Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
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 |
20080283253 | Expandable Centralizer For Expandable Pipe String - A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer | 11-20-2008 |
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 |
20090114398 | Apparatus and Method for Gripping and/or Handling Tubulars - Gripping tool ( | 05-07-2009 |
20090308615 | Modular Low-Clearance Centralizer and Method of Making Modular Low-Clearance Centralizer - A low-clearance bow spring centralizer ( | 12-17-2009 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20100218956 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SECURING A CENTRALIZER TO A TUBULAR - A bow-spring centralizer ( | 09-02-2010 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20110146971 | Low Clearance Centralizer and Method of Making Centralizer - A bow-spring centralizer ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110186289 | Expandable Centralizer For Expandable Pipe String - A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer | 08-04-2011 |
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 |
20120138288 | RIGID CENTRALIZER - Embodiments of the disclosure provide a rigid centralizer having at least one annular band with radially extending embossed flutes spaced around an outer surface of the at least one annular band and a plurality of elongated connecting posts welded to an inner surface of the at least one annular band to form a tubular receiving annulus. | 06-07-2012 |
20120227959 | EXPANDABLE CENTRALIZER FOR EXPANDABLE PIPE STRING - A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer | 09-13-2012 |
20130025881 | PERFORMANCE CENTRALIZER FOR CLOSE TOLERANCE APPLICATIONS - A centralizer having a plurality of collapsible bows interconnecting a first collar and a second collar, with the centralizer disposed on a tubular with a stop collar, and an attachable retainer(s) of the centralizer blocking passage of the stop collar therethrough. The bows may have a yield strength of at least about 200,000 psi. Outer surface of the bows may have a coefficient of friction equal or less than about 0.02. Maximum radial thickness of centralizer when the plurality of collapsible bows is fully collapsed may be equal to or less than 3/16″. Centralizer may be rotatable relative to tubular. Centralizer having a split tubular body forming first and second collars connected by collapsible bows and a retainer to retain the split tubular body on the tubular, and the retainer, the first collar and/or the second collar providing a recess therein to receive a stop collar of the tubular. | 01-31-2013 |
20130087334 | 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. | 04-11-2013 |
20140034334 | 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. | 02-06-2014 |
20140096888 | ROLLED TUBULAR CENTRALIZER - A method of forming a centralizer where a flat plate is created into a tubular where the flat plate is typically rolled so that two sides of the plate contact one another and are then linked, typically by welding. Openings are then created in the tubular such that there are no corners or other points that stress cracks may originate. Once the openings are created the remaining material between adjacent openings forms ribs. The openings created in the tubular are generally aligned with the long axis of the tubular. The material at the upper and lower end of the flat plate where openings were not created serve as circumferential collars. The ribs may be radially outwardly expanded in order to provide adequate stand-off. In many instances the ribs will also be hardened by heat treating or other hardening processes. | 04-10-2014 |
20140182839 | LOW-CLEARANCE CENTRALIZER AND METHOD OF MAKING CENTRALIZER - A stop collar and a centralizer assembly including the stop collar are provided. The collar includes a first portion, and a second portion coupled with the first portion such that the first and second portions are slidable one relative to the other along a longitudinal axis of the collar. The collar is axially expandable by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion. The collar also includes an anchor coupled with the second portion. The anchor defines one or more anchor windows extending therethrough and configured to expose a portion of a tubular when the tubular is received through the collar. The anchor is configured to bear on an anchoring material received radially inwards through the one or more anchor windows. The anchor does not force the anchoring material into engagement with the tubular when the tubular is received through the collar, the anchoring material being coupled with the tubular. | 07-03-2014 |
20140251595 | ROLLED TUBULAR CENTRALIZER - A method of forming a centralizer where a flat plate is created into a tubular where the flat plate is typically rolled so that two sides of the plate contact one another and are then linked, typically by welding. Openings are then created in the tubular such that there are no corners or other points that stress cracks may originate. Once the openings are created the remaining material between adjacent openings forms ribs. The openings created in the tubular are generally aligned with the long axis of the tubular. The material at the upper and lower end of the flat plate where openings were not created serve as circumferential collars. The ribs may be radially outwardly expanded in order to provide adequate stand-off. In many instances the ribs will also be hardened by heat treating or other hardening processes. | 09-11-2014 |
20140310935 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SECURING A CENTRALIZER TO A TUBULAR - A bow-spring centralizer ( | 10-23-2014 |
20140352980 | WRAP-AROUND BAND AND SLEEVE ATTACHMENT APPARATUS FOR AN OILFIELD TUBULAR - An attachment apparatus for attaching to a tubular. The apparatus may include a flexible member extending circumferentially around the tubular more than once. A tension force on the flexible member may cause the flexible member to apply a first radially-inward gripping force on the tubular. An annular sleeve may be positioned radially-outward from the flexible member. The sleeve may apply a second radially-inward gripping force on the flexible member and the tubular. | 12-04-2014 |
20150021047 | CENTRALIZER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING TO A TUBULAR - A centralizer, method, and centralizer assembly. For example, the centralizer assembly includes a first stop collar fixed in place on a tubular, and a first end collar that is sized to slide axially over the first stop collar. The centralizer assembly also includes a first retainer coupled with the first end collar. The first retainer prevents the first stop collar from sliding past the first stop collar in at least one axial direction. The assembly also includes a plurality of ribs coupled with the first end collar and configured to engage a surrounding tubular in which the tubular is disposed. | 01-22-2015 |
20150047855 | MULTI-VANE CENTRALIZER AND METHOD OF FORMING - A centralizer for centralizing a tubular in a wellbore, and a method of manufacturing a centralizer. The centralizer may include a plurality of ribs spaced circumferentially apart from one another around the tubular. Each of the ribs may include a first end section, a second end section, and a middle section extending between the first and second end sections. A first plurality of spacers may be spaced circumferentially apart from one another around the tubular. Each of the first plurality of spacers may be positioned circumferentially between two of the plurality of ribs. The first plurality of spacers and the first end sections of the plurality of ribs may be axially aligned and together at least partially define a first end collar. | 02-19-2015 |
20150047856 | WRAP-AROUND STOP COLLAR AND METHOD OF FORMING - A stop collar for a tubular and method for installing a stop collar on a tubular. The stop collar includes a flexible member extending circumferentially around the tubular more than once. A tension force on the flexible member causes the flexible member to apply a radially-inward gripping force on the tubular. The stop collar may also include a shield disposed around at least a portion of the flexible member, to protect the flexible member in a downhole environment. The stop collar may also or instead include an adhesive disposed radially between the flexible member and the tubular. | 02-19-2015 |
20150047907 | WRAP-AROUND BAND TOOL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF FORMING - A downhole tool including a body configured to be positioned on an outer surface of a tubular. A flexible member may extend circumferentially around the body more than once. The body may be positioned radially-between the outer surface of the tubular and the flexible member, and a tension force on the flexible member may cause the flexible member to apply a radially-inward gripping force on the body and the tubular. | 02-19-2015 |