Larry M Watkins

US Patent:

7096975, Aug 29, 2006

Filed:

Mar 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809648

Inventors:

Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US
Volker Krueger - Celle, DE
Sven Krueger - Winsen/Aller, DE
Harald Grimmer - Lachendorf, DE
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Larry Watkins - Houston TX, US
Peter Fontana - The Woodlands TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 21/08

US Classification:

175 25, 175 48, 175232

Abstract:

One or more components of a wellbore drilling assembly utilize a modular construction to facilitate assembly, disassembly, repair and/or maintenance of a wellbore drilling assembly and/or to extend the overall operating capabilities of the drilling assembly. In one embodiment, a modular construction is used for an APD Device, a motor driving the modular APD Device, a comminution device, and an annular seal. Individual modules can be configure have different operating set points, operating parameters and characteristics (e. g. , rotational speeds, flow rates, pressure differentials, etc. ) and/or different responses to given environmental factors or conditions (e. g. , pressure, temperature, wellbore fluid chemistry, etc. ). In one embodiment, the high-pressure seals used in conjunction with the APD Device and/or motor is a hydrodynamic seal that provides a selected leak or flow rates. Optionally, the seal is modular to provide different degrees of leak rates and/or different functional characteristics.

US Patent:

7114581, Oct 3, 2006

Filed:

Feb 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/783471

Inventors:

Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US
Volker Krueger - Celle, DE
Sven Krueger - Winsen/Aller, DE
Harald Grimmer - Lachendorf, DE
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Larry Watkins - Conroe TX, US
Peter Fontana - Amsterdam, NL

Assignee:

Deep Vision LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/00

US Classification:

175 57, 175107, 175324

Abstract:

A wellbore drilling system has an umbilical that carries a drill bit in a wellbore. Drilling fluid pumped into the umbilical discharges at the drill bit bottom and returns through an annulus between the umbilical and the wellbore carrying entrained drill cuttings. An active differential pressure device (APD device), such as a jet pump, turbine or centrifugal pump, in fluid communication with the returning fluid creates a differential pressure across the device, which alters the pressure below or downhole of the device. The APD device can be driven by a positive displacement motor, a turbine, an electric motor, or a hydraulic motor. A controller controls the operation of the APD device in response to programmed instructions and/or one or more parameters of interest detected by one or more sensors. A preferred system is a closed loop system that maintains the wellbore at under-balance condition, at-balance condition or over-balance condition.

US Patent:

7270185, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

Jul 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/191152

Inventors:

Peter Fontana - Amsterdam, NL
Larry Watkins - Houston TX, US
Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 29/12

US Classification:

166358, 166367, 166347, 175 5

Abstract:

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 flows to the surface via a riser extending from the wellhead. A flow restriction device positioned in the riser restricts the flow of the returning fluid while an active fluid device controllably discharges fluid from a location below to just above the flow restriction device in the riser, thereby controlling bottomhole pressure and equivalent circulating density (“ECD”). Alternatively, the fluid is discharged into a separate return line thereby providing dual gradient drilling while controlling bottomhole pressure and ECD. A controller controls the energy and thus the speed of the pump in response to downhole measurement(s) to maintain the ECD at a predetermined value or within a predetermined range.

US Patent:

7287604, Oct 30, 2007

Filed:

Sep 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/938189

Inventors:

Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Larry Watkins - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/04
E21B 7/08

US Classification:

175 61, 175 73

Abstract:

A drilling system includes a steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit and a control unit that provide dynamic control of drill bit orientation or tilt. Exemplary steering units can adjust bit orientation at a rate that approaches or exceeds the rotational speed of the drill string or drill bit, can include a dynamically adjustable articulated joint having a plurality of elements that deform in response to an excitation signal, can include adjustable independently rotatable rings for selectively tilting the bit, and/or can include a plurality of selectively extensible force pads. The force pads are actuated by a shape change material that deforms in response to an excitation signal. A method of directional drilling includes continuously cycling the position of the steering unit based upon the rotational speed of the drill string and/or drill bit and with reference to an external reference point.

