Gordon R Whipple

US Patent:

7954564, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

Jul 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/179469

Inventors:

Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US
Wei Tang - Katy TX, US
Gordon Whipple - Spring TX, US
Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Gail Nelson - Tomball TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/32

US Classification:

175263, 175284, 175384, 175406

Abstract:

A secondary cutting structure for sure in a drilling assembly, the secondary cutting structure including a tubular body and a block, extendable from the tubular body, the block including a first arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a first blade and a second arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a second blade, wherein the second arrangement is a modified redundant arrangement. Also, a secondary cutting structure for use in a drilling assembly, the secondary cutting structure including a leading blade disposed on a first block and a trailing blade disposed on the first block adjacent the leading blade. Additionally, the secondary cutting structure includes a unique blade disposed on a second block, wherein a gage portion of at least one of the blades has a length between 30% and 45% of a total blade length.

US Patent:

8401831, Mar 19, 2013

Filed:

Jul 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/179516

Inventors:

Wei Tang - Katy TX, US
Gordon Whipple - Spring TX, US
Sujian J. Huang - Beijing, CN
Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US
Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Gail Nelson - Tomball TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06G 7/48

US Classification:

703 7

Abstract:

A method for designing a secondary cutting structure for use in a bottom hole assembly, the method including defining initial design parameters for the secondary cutting structure and analyzing forces acting on the secondary cutting structure. Additionally, the method includes modifying at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure and simulating an effect of the modifying on both the secondary cutting structure and a primary cutting structure to determine if an improved condition is met. Also, a method for designing a drilling tool assembly, the method including defining initial drilling tool assembly design parameters including a primary cutting structure and a secondary cutting structure, and simulating a dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly. Additionally, the method includes adjusting at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure based on the dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly, determining if the adjusted design element improved a condition of the drilling, and repeating the simulating and adjusting until the condition is optimized.

US Patent:

20090145667, Jun 11, 2009

Filed:

Dec 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/950722

Inventors:

Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US
Gordon Whipple - Spring TX, US
Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US

Assignee:

SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/26
B23D 63/00

US Classification:

175391, 761084

Abstract:

A drilling tool for drilling a wellbore that includes at least a reaming section and a pilot conditioning section. The pilot conditioning section then includes at least one pilot conditioning blade having at least one cutting element formed of an impregnated matrix material. An outermost extent of the at least one cutting element from a central axis of the tool body is at least half of a pilot hole diameter.

US Patent:

20090294173, Dec 3, 2009

Filed:

May 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/129540

Inventors:

Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Gordon Whipple - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 12/02

US Classification:

175 39

Abstract:

An expandable underreamer apparatus disposed on a distal end of a drillstring and configured to drill a formation includes a substantially tubular main body adjacent a cutting head, the main body providing at least one axial recess configured to receive an arm assembly, and the arm assembly configured to translate between a retracted position and an extended position. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the arm assembly, and a plurality of wear indicators imbedded in at least one arm assembly and positioned behind the cutting elements with respect to a direction of rotation of the arm assembly, wherein the wear indicators are configured to provide an increased torque to the drillstring upon contacting the formation.

US Patent:

20130262048, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 18, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/846486

Inventors:

Gordon Whipple - Spring TX, US
Sujian J. Huang - Beijing, CN
Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US
Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Gail Nelson - Tomball TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 17/50

US Classification:

703 1

Abstract:

A method for designing a secondary cutting structure for use in a bottom hole assembly, the method including defining initial design parameters for the secondary cutting structure and analyzing forces acting on the secondary cutting structure. Additionally, the method includes modifying at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure and simulating an effect of the modifying on both the secondary cutting structure and a primary cutting structure to determine if an improved condition is met. Also, a method for designing a drilling tool assembly, the method including defining initial drilling tool assembly design parameters including a primary cutting structure and a secondary cutting structure, and simulating a dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly. Additionally, the method includes adjusting at least one design element of the secondary cutting structure based on the dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly, determining if the adjusted design element improved a condition of the drilling, and repeating the simulating and adjusting until the condition is optimized.

US Patent:

20210276888, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

Mar 5, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/249606

Inventors:

John Troy Kraczek - Farmington UT, US
Gordon Ray Whipple - Centerville UT, US
Paul James Freeman - South Jordan UT, US

International Classification:

C02F 1/44
F03B 1/00
F03B 15/04

Abstract:

In a general aspect, a system can include a reactor for combusting fuel and producing high-temperature, high-pressure liquid as a byproduct, and at least one vessel defining a cavity to be partially filled with water, with an air pocket within the cavity above the water. The system can further include respective valves to control admission of liquid from the reactor into the air pocket when the air pocket has a pressure lower than an operating pressure of the reactor, and to control emission of the water from the at least one vessel through of the vessel after the water in the at least one vessel has been pressurized by the liquid from the reactor. The system can also include a hydroelectric drive system for receiving water emitted from the cavity, and for converting energy in the received water into electrical energy.

US Patent:

20210276898, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

Mar 3, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/249505

Inventors:

John Troy Kraczek - Farmington UT, US
Gordon Ray Whipple - Centerville UT, US
Paul James Freeman - South Jordan UT, US

International Classification:

C02F 1/74
F23G 5/12
F23K 5/00
F23L 7/00

Abstract:

A charging system for charging a reactor with air used energy produced by the reactor and includes a vessel having a hollow interior cavity partially filled with a liquid slug, a first air pocket within the cavity on a first side of the liquid slug, and a second air pocket within the cavity on a second side of the liquid slug. The liquid slug forms a water trap seal in the cavity between the two pockets and moves within the vessel in a cycle in which gas is loaded into the first air pocket in a first stroke and gas in the first air pocket is compressed in a second stroke. Movement of the liquid slug during the second stroke is caused by an increasing pressure in the second air pocket due to introduction of high-pressure gas from the reactor into the second air pocket.

US Patent:

20210278080, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

Mar 5, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/249609

Inventors:

John Troy Kraczek - Farmington UT, US
Gordon Ray Whipple - Centerville UT, US
Paul James Freeman - South Jordan UT, US

International Classification:

F23G 7/00

Abstract:

Fuel mixed in water is combusted in a reactor having an internal operating pressure and temperature greater than 3200 psi and greater than 374 C., where the combustion of the fuel is exothermic. Air and fuel are pressurized for introduction into the reactor to a pressure greater than the internal operating pressure using energy generated from the combustion of the fuel, and the pressurized air and the pressurized fuel are injected into the reactor. Pressurized water from the reactor is injected into a drive water column that is partially filled with water to increase a pressure of the drive water column, and water at a temperature less than 100 C. is injected into the reactor to replace water from the reactor that is injected into the drive water column. Pressurized water from the drive water column is used to drive a hydroelectric drive system to produce electrical power.