Robert W Thurman

US Patent:

6675891, Jan 13, 2004

Filed:

Dec 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/026502

Inventors:

Colby Munro Ross - Carrollton TX
Robert Lester Thurman - Carrollton TX
Robert Craig Hammett - Garland TX
David Leslie Lord - Marlow OK
Imre I. Gazda - Fort Worth TX

Assignee:

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Dallas TX

International Classification:

E21B 4308

US Classification:

166228, 166 51, 166321

Abstract:

An apparatus for gravel packing a production interval ( ) of a wellbore ( ) comprises first and second sand control screen assemblies ( ) connected downhole of a packer assembly ( ) and a cross-over assembly ( ) that provides a communication path ( ) downhole of the packer assembly ( ) for a gravel packing fluid and a communication path ( ) uphole of the packer assembly ( ) for return fluids. A wash pipe assembly ( ) extends into the first and second sand control screen assemblies ( ) forming an annulus ( ) therebetween. A valve ( ) is positioned within the wash pipe assembly ( ) in a location between the first and second sand control screen assemblies ( ). The valve ( ) is actuatable from a closed position to an open position when the beta wave ( ) is proximate the location of the valve ( ).

US Patent:

6848507, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Aug 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/217679

Inventors:

Jeffry W. Huggins - Grapevine TX, US
Robert L. Thurman - Carrollton TX, US

Assignee:

Malliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 3118

US Classification:

166301, 166 98, 294 8611

Abstract:

An expandable wirefinder () for locating a wire downhole comprises a sleeve () and a dual collet assembly (). The dual collet assembly () has first and second collet members () each having plurality of collet fingers (). The dual collet assembly () is slidable relative to the sleeve () to operate between running and finding positions. In the running position, the first collet member () is partially disposed within the sleeve () with its collet fingers () inwardly radially biased by the sleeve () and the second collet member () is disposed within the first collet member () with its collet fingers inwardly () radially biased by the sleeve (). In the finding position, the collet fingers () of the first collet member () radially expand to form gaps therebetween and the collet fingers () of the second collet member () radially expand into the gaps.

US Patent:

6873928, Mar 29, 2005

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/231543

Inventors:

Robert W. Thurman - Austin TX, US
Jeff A. Carbonell - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F017/00

US Classification:

702127, 702123

Abstract:

System and method for programmatically determining routing with signal modifications in a measurement system to perform a measurement task. Information is received specifying a route from a source terminal to a destination terminal in the measurement system, including signal modification requirements and a graph of possible routes in the measurement system. A current signal modification of the route is determined and used with the signal modification requirements to determine desired changes in the signal modification of the route. The legs of the route are walked in the graph, and one or more legs are replaced with respective alternative legs, each of which includes at least a portion of the desired changes in the signal modification, thereby generating a modified route which satisfies the signal modification requirements for the route, where the modified route is usable to route signals in performing the measurement task. The modified route is then stored.

US Patent:

6953094, Oct 11, 2005

Filed:

Sep 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/253061

Inventors:

Colby Munro Ross - Carrollton TX, US
Robert L. Thurman - Frisco TX, US
Syed Hamid - Dallas TX, US
Ronald W. McGregor - Carrollton TX, US

Assignee:

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B023/00
E21B047/00

US Classification:

166381, 166 50, 166 651, 166313

Abstract:

A subterranean well completion has a tubular structure in which a remote controlled robot is permanently disposed. The robot is self-propelled, programmable, receives instructions from and communicates data to the surface, and is adapted to receive power from a downhole source and perform a variety of well tasks such as, for example, positioning valves and other well tools and sensing the values of predetermined downhole parameters and relaying the sensed information to the surface. The robot, which is operable without physical intervention through the tubular structure to the robot, propels itself to a location in the tubular structure at which a desired well task is to be performed, performs the task and then parks itself in the tubular structure until another well task is to be performed by the robot.

US Patent:

7184919, Feb 27, 2007

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/232190

Inventors:

Jeff A. Carbonell - Austin TX, US
Robert W. Thurman - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01M 19/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702122, 702117, 702118, 702121, 709238, 716 12

Abstract:

System and method for performing dynamic routing in a measurement system to perform a measurement task. The system includes a computer and one or more measurement devices. One or more topography descriptions (TD) representing connectivity between devices and/or device components in the measurement system are received and preprocessed to generate corresponding graphs. A routing expert receives and analyzes a routing specification indicating source and destination terminals in the measurement system. The system dynamically computes a plurality of routes from the source terminal to the destination terminal by traversing the graphs and selecting the plurality of routes based on a metric. The computed routes are stored in a run-time specification for use at runtime to perform the measurement task. At runtime, a route is selected from the plurality of routes, and the system configures the one or more measurement devices with the selected route for performing the measurement task.

US Patent:

7293058, Nov 6, 2007

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/231504

Inventors:

Robert W. Thurman - Austin TX, US
Jeff A. Carbonell - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709201, 370357, 37938806

Abstract:

System and method for managing routing resources for a measurement task. The system includes a computer and one or more measurement devices. The legs of a route for routing signals in performing the measurement task are created by, for each respective leg: determining if a routing resource for the respective leg is not currently used in an existing route. If not, then the resource is configured with a desired configuration of the respective leg, and a resource reservation indicated, e. g. , by incrementing a resource usage count. If the resource is currently used, the desired configuration is compared with the resource's current configuration. If the current configuration conforms to the desired configuration, a resource reservation is indicated, otherwise, an error message indicating that the leg failed is returned, and optionally, an alternative leg for the route is created which includes a different resource than the respective leg. The route is stored.

US Patent:

7367397, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Jan 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/326229

Inventors:

Jack G. Clemens - Plano TX, US
Jerry C. Foster - Lewisville TX, US
Robert L. Thurman - Frisco TX, US

Assignee:

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 31/107

US Classification:

166301, 166178, 166 651

Abstract:

A downhole impact generator () is adapted to be moved to a target location within a wellbore () for transmitting a jarring force to a well tool () positioned in the wellbore (). The downhole impact generator () includes a downhole power unit () having a moveable shaft () and a jarring tool (). The jarring tool () is operably engageable with the well tool () and is operably coupled with the moveable shaft () of the downhole power unit () such that when the jarring tool () is operably engaged with the well tool (), linear movement of the moveable shaft () energizes the jarring tool () such that a jarring force can be transmitted by the jarring tool () to the well tool ().

US Patent:

7603478, Oct 13, 2009

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/232151

Inventors:

Robert W. Thurman - Austin TX, US
Jeff A. Carbonell - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

National Instruments Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709238, 709242, 702 33, 702 57, 702189, 710104, 710107, 710316, 710317

Abstract:

Computer-implemented system and method for presenting routing information in a measurement system. A meta-routing tool receives user input specifying a device, then retrieves a topography description for the device indicating connectivity between a plurality of components in the device, e. g. , from memory or from a server coupled to the computer via a network. The tool then determines routability information for the device based on the topography description, e. g. , by walking the topography, and displays the routability information, which is then useable to determine routing for the measurement system. The routability information includes possible routes through the device, and may also indicate potential side effects for one or more of the routes, e. g. , sub-systems used by the routes. The tool may receive user input indicating one of the possible routes, and display a component-wise path used by the indicated route, as well as any sub-systems used by the indicated route.