two centralizers, each centralizer having a circumferential stand-off portion and a second circumferential portion defining 360 degrees, at least two bows extending between opposing collars within the stand-off circumferential portion; wherein the at least two centralizers are spaced axially apart and fixedly attached to the tubular with the respective circumferential stand-off portions angularly offset from one another to provide 360 degrees of standoff. According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, one or both of the collars of each centralizer may be rotationally stationary relative to the tubular and axially moveable relative to the tubular. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100252274 | FRICTION REDUCING WEAR BAND AND METHOD OF COUPLING A WEAR BAND TO A TUBULAR - In one embodiment, a wear band comprises a rotating element having a bore receivable on a tubular, the bore comprising first and second bore portions slidably receiving first and second sleeve bearings. Outer surfaces of the sleeve bearings slidably engage the bore portions and the bores of the sleeve bearings slidably engage the tubular. A first and a second stop collars may be received on the tubular to together straddle the rotating element and sleeve bearings to longitudinally secure the rotating element in a position on the tubular. The tubular may be included within a tubular string run into a borehole or into the bore of an installed casing, such as in casing while drilling. The rotating element provides stand-off between a tubular and the wall of a bore, reduces frictional resistance to longitudinal sliding and also to rotation of the tubular string within the bore. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100218956 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SECURING A CENTRALIZER TO A TUBULAR - A bow-spring centralizer ( | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100213706 | THREADLESS DRILLPIPE CONNECTOR - A threadless tubular connector includes a first component having a first tubular axis defined therethrough and configured to engage a second component having a second tubular axis defined therethrough, and a retaining member configured to maintain an alignment of the first tubular axis with the second tubular axis. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100212901 | DOWNHOLE VIBRATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - A method of extending an earthen bore comprises the steps of rotating a drill bit at the end of a tubular while vibrating the tubular. The method results in reduced friction to tubular advance through the bore and results in stabilized drill bit loading and longer usable drill bit life. A method of conditioning a cement slurry in an annulus between a casing and a bore to improve a resulting cement liner comprises the steps of coupling a vibration generator to the casing, running the casing into the bore, displacing the cement slurry into the annulus and using the vibration generator to vibrate the casing. A vibration generator may comprise a mass, having a mass center, coupled to a frame, a motor and a power source to spin the mass about an axis offset from the mass center. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100206584 | DOWNHOLE TUBULAR CONNECTOR - A hydraulic connector to provide a fluidic connection between a fluid supply and a downhole tubular, the connector comprising: a body; an engagement assembly comprising an extendable portion selectively extendable from the body, the engagement assembly being configured to extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the extendable portion into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular; and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, the valve assembly being configured to: allow a fluid to communicate between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the open position; and prevent fluid communication between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular when in the closed position. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100175888 | Downhole Device Actuator and Method - An actuator to actuate a device received on a tubular string adjacent the device. The actuator comprises an energy storage member, such as a spring, restrained in a compressed mode between a stop collar and an outer sleeve threadedly received on a threaded portion of a non-magnetic tubular segment. An outer magnet is coupled to the outer sleeve to magnetically interact with an inner magnet coupled to an inner pipe string. The inner pipe string is run into the bore of the tubular string and the outer sleeve to position the inner magnet proximal the outer magnet to form a magnetic clutch. The inner pipe string rotates to transfer torque to the outer sleeve via a magnetic clutch, to rotate and threadedly disengage the outer sleeve from the tubular segment to release energy from the energy storage member to displace the outer sleeve to engage and actuate the device. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100096132 | Methods and Devices for Forming a Wellbore with Casing - A method for cementing a tubular in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, comprises connecting a circulating tool to a slip and a top drive; gripping a first tubular with the slip above the surface of the wellbore; sealingly engaging the first tubular with a seal member; fluidly connecting a wiper plug to the circulating tool; connecting the first tubular to a second tubular; and lowering the second tubular into the subterranean formation. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100078173 | DOWNHOLE DEVICE ACTUATOR AND METHOD - A temperature activated actuator installed on a tubular to actuate an adjacent device may include one or more shape-memory alloy elements. The elements may be coupled between a first portion and a second portion of a device, or the elements may be coupled between the tubular and a portion of the device. The elements are activated by raising the temperature to a transition temperature to cause metallurgical phase transformation, causing the elements to shrink and displace at least a portion of the device. The actuator may be used, for example, to actuate a centralizer from a run-in mode to a deployed mode or, alternately, to actuate a packing member from a run-in mode to an isolating mode. A nickel-titanium alloy, for example, may be used as the shape-memory alloy material from which the shape-memory element is made. