Richard L Ward

US Patent:

6334487, Jan 1, 2002

Filed:

Apr 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/552533

Inventors:

Courtney W. Adkins - Katy TX 77449
Thurman B. Caarter - Houston TX 77073
John D. Roberts - Spring TX 77379
Richard M. Ward - Conroe TX 77302

International Classification:

E21B 2900

US Classification:

166 557, 1661176, 1663344

Abstract:

A milling system has been invented for milling an opening in a tubular in a tubular string in a wellbore extending down from a surface of the earth, the milling system, in one aspect, has a whipstock connected to an anchor assembly and a mill apparatus releasably connected to the whipstock, the mill apparatus having auto fill apparatus therein. A mill has been invented with a mill body with a top end and a bottom end, a flow bore through the mill body, and an auto fill apparatus in the flow bore. A valve assembly has been invented for selectively controlling fluid flow through a hollow tubular in a string of hollow tubulars in a wellbore extending from a surface of the earth into the earth, the valve assembly in one aspect having positions limited to at rest, circulate, and anchor set positions so that a fluid pressure indicating at the surface indicates only either a pressured up position for anchor setting or a pressured up position for fluid circulation. A milling system has been invented with apparatus for releasably containing an isolated charge of fluid. A float valve for use in wellbore operations has been invented with a valve member having a vent hole for releasing fluid pressure build up beneath the valve member.

US Patent:

6484808, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

Dec 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/742070

Inventors:

Donald L. Jones - Conroe TX
David J. McWhorter - Magnolia TX
Richard M. Ward - Conroe TX

Assignee:

Varco I/P, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 3312

US Classification:

166379, 166387, 277323, 277343

Abstract:

A stripper/packer includes first and second packing elements, which are interchangeable to alleviate inventory concerns. The upper actuating hydraulic piston is the same diameter as the lower piston, which allows the operator to utilize the same amount of pressure to maintain a seal during transition between packing elements. Both packing elements are separately actuated from the lower side allowing the wellbore pressure to assist the seal.

US Patent:

7261155, Aug 28, 2007

Filed:

Aug 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/923973

Inventors:

Richard M. Ward - Conroe TX, US
Ross E. Stevenson - Magnolia TX, US

Assignee:

Varco I/P - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 17/02
E21B 41/00

US Classification:

1662425, 1661175, 1662422, 166380

Abstract:

An integrated side-entry sub with grease injection flow tubes is adapted for making up in a drill string and includes a port to receive a cable, such as a wire line. A first pedestal, mounted within a cutout of the side entry sub, provides entry for the cable into the entry port. The first pedestal receives a first flow tube, which couples to a lower connector manifold. The lower connector manifold further provides a grease injection port. A second flow tube, coupled to the lower connector manifold, runs to an upper connector manifold. The upper connector manifold further provides an grease return port, as well an the entry point for cable into the sub.

US Patent:

20060076526, Apr 13, 2006

Filed:

Sep 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/162700

Inventors:

David McWhorter - Magnolia TX, US
Richard Ward - Conroe TX, US

Assignee:

VARCO I/P, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 33/06

US Classification:

251001300

Abstract:

An anodic sacrificial seal element is installed at vulnerable regions of a blowout preventer. A zinc cylinder, for example, is included at the well-bore pressure side of a bonnet which seals around a rod as it extends through a bonnet which joins an actuator to the body of the BOP. Similarly, a zinc O-ring may be used in a seal groove provided between the bonnet and the body of the BOP. In this way, the high electropotential of the material from which the additional seal element is made is oxidized first, before any attack on the BOP material, thereby increasing the time period between maintenance events on the BOP.

US Patent:

20130081879, Apr 4, 2013

Filed:

Sep 28, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/631154

Inventors:

Richard Dan Ward - Pasadena TX, US
Mark Milkovisch - Cypress TX, US
Warren Askew - Houston TX, US
Gokhan Erol - Katy TX, US
Bo Yang - Sugar Land TX, US
Steven E. Buchanan - Pearland TX, US
Jean-Michel Hache - Bourg la Reine, FR
Adam Zygmunt Cygan - Sugar Land TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 4/04
E21B 25/00

US Classification:

175 94

Abstract:

A downhole coring tool conveyable within a borehole extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole coring tool comprises a housing, a hollow coring bit extendable from the housing, a first motor operable to rotate the coring bit, and a second motor operable to extend the coring bit into the subterranean formation through a sidewall of the borehole in a direction not substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the borehole proximate the downhole coring tool. A static sleeve disposed in but rotationally independent of the coring bit receives a portion of a core sample of the formation resulting from extension of the coring bit into the formation. The static sleeve comprises a protrusion extending radially inward toward the core sample sufficiently to mark the core sample.

