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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7360595 | Method and system for underground treatment of materials A method for underground treatment of subsurface materials comprises providing an injection pattern and a recovery pattern, the injection pattern and the recovery pattern located proximate to a subsurface treatment zone and at least one of the injection pattern and ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7350569 | Separable plug for use in a wellbore The invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for conveying and operating tools in a wellbore. In one aspect, a method of performing an operation in a wellbore is provided. The method includes running a selectively separable plug member accommodating ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7283060 | Control apparatus for automated downhole tools A method and apparatus for a computer controlled apparatus for use in wellbore completions. A touch-screen is provided that facilitates commands and information that is entered by an operator ordering movement of a downhole tool. In another embodiment, real-time inf... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7259688 | Wireless reservoir production control A reservoir production control system includes a plurality of wells for producing a reservoir linked to a central computer over a downhole communication network and a surface communication network. Both the downhole and the surface communication networks are wireles... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7256706 | Hybrid well communication system A hybrid, hardwired and wireless well communication system having a fiber optical, electrical or other signal transmission conduit extending from the wellhead into the well and one or more wireless signal transducers that are located at a distance from the conduit a... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7253671 | Apparatus and method for compensating for clock drift in downhole drilling components A precise downhole clock that compensates for drift includes a prescaler configured to receive electrical pulses from an oscillator. The prescaler is configured to output a series of clock pulses. The prescaler outputs each clock pulse after counting a preloaded num... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7251567 | Electronically calibrated beacon for a horizontal directional drilling machine A monitoring system for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine and adapted to determine the roll and/or pitch orientation of the downhole tool assembly by detecting signals from a sensor assembly supported by the downhole tool assembly. In a preferred em... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7243719 | Control method for downhole steering tool A method for determining a rate of change of longitudinal direction of a subterranean borehole is provided. The method includes positioning a downhole tool in a borehole, the tool including first and second surveying devices disposed thereon. The method further incl... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7237624 | Electronic roll indexing compensation in a drilling system and method An assembly is configured for sensing its roll orientation, referenced to a roll indexing orientation that is defined by the assembly, so as to produce a roll output signal and for transmitting the roll output signal in a predetermined way. A housing is configured t... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7231819 | Chemical sensor for wellbore applications There is described an analyzing device having two separation units to separate molecular species to detect molecular species in wellbore fluids with both separation units operating under forced flow conditions to provide for an active separation of subterranean well... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7225885 | Boring tool control using remote locator A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7218244 | Common interface architecture for horizontal directional drilling machines and walk-over guidance systems A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated w... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7213644 | Cavity positioning tool and method In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is provided for preventing formation of sludge in a subsurface cavity having particulate laden fluid disposed therein. The method includes positioning a downhole device having a fluid agitator into ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7207395 | Method and system for testing a partially formed hydrocarbon well for evaluation and well planning refinement A method and system for testing a partially formed well includes forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation. The first well bore includes a portion of a planned well having a first configuration. A production characteristic of the subterranean f... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7207390 | Method and system for lining multilateral wells In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for lining a lateral wellbore includes drilling a main wellbore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone, casing the main wellbore with a main casing having a plurality of lateral wellbore w... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7182151 | Apparatus and method for horizontal drilling An apparatus and method for horizontally drilling for detecting subsurface features and avoiding such features during closed-loop control of an underground drilling machine. A horizontal drilling system includes a base machine capable of propelling a drill pipe rota... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7178627 | Methods for use in detecting seismic waves in a borehole The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting seismic waves propagating through a subterranean formation surrounding a borehole. In a first embodiment, a sensor module uses the rotation of bogey wheels to extend and retract a sensor package for selectiv... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7168507 | Recalibration of downhole sensors In downhole drilling tools, a first set of inexpensive and/or relatively small sensors that typically have lower accuracy and higher drift than conventional downhole sensors are located in the drill string adjacent to the bit. A second set of highly accurate sensors... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7163063 | Method and system for extraction of resources from a subterranean well bore A method for stimulating production of resources from a coal seam includes forming a drainage well bore in the coal bed that has a first end coupled to a ground surface and a second end in the coal seam. The method further includes inserting a liner into the well bo... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7128168 | Reamer apparatus for ground boring machine The invention provides a reamer apparatus for a ground boring machine that is capable of restricting increase in drawing resistance when performing drawing of a buried pipe by using a reamer and of efficiently performing drawing operations of the buried pipe without... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7100687 | Multi-purpose well bores and method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface A well system includes at least two well bores extending from a surface to a subterranean zone. Each of the two well bores is used to form a well bore pattern for the subterranean zone that intersects the other well bore and transports fluid from the subterranean zo... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7075053 | Device for determining the position of a scraper A device for determining the position of a scraper which is displaceable for the transport of coating material in a supply path of thereof, the coating material comprises a sensor responding to the presence of the scraper. This sensor is accommodated in a separate m... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7073595 | Method and system for controlling pressure in a dual well system A method for controlling pressure of a dual well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string. The articulated w... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7048089 | Methods and apparatus for use in detecting seismic waves in a borehole The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting seismic waves propagating through a subterranean formation surrounding a borehole. In a first embodiment, a sensor module uses the rotation of bogey wheels to extend and retract a sensor package for selectiv... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7048049 | Slant entry well system and method A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes an entry well bore extending down from the surface. A plurality of slanted well bores extend from the entry well bore to the subterranean zone. Drainage patterns extend from the slanted well bores ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7036584 | Method and system for accessing a subterranean zone from a limited surface area A method and system for accessing subterranean resources from a limited surface area includes a first well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The first well bore includes an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface to provide ... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7025137 | Three-dimensional well system for accessing subterranean zones A drainage system for accessing multiple subterranean zones from the surface includes an entry well extending from the surface. The system also includes two or more exterior drainage wells extending from the entry well through the subterranean zones. The exterior dr... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7025154 | Method and system for circulating fluid in a well system A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizont... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7000710 | Automatic path generation and correction system A method for generating a new or corrected horizontal underground bore path from a point below ground for use with a horizontal boring machine. In the preferred embodiment, orientation and depth measurements for a boring tool located below ground are recorded. The c... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6980866 | Apparatus for sensing cardiac contractile function Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of ... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6976533 | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface Improved An improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articul... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6975942 | Underground utility detection system and method Systems and methods provide for detection of one or more underground utilities. Radar waves and seismic waves of about the same wavelength are generated and communicated into a subsurface. Radar and seismic response signals resulting from communication of the radar ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6968735 | Long range data transmitter for horizontal directional drilling An apparatus for monitoring conditions in subterranean borehole during drilling and pullback operations in real time. The apparatus includes a drill string having a working end. A measurement system suitable for measuring at least one operational characteristic of t... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6964298 | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface An improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articulated well with... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6964308 | Method of drilling lateral wellbores from a slant well without utilizing a whipstock In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling a lateral wellbore from a slant well includes drilling the slant well below the surface of the earth such that the slant well is angled toward a first horizontal direction that coincid... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6953094 | Subterranean well completion incorporating downhole-parkable robot therein A subterranean well completion has a tubular structure in which a remote controlled robot is permanently disposed. The robot is self-propelled, programmable, receives instructions from and communicates data to the surface, and is adapted to receive power from a down... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6951262 | Method and apparatus for suppressing waves in a borehole Methods and apparatus for suppression of wave energy within a fluid-filled borehole using a low pressure acoustic barrier. In one embodiment, a flexible diaphragm type device is configured as an open bottomed tubular structure for disposition in a borehole to be fil... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6942030 | Three-dimensional well system for accessing subterranean zones A method for accessing a plurality of subterranean zones from the surface includes forming an entry well from the surface and forming two or more exterior drainage wells from the entry well through the subterranean zones. The exterior drainage wells each extend outw... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6937023 | Passive ranging techniques in borehole surveying A method for determining the location of a target subterranean structure from within an adjacent borehole is disclosed which uses first and second gravity measurement devices disposed at corresponding first and second positions in the adjacent borehole and a magneti... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6935439 | Boring tool control using remote locator A drilling system performs underground boring using a drill rig and a boring tool which is configured for moving through the ground under control of the drill rig to form an underground bore. A monitoring arrangement, forming part of the system, includes a detection... | 08/30/2005 |