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100039879 | CEMENTING DEVICE AND METHOD - A method for cementing a casing string in a borehole includes the steps of moveably coupling an outer sleeve on a casing segment; making up the casing segment with the outer sleeve into a casing string; running the casing string in a borehole; displacing a cement slurry into an annulus exterior to the casing string; and moving the outer sleeve relative to the casing string to agitate the cement slurry. A transfer device is used to rotate the outer sleeve against the cement slurry. Multiple outer sleeves may be received on the casing string at spaced intervals. In one embodiment, the transfer device may include a mechanical clutch through which the outer sleeves may be rotated. The mechanical clutch may be driven using an inner cementing string that provides a supply of cement slurry to the annulus. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20090308615 | Modular Low-Clearance Centralizer and Method of Making Modular Low-Clearance Centralizer - A low-clearance bow spring centralizer ( | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090266559 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING DEFLECTING CONDUCTOR PIPE - Delivering an additional subterranean conduit ( | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090230104 | LASER SHOCK PEENING - An embodiment of an apparatus for laser shock peening a treatment region of a metallic member includes a base oriented along a longitudinal axis; an engagement member actuable to engage a surface of the metallic member, the base in connection with engagement member; and a laser peening head adapted to emit laser radiation disposed with the base, the laser peening head moveable relative to the longitudinal axis. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090205837 | HYDRAULIC CONNECTOR APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF USE WITH DOWNHOLE TUBULARS - A hydraulic connector to provide a fluid tight connection between a fluid supply and a downhole tubular includes an engagement assembly configured to extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the hydraulic connector into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular, and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve assembly is configured to allow the fluids to communicate between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the open position, and wherein the valve assembly is configured to prevent fluid communication between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular when closed position. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090205836 | HYDRAULIC CONNECTOR APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF USE WITH DOWNHOLE TUBULARS - A tool to direct a fluids from a lifting assembly and a bore of a downhole tubular includes an engagement assembly configured to selectively extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the tool into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve assembly is configured to allow fluids from the lifting assembly to enter the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the closed position and wherein the valve assembly is configured to allow fluids from the downhole tubular to be diverted from the lifting assembly when in the open position. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090205827 | HYDRAULIC CONNECTOR APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF USE WITH DOWNHOLE TUBULARS - A method to connect a lifting assembly to a bore of a downhole tubular includes providing a communication tool to a distal end of the lifting assembly, the communication tool comprising a body assembly, an engagement assembly, a valve assembly and a seal assembly, sealingly engaging a first portion of the seal assembly in the bore of the downhole tubular, selectively permitting fluid to flow between the lifting assembly and the downhole tubular with the valve assembly, and disengaging the first portion of the seal assembly from the bore of the downhole tubular. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090134203 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR STRINGS - An embodiment of a method for interconnecting tubular sections includes the steps of vertically positioning a second tubular above a first tubular forming a seam defined by a bottom end of the second tubular and a top end of the first tubular; positioning a friction stir welder (FSW) proximate to the seam; aligning the first tubular and the second tubular to form a longitudinal axis; and guiding the FSW along the seam forming a weld joint. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090126941 | TUBULAR CONTROL APPARATUS - A control apparatus to receive a tubular member includes a contact member configured to engage the tubular member, and a control mechanism operably coupled to the contact member, wherein the control mechanism is configured to dampen movement of at least one of the tubular member and the contact member as the tubular member engages the contact member. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090114399 | END STOP APPARATUS AND METHODS - An adjustable end stop may selectively include one or more of the following elements: at least one guide member, a collapsible member, a movable assembly, a drive mechanism, and a position adjustment mechanism. The guide member may have the collapsible member and/or movable assembly attached thereto. The collapsible member may be configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction and resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction. The movable assembly may be movably attached to the at least one guide member, in which the movable assembly is configured to move along at least a portion of the length of the at least one guide rail. Further, the drive mechanism may be used to selectively position the collapsible member and/or movable assembly along the at least one guide member. