3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8132630 | Reverse circulation pressure control method and system A system for reverse circulation in a wellbore includes equipment for supplying drilling fluid into the wellbore bit via at least an annulus of the wellbore and returning the drilling fluid to a surface location via at least a bore of a wellbore tubular. The system ... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8118114 | Closed-loop control of rotary steerable blades A steering tool has a controller configured to provide closed-loop control of blade pressure and position. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to execute a directional control methodology in which the drilling direction is controlled via control of the b... | 02/21/2012 |
| 7967081 | Closed-loop physical caliper measurements and directional drilling method Aspects of this invention include a downhole tool and method for making a physical caliper measurement of a subterranean borehole. The tool is configured to make the physical borehole caliper measurement only when the measured pressure in each of three or more outwa... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7954558 | Devices and methods for power control in horizontal directional drilling The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling pump power draw from an engine in horizontal directional drilling. Various embodiments of the invention are directed to a horizontal directional drilling machine that comprises an engine t... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7836973 | Annulus pressure control drilling systems and methods In one embodiment, a method for drilling a wellbore includes an act of drilling the wellbore by injecting drilling fluid through a tubular string disposed in the wellbore, the tubular string comprising a drill bit disposed on a bottom thereof. The drilling fluid exi... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7828081 | Method of drilling a lossy formation A method of drilling a bore hole in a fractured formation. A drill pipe is deployed into the borehole, whereby an annular space is formed between the drill pipe and the borehole wall. A drilling fluid is pumped, by means of primary pumps, into the borehole via an in... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7500529 | Method and apparatus for predicting and controlling secondary kicks while dealing with a primary kick experienced when drilling an oil and gas well A method and apparatus for predicting and controlling secondary kicks, while dealing with a primary kick experienced when drilling an oil and gas well. The method includes a step of determining whether a different pressure per cubic meter of mud pit volume has been ... | 03/10/2009 |
| 7464770 | Closed-loop control of hydraulic pressure in a downhole steering tool Aspects of this invention include a steering tool having a controller configured to provide closed-loop control of hydraulic fluid pressure. In one exemplary embodiment, closed-loop control of a system (reservoir) pressure may be provided. In another embodiment, clo... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7407019 | Method of dynamically controlling open hole pressure in a wellbore using wellhead pressure control A method of dynamically controlling open hole pressure within a wellbore having a drill string positioned therein. The method comprising the steps of pumping a fluid down the drill string, into an annulus formed by the drill string and the interior of the wellbore, ... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7395877 | Apparatus and method to reduce fluid pressure in a wellbore The present invention generally provides apparatus and methods for reducing the pressure of a circulating fluid in a wellbore. In one aspect of the invention an ECD (equivalent circulation density) reduction tool provides a means for drilling extended reach deep (ER... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7350597 | Drilling system and method A drilling system for drilling a bore hole into an earth formation, the bore hole having an inside wall. A drill string reaches into the bore hole from a surface, leaving a drilling fluid return passage between the drill string and the bore hole inside wall. A botto... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7334651 | Kick warning system using high frequency fluid mode in a borehole Techniques for detecting a kick in a borehole include acquiring a set of measurements with a sonic tool in the borehole; determining borehole mud slowness from the set of measurements; and comparing the mud slowness with a selected criterion, wherein the determining... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7331469 | Vibratory separator with automatically adjustable beach A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material, the basket pivotably mounted on a base, vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, the material forming a pool on the screen apparatus, and a beac... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7327634 | Rotary pulser for transmitting information to the surface from a drill string down hole in a well A rotary pulser for transmitting information to the surface from down hole in a well by generating pressure pulses encoded to contain information. The pressure pulses travel to the surface where they are decoded so as to decipher the information. The pulser includes... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322425 | Method of generating stress pulse in tool by means of pressure fluid operated impact device, and impact device A method of generating a stress pulse, and an impact device. In the method, pressure fluid is fed as pressure pulses to a working chamber residing between the frame of the impact device and a tool such that the resulting force presses the tool towards the material t... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7284614 | Wellbore system for simultaneous drilling and production A wellbore system for simultaneously drilling a wellbore into an earth formation and producing hydrocarbon fluid from the wellbore, is provided. The system comprises a production tubing extending into the wellbore and having a hydrocarbon fluid inlet arranged in a f... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7281585 | Offshore coiled tubing heave compensation control system An offshore oil well assembly is provided that includes a floating vessel and a coiled tubing injector supported on the floating vessel. A coiled tubing string is movable by the injector into and out of a wellbore. The assembly also includes at least one measurement... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7278540 | Adjustable basket vibratory separator A vibratory separator having a base, a basket movably mounted on the base and for supporting screen apparatus for treating material introduced into the vibratory separator, the basket on a base and pivotable with respect thereto, vibratory apparatus connected to the... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7270185 | Drilling system and method for controlling equivalent circulating density during drilling of wellbores A drilling system for drilling subsea wellbores includes a tubing-conveyed drill bit that passes through a subsea wellhead. Surface supplied drilling fluid flows through the tubing, discharges at the drill bit, returns to the wellhead through a wellbore annulus, and... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7264058 | Arrangement and method for regulating bottom hole pressures when drilling deepwater offshore wells An arrangement and a method to control and regulate the bottom hole pressure in a well during subsea drilling at deep waters: The method involves adjustment of a liquid/gas interface level in a drilling riser up or down. The arrangement comprises a high pressure dri... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7255173 | Instrumentation for a downhole deployment valve The present generally relates to apparatus and methods for instrumentation associated with a downhole deployment valve or a separate instrumentation sub. In one aspect, a DDV in a casing string is closed in order to isolate an upper section of a wellbore from a lowe... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7243743 | Drilling assembly and method for drilling a barehole into geological formations A drilling assembly for drilling a borehole into geological formations. The assembly comprises a drilling shaft and a pump device, both placable in the borehole. The drilling shaft comprises a drilling head, and the pump device comprises a sealing device for sealing... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7222681 | Programming method for controlling a downhole steering tool A method for communicating with a downhole tool located in a subterranean borehole is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments of the method include encoding data and/or commands in a sequence of varying drill string rotation rates and drilling fluid flow rates. The varying... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7222022 | Method of determining properties relating to an underbalanced well There is a method of determining properties relating to an underbalanced well, comprising inducing pressure variations in a fluid within a well, measuring the pressure variations, and calculating pore pressure of at least one fluid-producing formation. The pressure ... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7209834 | Method and apparatus for estimating distance to or from a geological target while drilling or logging A system and method estimates the distance between a borehole and a subsurface boundary of interest in a geophysical region. In one embodiment, available existing sensor data for the geophysical region is used to create a resistivity model of the region, with the mo... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7201238 | Low friction face sealed reaction turbine rotors Rotary jetting tool including a rotor with axially-opposed pressure-balanced mechanical face seals. Vented upper mechanical face seal enables the rotor to be operated with the relativity low starting torque achievable using reaction forces from offset jets energized... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7198456 | Floating head reaction turbine rotor with improved jet quality A rotary jetting tool including a pressure-balanced rotor, which is achieved using a vented volume. Axial movement of the rotor relative to the housing caused by pressure imbalances acting on the rotor selectively uncovers or opens a vent that places the volume in f... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7195082 | Drill head steering A method of steering a fluid drilling head in an underground borehole drilling situation is provided by rotating the flexible hose through which high pressure is provided to the drilling head and providing a biasing force on the drilling head. The hose can be rotate... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7188683 | Drilling method A system and method is disclosed for continuously supplying drilling fluid down a bore hole while adding or removing tubulars. ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7190084 | Method and apparatus for generating electrical energy downhole A method and apparatus that uses the flow of drilling fluid to generate electrical energy in a downhole environment. A substantially cylindrical housing comprises a wall having an inlet, an outlet, and a hollow passageway therebetween. A flow of drilling fluid throu... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185719 | Dynamic annular pressure control apparatus and method A drilling system for drilling a bore hole into a subterranean earth formation, wherein at least a portion of the mud flow from the primary mud pump is diverted to the mud discharge outlet, thereby creating a backpressure system to readily increase annular pressure.... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7172037 | Real-time drilling optimization based on MWD dynamic measurements A drilling control system provides, in one aspect, advisory actions for optimal drilling. Such a system or model utilizes downhole dynamics data and surface drilling parameters, to produce drilling models used to provide to a human operator with recommended drilling... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7169239 | Solid expandable tubular members formed from very low carbon steel and method A very low carbon steel alloy is provided for use in manufacturing tubular members such as oil country tubular goods. The tubular members may be radially expanded from at least twenty percent to forty percent. Sections or joints of casing formed from the steel alloy... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7152679 | Downhole tool for deforming an object A downhole tool comprises a body defining a fluid chamber, a fluid outlet for directing fluid outwardly of the chamber, and an arrangement for producing a rapid reduction in the volume of the chamber, such that fluid in the chamber is displaced rapidly through the o... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7134511 | Soil working method and device A soil working method and device, in which a drilling rod, to which is fitted at least one drilling tool, is rotated about a rotation axis with a speed using a rotary drive. The drilling rod is simultaneously lowered into a soil area in the direction of the rotation... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7117938 | Drill pipe connecting and disconnecting apparatus Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe at a drilling rig. A remotely controlled power wrench assembly is mounted on a remotely controlled lifting mechanism attached to a base spaced about the well axis on the rig floor. The wrench assembly... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7114576 | Method and arrangement of controlling of percussive drilling based on the stress level determined from the measured feed rate The rock drill apparatus (1) comprises a rock drill machine (6) provided with a percussion device (4), a feed device (9) and a tool (7), the tool (7) end comprising a bit (8) for breaking rock. The tool (7) is ... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7114583 | Tool and method for drilling, reaming, and cutting An orbital tool apparatus and method of using the apparatus for boring, drilling, reaming, and cutting having a tool housing, a tool collar located within the housing, the tool housing having the ability to couple to a conduit structure, fluid orbiting jets within t... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7111692 | Apparatus and method to reduce fluid pressure in a wellbore The present invention generally provides apparatus and methods for reducing the pressure of a circulating fluid in a wellbore. In one aspect of the invention an ECD (equivalent circulation density) reduction tool provides a means for drilling extended reach deep (ER... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7107875 | Methods and apparatus for connecting tubulars while drilling The present invention provides an apparatus that permits sections of tubulars to be connected to or disconnected from a string of pipe during a drilling operation. The apparatus further permits the sections of drill pipe to be rotated and to be axially translated du... | 09/19/2006 |