Steven Lee Box

US Patent:

6412554, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

Mar 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/524773

Inventors:

John Timothy Allen - Katy TX
Steven Anthony Box - Katy TX
Bernd Pietras - Wedewark, DE
Jeffrey Michael Habetz - Houston TX

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 304

US Classification:

166 801, 166 851, 166379, 175195

Abstract:

A system for continuously circulating fluid to and through a tubular string either of coiled tubing or made up of a plurality of tubulars connected end-to-end while an upper tubular is added to or removed from a top tubular of the plurality of tubulars, all tubulars having a top-to-bottom fluid flow channel therethrough, the system having an upper chamber with a bottom opening, a top opening, and an upper sealing apparatus for sealingly encompassing a portion of the upper tubular, a lower chamber with a bottom opening, a top opening and a lower sealing apparatus for sealingly encompassing a portion of the top tubular, one of the upper chamber and the lower chamber sized for accommodating connection and disconnection therein of the upper tubular and the top tubular, and gate apparatus between and in fluid communication with the upper chamber and the lower chamber. Such a system may have apparatus for isolating a tubular therein from an axial load imposed by fluid pressure in a chamber; at least one of the lower chamber and the upper chamber with inner bushing apparatus with a portion thereof movably disposable within the chambers sealing apparatus for facilitating movement of a tubular with respect to the chambers sealing apparatus, and the system connectible to and rotatable by a rotating system for rotating the tubular string; and/or heave compensation interconnections for interconnecting the system to an offshore rigs heave compensation system. The system in certain aspects including fluid flow lines to each of the top and bottom chambers, a supply of fluid for circulating through the tubular string and through the upper and lower chambers, apparatus for continuously moving circulating fluid from the supply through the system into the tubular string.

US Patent:

6668684, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Dec 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/011049

Inventors:

John Timothy Allen - Katy TX
Steven Anthony Box - Katy TX
Bernd Pietras - Wedemark, DE
Jeffrey Michael Habetz - Houston TX

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B25B 1700

US Classification:

81 5715, 81 5719, 81 5721, 173216

Abstract:

A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housings hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.

US Patent:

7028787, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

Dec 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/748119

Inventors:

John Timothy Allen - Katy TX, US
Steven Anthony Box - Katy TX, US
Bernd Pietras - Wedemark, DE
Jeffrey Michael Habetz - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 19/22
E21B 3/06

US Classification:

175162, 175195, 166 771, 166 781, 464166

Abstract:

A tong as may be used for a continuous circulation system in a wellbore. The tong has a housing with a hollow interior. A plurality of spaced apart jaw assemblies reside within the housing's hollow interior for engaging a portion of a tubular to be gripped and rotated by the tong. A gear wheel is secured to the housing for rotating the housing and the jaw assemblies. The gear wheel includes a toothed outer circumference for mating with teeth of a drive shaft of a driving motor. A gear flange is movably mounted on the gear wheel such that rotation of the gear wheel does not rotate the gear flange.

US Patent:

63309114, Dec 18, 2001

Filed:

Mar 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/267546

Inventors:

John Timothy Allen - Katy TX
Steven Anthony Box - Katy TX

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 1916

US Classification:

166 7751

Abstract:

A tong for rotating tubulars, the tong having, in certain embodiments, a tong outer case, a rotary movably mounted in the case for rotating a tubular, apparatus for rotating the rotary to rotate the tubular, at least one gripper or jaw movably mounted in the case and movable by the rotary for gripping the tubular, the at least one gripper or jaw having at least one cam following member or roller, and at least one non-circular cam surface on the rotary, the at least one cam following member or roller contacting and movable on the at least one non-circular cam surface for maintaining a desired position of the at least one gripper or jaw with respect to the tubular. In certain embodiments a specific cam angle, within certain tolerances, is maintained substantially the entire length along a cam surface.