Larry Bernell Watkins

US Patent:

H55, May 6, 1986

Filed:

Jun 18, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/621976

Inventors:

Mark S. Ramsey - Spring TX
Larry A. Watkins - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4700

US Classification:

73155

Abstract:

The present invention is a method for improved mud pulse telemetry. Mud pulse signals generated by a downhole mud pulser are detected at the surface by monitoring mud flow rate. Mud flow rate can be monitored by use of a flow meter placed downstream from the surge suppressor.

US Patent:

6415877, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Jul 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/353275

Inventors:

Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX
Roland May - Celle, GB
Peter Fontana - Houston TX
Larry Watkins - Houston TX
James W. Macfarlane - Katy TX

Assignee:

Deep Vision LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 712

US Classification:

175 5, 175 25, 175 38

Abstract:

The present invention provides drilling systems for drilling subsea wellbores. The drilling system includes a tubing that passes through a sea bottom wellhead and carries a drill bit. A drilling fluid system continuously supplies drilling fluid into the tubing, which discharges at the drill bit bottom and returns to the wellhead through an annulus between the tubing and the wellbore carrying the drill cuttings. A fluid return line extending from the wellhead equipment to the drilling vessel transports the returning fluid to the surface. In a riserless arrangement, the return fluid line is separate and spaced apart from the tubing. In a system using a riser, the return fluid line may be the riser or a separate line carried by the riser. The tubing may be coiled tubing with a drilling motor in the bottom hole assembly driving the drill bit. A suction pump coupled to the annulus is used to control the bottom hole pressure during drilling operations, making it possible to use heavier drilling muds and drill to greater depths than would be possible without the suction pump.

US Patent:

6648081, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Mar 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/094208

Inventors:

Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX
Roland May - Celle, DE
Peter Fontana - Houston TX
Larry Watkins - Houston TX
James W. Macfarlane - Katy TX

Assignee:

Deep Vision LLP - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 700

US Classification:

175 25, 175 38, 175 72

Abstract:

The present invention provides drilling systems for drilling subsea wellbores. The drilling system includes a tubing that passes through a sea bottom wellhead and carries a drill bit. A drilling fluid system continuously supplies drilling fluid into the tubing, which discharges at the drill bit bottom and returns to the wellhead through an annulus between the tubing and the wellbore carrying the drill cuttings. A fluid return line extending from the wellhead equipment to the drilling vessel transports the returning fluid to the surface. In a riserless arrangement, the return fluid line is separate and spaced apart from the tubing. In a system using a riser, the return fluid line may be the riser or a separate line carried by the riser. The tubing may be coiled tubing with a drilling motor in the bottom hole assembly driving the drill bit. A suction pump coupled to the annulus is used to control the bottom hole pressure during drilling operations, making it possible to use heavier drilling muds and drill to greater depths than would be possible without the suction pump.

US Patent:

6854532, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Nov 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/716106

Inventors:

Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Roland May - Celle, DE
Peter Fontana - Houston TX, US
Larry Watkins - Houston TX, US
James W. Macfarlane - Katy TX, US

Assignee:

Deep Vision LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B007/12
E21B021/08

US Classification:

175 5, 175 25, 175 38

Abstract:

The present invention provides drilling systems for drilling subsea wellbores. The drilling system includes a tubing that passes through a sea bottom wellhead and carries a drill bit. A drilling fluid system continuously supplies drilling fluid into the tubing, which discharges at the drill bit bottom and returns to the wellhead through an annulus between the tubing and the wellbore carrying the drill cuttings. A fluid return line extending from the wellhead equipment to the drilling vessel transports the returning fluid to the surface. In a riserless arrangement, the return fluid line is separate and spaced apart from the tubing. In a system using a riser, the return fluid line may be the riser or a separate line carried by the riser. The tubing may be coiled tubing with a drilling motor in the bottom hole assembly driving the drill bit. A suction pump coupled to the annulus is used to control the bottom hole pressure during drilling operations, making it possible to use heavier drilling muds and drill to greater depths than would be possible without the suction pump.

US Patent:

7055627, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

Nov 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/713708

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 65, 175 25

Abstract:

The present invention provides drilling systems for drilling wellbores. The drilling system includes an umbilical that passes through a wellhead and carries a drill bit. A drilling fluid system supplies drilling fluid into an annulus (supply line) between the umbilical and the wellbore, which discharges at the drill bit bottom and returns to the wellhead through the umbilical (return line) carrying the drill cuttings. A fluid circulation device, such as a turbine or centrifugal pump, is operated in the return line to provide the primary motive force for circulating drilling fluid through a fluid circuit formed by the supply line and return line. Optionally, a secondary fluid circulation device in fluid communication with the return line can cooperate with the fluid circulation device to circulate drilling fluid and/or a near bit fluid circulation device can be used to provide localized flow control or suction pressure to improve bit cleaning.

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:

7104317, Sep 12, 2006

Filed:

Sep 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/675345

Inventors:

Bennett M. Richard - Kingwood TX, US
Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US
Larry A. Watkins - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/10

US Classification:

166207

Abstract:

Composite tubulars that have not been polymerized and are thus flexible enough to be coiled are delivered into a wellbore and expanded. The expansion occurs from an external catalyst such as heat or releases the internal catalyst and allows the expanded tubular to become rigid. Optionally, healing agents can be imbedded in the tubular wall to be released to seal subsequently forming cracks.

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.