| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20100000730 | Acoustically Measuring Annulus Probe Depth - A casing annulus is remediated by inserting a hose into a casing annulus, the hose having a nozzle on its lower end. An acoustic signal is directed into the annulus. A sensor in the hose receives the acoustic signal and transmits data from the sensor to the surface. The data represents the acoustic signal arrival time to the sensor, and an analyzer estimates the sensor depth based on the data. The hose is inserted from a reel into a wellhead above the annulus. An electrical transducer mechanically coupled to the hose creates the acoustic signal. The signal is propagated along the hose and transferred to the fluid in the annulus, where it then propagates further into the annulus. The transducer can be installed on a hose roller along which the hose is fed into the wellhead. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100018721 | DEVICE TO INSERT A FLEXIBLE MEMBER INTO PRESSURIZED WELLHEAD HOUSING - A drive assembly for inserting hose within a wellhead housing that intermittently reciprocates the hose feed into the housing. The intermittent reciprocating action feeds the hose past obstacles in the wellhead housing, such as within annuluses between tubulars. The drive assembly includes rollers that frictionally contact the hose and when rotated drive the hose forward. The rollers are rotated by a drive sprocket that is rotated by a hand crank. An offset cam assembly between the hand crank and the drive sprocket adds an orbital/reciprocating motion to the drive assembly. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100171058 | Mechanically Operated Hydraulic Valve Actuator - A wellhead assembly includes a valve with a valve actuator. The valve actuator linearly moves a valve stem and valve member assembly to selectively open and close the valve. The valve actuator moves the valve stem by reciprocatingly moving a piston that is attached to the valve stem. The piston is moved by applying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a piston surface. Piston direction is controlled by a selector valve that selectively diverts a hydraulic flow to either side of the piston. The actuator further includes a piston assembly for pressurizing a hydraulic flow, where the piston assembly reciprocates in response to engagement by a profiled rotating cam member. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100230114 | WIRELINE RUN FRACTURE ISOLATION SLEEVE AND PLUG AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - An isolation sleeve and plug assembly that may be used to protect a wellhead assembly from being damaged by high-pressure wellbore fracturing operations. Both the isolation sleeve and plug may be installed by the same running tool, and may be installed by lowering the running tool through an isolation valve on the wellbore. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100276156 | Wellhead System Having a Tubular Hanger Securable to Wellhead and Method of Operation - A technique is provided for installing a tubular hanger and tubular hanger seal in a wellhead. The technique comprises installing the tubular hanger with a setting tool. The tubular hanger may comprise a locking ring that is driven outward into engagement with a profile in the wellhead. The setting tool is adapted to rotate a moveable member of the tubular hanger relative to the tubular hanger body so as to drive the moveable member to expand the locking ring outward to engage a profile in the wellhead. The moveable member may be wedged between the locking ring and the tubular hanger body. The setting tool may be adapted to enable the moveable member and the tubular hanger body to be rotated independently. The annulus between the tubular hanger and the wellhead may be sealed by a seal that has a plurality of sealing elements that are coupled together by a series of catches. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100314097 | Acoustically Measuring Annulus Probe Depth - A casing annulus is remediated by inserting a hose into a casing annulus, the hose having a nozzle on its lower end. An acoustic signal is directed into the annulus. A sensor in the hose receives the acoustic signal and transmits data from the sensor to the surface. The data represents the acoustic signal arrival time to the sensor, and an analyzer estimates the sensor depth based on the data. The hose is inserted from a reel into a wellhead above the annulus. An electrical transducer mechanically coupled to the hose creates the acoustic signal. The signal is propagated along the hose and transferred to the fluid in the annulus, where it then propagates further into the annulus. The transducer can be installed on a hose roller along which the hose is fed into the wellhead. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110083854 | CASING HANGER NESTING INDICATOR - A casing hanger nesting indicator generates a signal to notify personnel on the surface that a wellhead member has properly landed on a predetermined surface within the wellbore. The casing hanger nesting indicator comprises a signaling device such as an explosive charge or a frequency shift key wherein the noise or vibration of the signaling device travels through the wellbore, via the drilling conduit in some embodiments, up to the surface platform. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110129357 | Pumping Mud By Electrohydrodynamic Propulsion - A section of riser casing urges drilling mud upward from the sea floor to reduce head pressure associated with pumping drilling mud through riser casing in dual-gradient drilling operations. The section of riser casing may use an electromagnet, two or more electrodes, or a combination of electromagnets and electrodes to urge drilling mud having electrohydrodynamic properties through the riser casing. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110129358 | PUMPING MUD BY ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC PROPULSION - A section of riser casing urges drilling mud through the riser, either upward from the sea floor to reduce head pressure or downward toward the wellbore. The section of riser casing may use an electromagnet, two or more electrodes, or a combination of electromagnets and electrodes to urge drilling mud having electrohydrodynamic properties through the riser casing. | 06-02-2011 |