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090114398 | Apparatus and Method for Gripping and/or Handling Tubulars - Gripping tool ( | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090025929 | Apparatus for and Method of Deploying a Centralizer Installed on an Expandable Casing String - A method of and apparatus for deploying a bow spring centralizer installed on an expandable casing string and restrained in the collapsed configuration by restraining bands that rupture, upon expansion of the casing string, to deploy the bow spring centralizer and provide stand-off between the expanded casing string and the wall of the borehole. In one embodiment, the bow spring centralizer comprises landings for receiving and retaining the bands for restraining the centralizer in the collapsed configuration. In another embodiment, the bands are secured to the centralizer to prevent separation of the ruptured bands from the deployed centralizer. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20080302539 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LENGTHENING A PIPE STRING AND INSTALLING A PIPE STRING IN A BOREHOLE - The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for connecting an add-on pipe segment to a pipe string to lengthen the pipe string using friction stir welding. The pipe string is suspended in a borehole using a spider or some other pipe suspending device, and the lower end of the pipe segment is brought into an abutting or nearly abutting relationship with the proximal end of the pipe string positioned above the pipe suspending device and above the rig floor. The friction stir welding machine is brought to well center to weld the abutment or gap between the pipe segment and the pipe string and join the pipe segment to the pipe string to lengthen the pipe string. In one aspect, the method includes friction stir welding an expandable pipe segment to an expandable pipe string to form a lengthened expandable pipe string. The pipe segment may be comprised of two or more pipe segments that have been friction stir welded or conventionally welded to form a pipe stand. After friction stir welding to lengthen the pipe string, the lengthened pipe string is lowered into the borehole and the proximal end of the lengthened pipe string is favorably positioned to abut or nearly abut a new add-on pipe segment for friction stir welding at the resulting abutment or gap. The friction stir welding process provides a highly reliable pipe joint for expansion. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080283253 | Expandable Centralizer For Expandable Pipe String - A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080283237 | Low Clearance Centralizer and Method of Making Centralizer - A bow-spring centralizer includes a center assembly having a plurality of bow springs and a pair of generally tubular moving collars secured one to each end of each bow spring, the center assembly formed intermediate a pair of generally tubular stop collars. Each moving collar/stop collar combination forms an interlocking and axially extendable collar. The centralizer is formed from a single tube. The tube is cut using a laser according to a cut pattern that creates interlocked stop collar/moving collar combinations that are rotatably locked but axially movable one relative to the other. Each of the interlocked stop collars and moving collars includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced heads, each head integrally formed on one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced extensions protruding from the stop collar or moving collar. The heads may have a variety of projected shapes, such as a rectangular, arrow or a teardrop shaped. Each head is axially slidably captured within one of a plurality of chambers on the other tubular member (stop collar or moving collar) to which the first member is coupled. The extensions of each interlocked tubular member define the outer walls of the chamber in which a head of the opposing tubular member is slidably captured. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080264629 | Field-Assemblable Bow-Spring Casing Centralizer and Method of Making A Centralizer - A casing centralizer is provided that may be shipped unassembled and is then assemblable at a well site. According to one embodiment, first and second collars each have a plurality of circumferentially spaced aligning slots and a corresponding plurality of threaded, extruded through-holes. A plurality of bow-springs each have a foot at each end. Each bow-spring axially extends between the first and second collars. The foot at one end of each bow-spring is disposed in one of the aligning slots of the first collar, and the foot at the other end is disposed in one of the aligning slots on the second collar. A plurality of threaded fasteners corresponding in number to the threaded extruded through-holes secure the ends of the bow-springs to the threaded extruded through-holes. The extruded through-holes have a flange height greater than a collar thickness adjacent to the extruded through-holes. The increased flange height allows more threads to be formed within the extruded holes, resulting in a stronger threaded connection with the threaded fasteners, and a correspondingly stronger, more durable centralizer. The foot is retained within the aligning slot to reinforce the coupling between the bow-spring and the collar. A method of manufacturing the casing centralizer is also provided. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080202751 | Methods and Devices for Forming a Wellbore with Casing - An example of a method for cementing a casing within an earthen formation includes the steps of providing a gripping mechanism connected to a cementing assembly and a top drive; gripping the casing with the gripping mechanism; sealingly engaging the casing with a seal member; moving the casing to a position within the formation; and cementing the casing within the formation while maintaining a gripping and sealing engagement of the casing. The step of cementing may also include the step of remotely releasing a plug into the casing from the cementing assembly. | 08-28-2008 |
