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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8181718 | Perforating gun gravitational orientation system A perforating gun gravitational orientation system includes a perforating gun and a swivel device connected to the perforating gun to permit rotation of the perforating gun within casing, and the perforating gun spaced apart from the casing by the swivel device. Ano... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8176634 | Method of manufacturing a well screen An expanded non-bonded mesh well screen. A method of manufacturing a well screen includes the steps of: expanding at least a portion of a screen jacket; and then securing the screen jacket onto a base pipe. A well screen system includes a base pipe and an at least p... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8157016 | Fluid metering device and method for well tool A method of actuating a well tool includes the steps of: increasing pressure in a fluid line of a fluid metering device; closing a pilot-operated valve in response to the pressure increasing step; and discharging a predetermined volume of fluid from the metering dev... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8151888 | Well tool with combined actuation of multiple valves A well tool with combined actuation of multiple valves. A well tool includes at least two valves and an actuator which actuates each of the valves, one valve being positioned longitudinally between the other valve and the actuator, and the other valve being operable... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8151874 | Thermal recovery of shallow bitumen through increased permeability inclusions Systems and methods for thermal recovery of shallow bitumen using increased permeability inclusions. A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation includes the steps of: propagating at least one generally planar inclusion outward from a wellbore i... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8141626 | Packer-anchoring device A packer-anchoring device between an annular packer and a body, wherein the annular packer is provided, at least at one of its end portions, with an expandable end ring. ... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8132621 | Multi-zone formation evaluation systems and methods A formation evaluation system and method. A formation evaluation system includes an assembly interconnected as part of a tubular string and displaceable to multiple positions proximate each of multiple zones intersected by a wellbore. The assembly includes at least ... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8127859 | Use of swellable material in an annular seal element to prevent leakage in a subterranean well A method of sealing an annulus formed between a casing string and a surface in a well may include: positioning a seal element in the annulus with a swellable material of the seal element positioned between the casing string and the surface; and flowing cement throug... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8122953 | Drainage of heavy oil reservoir via horizontal wellbore Systems and methods for drainage of a heavy oil reservoir via a horizontal wellbore. A method of improving production of fluid from a subterranean formation includes the step of propagating a generally vertical inclusion into the formation from a generally horizonta... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8118105 | Modular electro-hydraulic controller for well tool An actuator control system includes a housing assembly having at least one line therein for controlling operation of an actuator, and a modular controller attached externally to the housing assembly and interconnected to the line. A method of constructing an actuato... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8118088 | Shear activated safety valve system A safety valve system includes a safety valve having an actuator and a line connected to the actuator. The safety valve is operable by opening the line in the well, with the line being free of any connection to a surface control system. Another safety valve system i... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8096363 | Circulation control valve and associated method A circulation control valve can include first and second valve devices and at least one opening which provides fluid communication between an interior longitudinal flow passage and an exterior of the valve. Fluid communication can be provided through each of the fir... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8096362 | Phase-controlled well flow control and associated methods Phase-controlled well flow control. A well system includes a flow control device which regulates flow of a fluid in the well system, the flow control device being responsive to both pressure and temperature in the well system to regulate flow of the fluid. A flow co... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8096037 | Well screen fabrication Well screen fabrication. A method of fabricating a well screen includes the steps of: providing a filter portion having an inner dimension, and then increasing the inner dimension, the providing and increasing steps being performed prior to installing the well scree... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8091246 | Casing or work string orientation indicating apparatus and methods Casing or work string orientation indicating apparatus and methods. A system for indicating orientation of a structure in a wellbore includes an orientation indicating device responsive to fluid flow through the device, whereby fluid flow through the device at a sel... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8090227 | Purging of fiber optic conduits in subterranean wells Purging of fiber optic conduits in subterranean wells. A downhole optical sensing system includes an optical line, at least two tubular conduits, one conduit being positioned within the other conduit, and the optical line being positioned within at least one of the ... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8087463 | Multi-position hydraulic actuator A method of actuating a well tool utilizing first and second pressure sources includes the steps of: placing an actuator chamber in communication with the first pressure source, thereby displacing a piston from a first position to a second position; and then placing... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8061431 | Method of operating a pressure cycle operated perforating firing head and generating electricity in a subterranean well Pressure cycle operated apparatus and methods. A method of actuating a firing head includes the steps of: reciprocably displacing an actuator piston of the firing head, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and ... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8051914 | Well packing Annular packer (2) arranged on the outside of a production tubing (4) said packer comprises a core (12) comprising elastic polymer swelling by absorption of hydrocarbons. The core (12) may be surrounded by an external mantle of rubber ( | 11/08/2011 |
