James D Macfarlane

US Patent:

6408948, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Jul 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/353696

Inventors:

Peter Fontana - Houston TX
James W. Macfarlane - Katy TX
Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX

Assignee:

Deep Vision LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 712

US Classification:

166341, 166344, 166358, 175 8, 405211

Abstract:

A tubing handling for subsea oilfield tubing operations, includes an isolation tube to mechanically and/or chemically protect the drill string and improved passage of the drill string and fluid return line to the drilling vessel that further protects them during drilling use. In addition, the improvements include an automatic safety apparatus to hold against unintended movement of the tubular members under extreme length and weight conditions as well as against human error at the rig. Further, the invention includes multi-segment coiled tubing drill strings that can be adapted to drilling requirements in a deep wellbore.

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:

61790575, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

Jul 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/353175

Inventors:

Peter Fontana - Houston TX
James W. Macfarlane - Katy TX
Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 712
E21B 700
E21B 3404

US Classification:

166363

Abstract:

The present invention provides apparatus and method for killing or suppressing a subsea wellbore. The system includes a pressure intensifier adjacent the wellhead. The output of the pressure intensifier is coupled to a "kill" inlet at the wellhead equipment. Power is supplied from the surface to the pressure intensifier, which increases the pressure by a known multiple, usually 3 to 5, and supplies the high pressure fluid to the wellbore. A control unit at the surface controls the operation of the pressure intensifier in response to the predefined criteria or programmed instructions. One or more sensors provide measurements to the control unit of the wellbore conditions, which are used to determine the timing of activation of the pressure intensifier.