Tommy L Laird

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:

7963348, Jun 21, 2011

Filed:

Oct 11, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/870493

Inventors:

Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/28
E21B 10/32
E21B 10/26

US Classification:

175263, 175406, 175384, 175434

Abstract:

A tool for enlarging a borehole that includes an elongated tubular body; at least one movable arm affixed to the tubular body, the at least one movable arm comprising an outer surface formed of at least one of a matrix material and an abrasive material; and at least one actuating member for expanding at least one movable arm from the collapsed state to an expanded state is disclosed.

US Patent:

8381837, Feb 26, 2013

Filed:

Mar 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/748012

Inventors:

Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Richard C. Davis - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/32

US Classification:

175 57, 175268, 175269

Abstract:

A downhole tool including a tubular body having an upper connection and a lower connection and an axial borehole therethrough, wherein the upper and lower connections are configured to connect to a drilling assembly, at least one expandable component coupled to the tubular body and configured to selectively extend radially therefrom, and an actuation assembly configured to selectively actuate, deactuate, and reactuate the at least one component. A method of selectively actuating a downhole tool, wherein the downhole tool comprises a tubular body with an axial borehole therethrough and at least one component, the method including circulating a drilling fluid in the axial borehole of the downhole tool, actuating the at least one component, deactuating the at least one component, and reactuating the at least one component. An actuation assembly including a mandrel having an actuation chamber port, at least one drop device, a piston disposed within the mandrel and configured to move to open the actuation chamber port, at least one dart, a sleeve disposed within the mandrel and configured to move to close the actuation chamber port; and at least one biasing member configured to exert a force on the sleeve in an upstream direction.

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:

8522646, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Apr 1, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/078041

Inventors:

Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Navish Makkar - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B21K 5/04

US Classification:

761082, 761084, 175430, 175431, 175435

Abstract:

A method for forming a borehole enlargement tool that includes providing a steel body structure, forming at least one rib structure from a matrix material and abrasive particles, affixing the at least one rib structure to the body structure, and affixing the steel body structure to an elongated tubular body is disclosed.

US Patent:

8540035, Sep 24, 2013

Filed:

Nov 10, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/616107

Inventors:

Wei Jake Xu - Houston TX, US
Simon J. Harrall - Houston TX, US
Thomas M. Redlinger - Houston TX, US
Christopher M. Vreeland - Houston TX, US
Andrew Antoine - Houston TX, US
David J. Brunnert - Cypress TX, US
Tommy L. Laird - Cypress TX, US
Michael J. Moody - Katy TX, US
Frederick T. Tilton - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/28

US Classification:

175268, 117269, 117 57

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to extendable cutting tools for use in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a tool for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough, an opening through a wall thereof, and a connector at each longitudinal end thereof; and an arm. The arm is pivotally connected to a first piston and rotationally coupled to the body, is disposed in the opening in a retracted position, and is movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the body. The tool further includes the first piston. The first piston is disposed in the body bore, has a bore therethrough, and is operable to move the arm from the retracted position to the extended position in response to fluid pressure in the piston bore exceeding fluid pressure in the opening. The tool further includes a lock operable to retain the first piston in the retracted position; and a second piston operably coupled to the lock.

US Patent:

20090114448, May 7, 2009

Filed:

Nov 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/933954

Inventors:

Tommy Laird - Cypress TX, US
Gail R. Nelson - Tomball TX, US
David William Rodman - Aberdeen, GB

Assignee:

SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/28

US Classification:

175 61, 175265

Abstract:

An expandable downhole tool for use in a drilling assembly positioned within a wellbore includes a tool body having an axial flowbore extending therethrough and a moveable arm. The moveable arm includes a roller structure including cutters and rotatably mounted on the moveable arm. The moveable arm is configured to move outwardly in response to actuation of the expandable downhole tool.

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.