| 8047298 | Well tools utilizing swellable materials activated on demand A well tool includes a generally tubular mandrel with a flow passage extending longitudinally through the mandrel, and a flow controller which initially prevents a fluid from contacting a swellable material, but which permits the fluid to contact the material in res... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8047294 | Dual flapper safety valve A valve system for use in a subterranean well, the valve having multiple closure devices, or a closure device and a device for protecting the closure device. A valve system includes a valve with a closure assembly. The closure assembly has a closure device and a pro... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8038120 | Magnetically coupled safety valve with satellite outer magnets A magnetically coupled safety valve with satellite outer magnets. A safety valve includes a housing having multiple chambers extending longitudinally in a pressure bearing wall of the housing, and multiple magnetic devices, each of the magnetic devices being recipro... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8028751 | Perforation method and apparatus A signature element is attached to a downhole cable or other protected equipment and the signal from a signature position detector is used, at least in part, to control the orientation of a directed perforating device or other directional device. Signal emitting sou... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8011433 | Bidirectional gravel packing in subterranean wells Systems and methods for bidirectional gravel packing of wells. A gravel packing method includes flowing a gravel slurry in one direction in an annulus formed between a wellbore and a gravel packing assembly, and flowing another gravel slurry in an opposite direction... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8006779 | Pressure cycle operated perforating firing head Pressure cycle operated apparatus and methods. A method of actuating a firing head includes the steps of: reciprocably displacing an actuator piston of the firing head, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8006773 | Swellable packer construction for continuous or segmented tubing A swellable packer construction for continuous or segmented tubing. A method of constructing a swellable packer on a continuous tubular string includes the steps of: attaching a swellable seal material to the tubular string to thereby form the packer; and then wrapp... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8006770 | Expandable casing with enhanced collapse resistance and sealing capability An expandable casing with enhanced collapse resistance and sealing capability. An expandable tubular for use in a subterranean well includes multiple recesses extending into a wall of the tubular, with the recesses being longitudinally spaced apart along the wall. A... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7971640 | Method and device for setting a bottom packer The invention refers to a device for sealing an annular space formed between an outer cylindrical element (4) having an end closure (16) and an inner pipe (1) extending within the outer element and having a free end. The invention incorporates a... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7950461 | Screened valve system for selective well stimulation and control A well system includes a valve interconnected in a casing string and selectively configurable between first and second configurations via a line external to the casing string, the valve in the first configuration being operable to selectively permit and prevent flui... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7950456 | Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation in earth formations. A method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation includes the steps of: installing a liner within a casing section in a wellbore intersecting the formation; and expan... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7946351 | Method and device for sealing a void incompletely filled with a cast material A method and a device for sealing a void incompletely filled with a castable material, in which an expandable material is placed in the void which is to be filled with the castable material, the expandable material expanding into spaces which are not filled with cas... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7926581 | Well tool having enhanced packing element assembly A well tool having an enhanced performance packing element assembly. A well tool includes a packing element assembly for sealingly engaging a surface, the assembly including a packing element having at least one circumferential variation. Another well tool includes ... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7926573 | Circulation control valve and associated method A circulation control valve includes an opening between the valve exterior and an interior passage, an internal closure device for permitting and preventing flow through the opening, a valve device initially preventing flow through the opening, and an internal chamb... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7921876 | Rotary control valve and associated actuator control system A rotary control valve and associated actuator control system. An actuator control system comprises a rotary control valve including a generally planar face seal, and an actuator operatively connected to the rotary control valve. Another actuator control system comp... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7918269 | Drainage of heavy oil reservoir via horizontal wellbore Systems and methods for drainage of a heavy oil reservoir via a horizontal wellbore. A method of improving production of fluid from a subterranean formation includes the step of propagating a generally vertical inclusion into the formation from a generally horizonta... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7909095 | Valve device and associated methods of selectively communicating between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string A valve device and associated methods of selectively communicating between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string. A valve device includes an openable and closable flowpath for selectively permitting and preventing flow between an interior and exterior of t... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7891431 | Annular packer device An annular packer device that is expandable in an annulus between an inner body and an outer boundary. The annular packer is sealingly movable along at least one of the inner body and the outer boundary. A method of sealing an annulus formed between a pipe and a bor... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7874354 | Packer-anchoring device A packer-anchoring device between an annular packer and a body, wherein the annular packer is provided, at least at one of its end portions, with an expandable end ring. ... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7866408 | Well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling A well tool including swellable material and integrated fluid for initiating swelling. A well tool includes a swellable material and a reservoir for containing a fluid of a type which causes the swellable material to swell. A method of swelling a swellable material ... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7866405 | Securement of lines to well sand control screens Systems and methods for securing lines to well sand control screens. A method of securing at least one line to a tubular string includes connecting together longitudinal ends of longitudinal sections of the tubular string; then wrapping a shroud circumferentially ab... | 01/11/2011 |
