Gilman A Hill

US Patent:

6367566, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Feb 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/253200

Inventors:

Gilman A. Hill - Englewood CO 80112

International Classification:

E21B 700

US Classification:

175 57, 166370, 175215, 175324

Abstract:

The system and method of the present invention permits control of down hole fluid pressures during under balanced drilling, tripping of the drill string, and well completion to substantially avoid âkillingâ of the well and thereby damaging the producing formations in the well bore. The system and method utilizes separate and interconnected fluid pathways for introducing a downwardly flowing hydrodynamic control fluid through one fluid pathway and for removing through the other fluid pathway a commingled fluid formed by mixing of the hydrodynamic control fluid and the well bore fluids flowing upwardly in the well bore.

US Patent:

6929066, Aug 16, 2005

Filed:

Jul 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/614272

Inventors:

Gilman A. Hill - Englewood CO, US

International Classification:

E21B043/26

US Classification:

1662501, 166281, 1663081

Abstract:

A method for outward and upward growth of a hydraulic fracture along a well bore sandpacked annulus and over a selected rock formation interval along a length of a well bore. The fracture is created along the interval encompassing a multitude of oil and gas saturated sand formations and intervening silt and shale formations for more efficiently producing oil and/or gas from the formations. The method includes creating a linear sourced, cylindrical, stress field by maneuvering an intersection of a fluid friction controlled first pressure gradient and a second pressure gradient of a frac pad fluid traversing through a well bore sandpacked annulus and a hydraulic frac in the adjacent rock formation interval. The first pressure gradient is created by controlling a fluid flow rate of the frac pad fluid through a portion of the sandpacked annulus located above the top of an upwardly propagating hydraulic fracture. The first pressure gradient is substantially greater than an average gradient of rock formations frac-extension pressure gradient.

US Patent:

7028781, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Aug 24, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/925770

Inventors:

Gilman A. Hill - Englewood CO, US

International Classification:

E21B 19/22

US Classification:

166384, 166 772, 24211841, 242557, 242603

Abstract:

A system and method for injecting or withdrawing a fluid into or from a well includes an injector vehicle having a longitudinal axis and operable to position tubing into the well. The system also includes a tubing supply vehicle operable to provide the tubing to the injector vehicle for positioning in the well. In one aspect of the invention, the tubing is mounted on at least one spool, wherein the longitudinal axis of the injector vehicle is transverse to an axis of rotation of the spool and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubing supply vehicle. In a separate aspect of the invention, a spiral guide is used to transition tubing during spooling and unspooling between a plurality of empty and full spools. In yet a separate aspect of the invention, a spool is vertically adjustable to allow rotation of the spool during spooling and unspooling.

US Patent:

7096943, Aug 29, 2006

Filed:

Jan 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/751814

Inventors:

Gilman A. Hill - Englewood CO, US

International Classification:

E21B 43/26

US Classification:

1662501, 166281, 1663081

Abstract:

A method for growth of a hydraulic fracture or a tall frac is described wherein the tall frac is disposed next to a well bore using a sandpacked annulus. Also, a method for creating a permeable well bore annulus is disclosed. The method for creating the tall frac includes creating a linear-sourced, cylindrical stress field by maneuvering the intersection of two independent friction-controlled pressure gradients of a frac pad fluid. The intersection of these two frac pad fluid pressure gradients can be controlled when the frac pad fluid traverses along a well bore sandpacked annulus. The first pressure gradient is created by controlling the fluid flow rate and the consequent, friction pressure loss in the frac pad fluid flow through a portion of the sandpacked annulus, located above the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac hydraulic fracture. The first pressure gradient must be significantly greater than the average gradient of the formation, frac-extension pressure gradient. The second pressure gradient is created by the friction loss of the volume flow rate of the frac pad fluid flowing through the combined parallel paths of the sandpacked annulus and the open hydraulic fracture which is propagating outward in the adjacent rock formation below the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac.

US Patent:

7395859, Jul 8, 2008

Filed:

Jul 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/481623

Inventors:

Gilman A. Hill - Englewood CO, US

International Classification:

E21B 43/00

US Classification:

166278, 166 51, 1663081

Abstract:

A method for growth of a hydraulic fracture or a tall frac is described wherein the tall frac is disposed next to a well bore using a sandpacked annulus. Also, a method for creating a permeable well bore annulus is disclosed. The method for creating the tall frac includes creating a linear-sourced, cylindrical stress field by maneuvering the intersection of two independent friction-controlled pressure gradients of a frac pad fluid. The intersection of these two frac pad fluid pressure gradients can be controlled when the frac pad fluid traverses along a well bore sandpacked annulus. The first pressure gradient is created by controlling the fluid flow rate and the consequent, friction pressure loss in the frac pad fluid flow through a portion of the sandpacked annulus, located above the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac hydraulic fracture. The first pressure gradient must be significantly greater than the average gradient of the formation, frac-extension pressure gradient. The second pressure gradient is created by the friction loss of the volume flow rate of the frac pad fluid flowing through the combined parallel paths of the sandpacked annulus and the open hydraulic fracture which is propagating outward in the adjacent rock formation below the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac.

US Patent:

7416032, Aug 26, 2008

Filed:

Aug 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/208671

Inventors:

William M. Moeny - Rio Rancho NM, US
Gilman Hill - Englewood CO, US

Assignee:

Tetra Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

E21B 7/15

US Classification:

175 16

Abstract:

The present invention provides for pulsed powered drilling apparatuses and methods. A drilling apparatus is provided comprising a bit having one or more sets of electrodes through which a pulsed voltage is passed through a mineral substrate to create a crushing or drilling action.

US Patent:

7530406, May 12, 2009

Filed:

Nov 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/561840

Inventors:

William M. Moeny - Bernalillo NM, US
Gilman Hill - Englewood CO, US

Assignee:

Tetra Corporation - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

E21B 7/15

US Classification:

175 16

Abstract:

The present invention provides for pulsed powered drilling apparatuses and methods. A drilling apparatus is provided comprising a bit having one or more sets of electrodes through which a pulsed voltage is passed through a mineral substrate to create a crushing or drilling action.

US Patent:

7647969, Jan 19, 2010

Filed:

Jun 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/215961

Inventors:

Gilman A. Hill - Englewood CO, US

International Classification:

E21B 43/263

US Classification:

166281, 166286

Abstract:

A method for growth of a hydraulic fracture or a tall frac is described wherein the tall frac is disposed next to a well bore using a sandpacked annulus. Also, a method for creating a permeable well bore annulus is disclosed. The method for creating the tall frac includes creating a linear-sourced, cylindrical stress field by maneuvering the intersection of two independent friction-controlled pressure gradients of a frac pad fluid. The intersection of these two frac pad fluid pressure gradients can be controlled when the frac pad fluid traverses along a well bore sandpacked annulus. The first pressure gradient is created by controlling the fluid flow rate and the consequent, friction pressure loss in the frac pad fluid flow through a portion of the sandpacked annulus, located above the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac hydraulic fracture. The first pressure gradient must be significantly greater than the average gradient of the formation, frac-extension pressure gradient. The second pressure gradient is created by the friction loss of the volume flow rate of the frac pad fluid flowing through the combined parallel paths of the sandpacked annulus and the open hydraulic fracture which is propagating outward in the adjacent rock formation below the top of the upwardly propagating tall frac.