Robert R Estes

US Patent:

6151553, Nov 21, 2000

Filed:

Dec 3, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/204908

Inventors:

Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX
Koen Antonie Noy - Almerehout, NL
Jon B. Kahn - Spring TX

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 148

US Classification:

702 6

Abstract:

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes gyroscopes, magnetometers and accelerometers for determining the borehole inclination and azimuth during the drilling of the borehole. The downhole assembly includes at least one gyroscope that is rotatably mounted in a tool housing to provide signals relating to the earth's rotation. A device in the tool can rotate the gyroscope and other sensors on the tool at any desired degree. A processor in the tool combines measurements from the sensors taken at a plurality of positions at the same depth to determine the systematic bias in the sensors before further processing. Accelerometers in the MWD tool provide gravity measurements from which the toolface and inclination are determined. The unbiased gyroscopic measurements are used in conjunction with the tool face and inclination measurements to determine the azimuth and tool face with respect to true north.

US Patent:

6508316, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/740082

Inventors:

Robert Alan Estes - Tomball TX
Hatem Salem Morsy - The Woodlands TX
Andrew G. Brooks - Tomball TX

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 47022

US Classification:

175 45, 33304, 702 6

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for determining magnetometer errors during wellbore survey operations. It is capable of determining errors on up to three axes, with or without the use of an external reference measurement of the local magnetic field, and is capable of providing an accurate result using data from a minimum number of surveys. A model is used to correct the observed data and the corrected data are transformed from the tool coordinate system to a different coordinate system referenced to the earth. The difference between the corrected transformed data and reference data in the earth coordinate system is minimized to determine the model parameters. The present invention also provides a method for determining residual uncertainty in the measurements and for quality control of the measurements. Once a survey has been obtained with reference to magnetic north, it is corrected using magnetic declination data obtained concurrently with the survey using surface GPS receivers, magnetometers and accelerometers.

US Patent:

6529834, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Sep 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/669759

Inventors:

Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX
Jon B. Kahn - Spring TX

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 146

US Classification:

702 9

Abstract:

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes gyroscopes, magnetometers and accelerometers for determining the borehole inclination and azimuth during the drilling of the borehole. The downhole assembly includes at least one gyroscope that is rotatably mounted in a tool housing to provide signals relating to the earths rotation. A device in the tool can rotate the gyroscope and other sensors on the tool to one of a plurality of preselected positions and optionally lock the sensors. A processor in the tool combines measurements from the sensors taken at a plurality of positions at the same depth to determine the systematic bias in the sensors before further processing. Accelerometers in the MWD tool provide gravity measurements from which the toolface and inclination are determined.

US Patent:

6712159, Mar 30, 2004

Filed:

Apr 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/128381

Inventors:

Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX
Jon B. Kahn - Spring TX

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4700

US Classification:

175 40

Abstract:

This invention provides a motor drive assembly for rotatably positioning and locking a drive shaft suitable for use with a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes gyroscopes, magnetometers and accelerometers for determining the borehole inclination and azimuth during the drilling of the borehole. The motor drive assembly can rotate the gyroscope and other sensors on the tool to one of a plurality of preselected positions and optionally lock the sensors.

US Patent:

6842699, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

Jan 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/341637

Inventors:

Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 146
G01V 148

US Classification:

702 9

Abstract:

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes gyroscopes, magnetometers and accelerometers for determining the borehole inclination and azimuth during the drilling of the borehole. With the present invention, a secondary borehole for secondary recovery operations may be drilled with accuracy in proximity to a cased producing borehole.

US Patent:

7000700, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Jul 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/629268

Inventors:

Paul G. Cairns - Houston TX, US
Sergey V. Efremov - Houston TX, US
David M. Schneider - Lansdowne VA, US
Sassan Dehlavi - Houston TX, US
Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX, US
Samuel R. Bell - Tomball TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 45/00

US Classification:

1662552, 16625011, 166 66

Abstract:

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes directional formation evaluation devices on a rotating assembly in conjunction with toolface orientation sensors. The data from the toolface orientation sensors are analyzed by a processor and toolface angle measurements are determined at defined intervals. Formation evaluation sensors operate substantially independently of the toolface orientation sensors and measurements of the formation evaluation sensors are analyzed in combination with the determined toolface angle to obtain formation parameters.

US Patent:

7114565, Oct 3, 2006

Filed:

Feb 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/771675

Inventors:

Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX, US
Roland E. Chemali - Kingwood TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 45/00

US Classification:

1662552, 16625011, 166 66

Abstract:

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes directional formation evaluation devices on a rotating assembly in conjunction with toolface orientation sensors. The data from the toolface orientation sensors are analyzed by a processor and toolface angle measurements are determined at defined intervals. Formation evaluation sensors operate substantially independently of the toolface orientation sensors and measurements of the formation evaluation sensors are analyzed in combination with the determined toolface angle to obtain formation parameters.

US Patent:

7195062, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

Dec 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/322050

Inventors:

Paul G. Cairns - Houston TX, US
Sergey V. Efremov - Houston TX, US
David M. Schneider - Lansdowne VA, US
Sassan Dehlavi - Houston TX, US
Robert A. Estes - Tomball TX, US
Samuel R. Bell - Tomball TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 45/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

1662552, 16625011, 702 6

Abstract:

This invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) downhole assembly for use in drilling boreholes which utilizes directional formation evaluation devices on a rotating assembly in conjunction with toolface orientation sensors. The data from the toolface orientation sensors are analyzed by a processor and toolface angle measurements are determined at defined intervals. Formation evaluation sensors operate substantially independently of the toolface orientation sensors and measurements of the formation evaluation sensors are analyzed in combination with the determined toolface angle to obtain formation parameters.

Address:

1447 Wakefield Dr, Houston, TX 77018

Phone:

(713)6817853

VIN:

2GCEC13V271174564

Make:

CHEVROLET

Model:

SILVERADO 1500 CLASSIC

Year:

2007