US Patent:

7353887, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Sep 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/221429

Inventors:

Sven Krueger - Celle, DE
Volker Krueger - Celle, DE
Harald Grimmer - Lachendorf, DE
Larry A. Watkins - Houston TX, US
Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US
Peter Fontana - The Woodlands TX, US
Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/00

US Classification:

175 57, 175107, 175324

Abstract:

An active differential pressure device (APD device) in fluid communication with a returning fluid creates a differential pressure across the device, which controls pressure below the APD Device. In embodiments, a control unit controls the APD Device to provide a selected pressure differential at a wellbore bottom, adjacent a casing shoe, in an intermediate wellbore location, or in a casing. In one arrangement, the control system is pre-set at the surface such that the APD Device provides a substantially constant pressure differential. In other arrangements, the control system adjusts an operating parameter of the APD Device to provide a desired pressure differential in response to one or more measured parameters. Devices such as an adjustable bypass can be used to control the APD Device. In other embodiments, one or more flow control devices coupled to the return fluid reduce the effective pressure differential provided by the APD Device.

US Patent:

7597148, Oct 6, 2009

Filed:

Apr 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/409687

Inventors:

Edward J. O'Malley - Houston TX, US
Bennett M. Richard - Kingwood TX, US
Paul M. McElfresh - Spring TX, US
Aftab Khokhar - Houston TX, US
Daniel L. Crosby - Sugar Lane TX, US
Vu Thieu - Houston TX, US
Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Larry A. Watkins - Conroe TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 28/00

US Classification:

166304, 166249, 166902, 175 68

Abstract:

Gas hydrates, particularly natural gas hydrates e. g. methane hydrates, may be formed and controlled within conduits and vessels by imparting energy to gas and water, for instance using agitation or vibration. The systems and methods allow for improved flow characteristics for fluids containing the gases, e. g. hydrocarbon fluids being transported, and for improved overall efficiencies. The gas and water within a gas flow path may be perturbed or agitated to initiate formation of relatively small hydrate particles. The hydrate particles continue to form as long as energy is imparted and water and hydrate guest molecules are available. High amplitude agitation of the gas and water will repeatedly break up agglomerated hydrate particles that form and encourage the formation of more and smaller particles. As more hydrate forms in this manner, less and less free water may be available proximate the gas and water contact.

US Patent:

7748474, Jul 6, 2010

Filed:

Jun 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/471231

Inventors:

Larry Watkins - Houston TX, US
Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/27

US Classification:

175 56, 175 57, 175 40

Abstract:

An active vibration control device improves drilling by actively applying a dampening profile and/or a controlled vibration to a drill string and/or bottomhole assembly (BHA). Embodiments of the present invention control the behavior of a drill string and/or BHA in order to prevent or minimize the occurrence of harmful drill string/BHA motion and/or to apply a vibration to the drill string/BHA that improves one or more aspects of the drilling process. Measurements of one or more selected parameters of interest are processed to determine whether the undesirable vibration or motion is present in the drill string or BHA and/or whether the drill string and/or BHA operation can be improved by the application of a controlled vibration. If either or both conditions are detected, corrective action is formulated and appropriate control signals are transmitted to one or more devices in the drill string and/or BHA.

US Patent:

7802637, Sep 28, 2010

Filed:

Oct 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/929247

Inventors:

Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Larry Watkins - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/04
E21B 7/08

US Classification:

175 61, 175 73, 175266

Abstract:

A drilling system includes a steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit and a control unit that provide dynamic control of drill bit orientation or tilt. Exemplary steering units can adjust bit orientation at a rate that approaches or exceeds the rotational speed of the drill string or drill bit, can include a dynamically adjustable articulated joint having a plurality of elements that deform in response to an excitation signal, can include adjustable independently rotatable rings for selectively tilting the bit, and/or can include a plurality of selectively extensible force pads. The force pads are actuated by a shape change material that deforms in response to an excitation signal. A method of directional drilling includes continuously cycling the position of the steering unit based upon the rotational speed of the drill string and/or drill bit and with reference to an external reference point.