US Patent:

58266518, Oct 27, 1998

Filed:

Jul 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/688651

Inventors:

Mark H. Lee - Spring TX
Thurman B. Carter - Houston TX
William A. Blizzard - Houston TX
Richard M. Ward - Houston TX

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 708
E21B 2906

US Classification:

1661176

Abstract:

Wellbore operations (e. g. for milling and/or drilling) are disclosed which require a reduced number of tool trips into a wellbore to create a cut-out pocket or window in a tubular such as casing in the wellbore and, in some aspects, to continue into a formation adjacent a main wellbore forming a lateral wellbore in communication with the main wellbore. Preferably one trip is required. A milling apparatus has been invented with milling apparatus for milling a tubular member and a nose cone releasably connected to the milling apparatus and releasably connectible to a diverter that directs the milling apparatus toward the tubular member. A nose cone for a milling apparatus has been invented with a body member, the body member having a mid portion, a top portion and a lower nose portion, and the top portion releasably securable to the milling apparatus and the lower nose portion releasably securable to a concave of a whipstock. A whipstock has been invented with a body member having an upwardly extending concave portion with a concave surface, and at least a portion of the concave surface contactable by a milling apparatus during a milling procedure covered with armor material.

US Patent:

61163368, Sep 12, 2000

Filed:

Apr 25, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/845996

Inventors:

Courtney W. Adkins - Katy TX
Thurman B. Caarter - Houston TX
John D. Roberts - Spring TX
William A. Blizzard - Houston TX
Richard M. Ward - Conroe TX

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.

International Classification:

E21B 2900

US Classification:

166 557

Abstract:

A milling system has been invented for milling an opening in a tubular in a tubular string in a wellbore extending down from a surface of the earth, the milling system, in one aspect, has a whipstock connected to an anchor assembly and a mill apparatus releasably connected to the whipstock, the mill apparatus having auto fill apparatus therein. A mill has been invented with a mill body with a top end and a bottom end, a flow bore through the mill body, and an auto fill apparatus in the flow bore. A valve assembly has been invented for selectively controlling fluid flow through a hollow tubular in a string of hollow tubulars in a wellbore extending from a surface of the earth into the earth, the valve assembly in one aspect having positions limited to at rest, circulate, and anchor set positions so that a fluid pressure indicating at the surface indicates only either a pressured up position for anchor setting or a pressured up position for fluid circulation. A milling system has been invented with apparatus for releasably containing an isolated charge of fluid. A float valve for use in wellbore operations has been invented with a valve member having a vent hole for releasing fluid pressure build up beneath the valve member.

US Patent:

57433313, Apr 28, 1998

Filed:

Sep 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/715573

Inventors:

Courtney W. Adkins - Katy TX
Thurman B. Carter - Houston TX
William A. Blizzard - Houston TX
Richard M. Ward - Conroe TX

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 2900

US Classification:

166 557

Abstract:

The present invention, in one aspect, discloses a system for selectively anchoring a wellbore tool at a desired location in a wellbore or tubular member such as casing or tubing; such a system with a selectively settable anchor assembly that has a piston that is moved upwardly by fluid under pressure from the surface thereby moving one or more movable slips out from a body of the anchor assembly to set the anchor assembly in place; and such a system with a whipstock connected to the anchor assembly. Fluid under pressure pumped from the surface down a workstring to which the system is connected flows to the anchor assembly through or adjacent the whipstock. In one aspect a mill (or mills) is releasably connected to the whipstock. In one aspect, fluid under pressure flows through or adjacent the mill(s) to the whipstock. In one aspect a selectively actuable valve assembly is provided for selectively controlling the flow of fluid under pressure from an inlet end of the valve assembly out through an outlet end thereof for flow, e. g.