PATENTS

Owen Oil Tools has a number of patents registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  Listed below are a just a few of Owen's newest patents.  Select a patent from the list to view and then select the blue up arrow to return to the list. Choose Patent: StimGunTM (6,082,450) Split Shot® Cutter(5,720,344) Full-Flow Gun System(6,062,310) Spiral ShogunTM / Snake (5,662,178) Tubular Severing Method (6,053,247) Spiral ShogunTM (5,638,901) Downhole Charge Carrier (6,014,933) Powr*PerfTM (5,598,891) Phantom (6,012,392) Safety Electrical Firing System (5,571,986) StimGunTM Assembly (5,775,426) Coiled Tubing Conveyed Shogun (5,542,480) Thru-Tubing Technology (5,947,202) Overbalanced Surge Valve (5,511,617) Full bore gun system and method (5,829,538) Downhole Charge Carrier (5,323,684) System for producing high density, extra large well perforations (5,797,464) Air Freight Detonating Cord Transport Package (4,817,787) High Density Perforating Gun System (5,785,130) Pressure Activated Time Delay Firing Head (4,614,156)   StimGunTM July 4, 2000 United States Patent Number 6,082,450 Inventors: Snider, Philip M. (Houston, TX); Haney, Joseph P. (Coeur d'Alene, ID); Wesson, David S. (DeSoto, TX).      The invention relates to a method of presentation and interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data. In particular, it identifies volumetric subterranean regions bounded by a surface in which a specific seismic characteristic has a constant value. In one embodiment, three-dimensional seismic data for a subterranean volume is provided as input to a computer program for performing "isosurface" processing of the data. This results in a graphical representation of three-dimensional sub-volumes whose boundaries are defined by surfaces in which a specific seismic characteristic has a constant value. - Click here to view patent at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) - Click here to view StimGunTM information ^   Full-Flow Gun System May 16, 2000 United States Patent Number 6,062,310 Inventors: Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX); Shewchenko, Don (Fort Worth, TX); Rollins, James (Fort Worth, TX); Andrich, Lile (Mansfield, TX).      A tubing conveyed perforating apparatus is shown which includes a tubular assembly made up of a plurality of tubular sections. A plurality of explosive charges are located within the interior bore of at least two of the tubular sections of the tubular assembly. A firing head is carried on the tubular assembly for detonating the explosive charges to perforate a surrounding well bore. The firing head has a concentric detonator arrangement within a hollow central bore. The explosive charges are held within the interior bore of the tubular section by a support. The explosive charges and charge support are comprised of materials which disintegrate upon detonation of the explosive charges, whereby the interior bore of the tubular assembly is fully open after detonation. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Tubular Severing Method April 25, 2000 United States Patent Number 6,053,247 Inventors: Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX); Snider, Philip M. (Houston, TX).      An apparatus and method for severing a tubular, such as a drill string, which is stuck within a subterranean well bore. A volume of liquid explosive is positioned within a housing and initially restrained against movement therein. The housing is lowered within the tubular and positioned at a location where the tubular is to be severed. The volume of liquid explosive is then moved into closer proximity to the tubular and detonated thereby severing the tubular. A portion of the tubular is then removed from the well bore. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Downhole Charge Carrier January 18, 2000 United States Patent Number 6,014,933 Inventors: Umphries; Donald V. (New Iberia, LA); Owen; Harold D. (Fort Worth, TX); Ford; Bobby R. (Fort Worth, TX); Wesson; David S. (Desoto, TX).      An improved downhole explosive charge carrier is disclosed. The invention uses a unique staggered charge pattern and a mounting configuration which allows the use of a straight, axially-located detonator in order to achieve a greater number of shots per unit length over conventional carriers. The invention also reduces the interference caused by the detonator and the closeness of the shots and thereby increases the performance of the individual charges, allowing smaller charges to be used to achieve the same perforation size. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Phantom January 11, 2000 United States Patent Number 6,012,392 Inventors: Norman, Kimball J. (McKinney, TX); Pratt, Dan W. (Fort Worth, TX).      Shaped charge liners are formed from an alloy of nickel, tin, and copper, which is first formed into a powder, and then pressed into strips. The pressed strips of powdered alloy are next sintered and then cold rolled. Thereafter, the powdered, pressed, and sintered alloy strips are formed into shaped charge liners, for example, by stamping. The shaped charge liners may be heat treated either before or after the forming step. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) - Click here to view Phantom information ^     Thru-Tubing Technology September 7, 1999 United States Patent Number 5,947,202 Inventor: Gazewood, Michael J. (Scott, LA).      The invention relates to a method and apparatus for engaging an object within a well bore. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for mechanically latching unto an object, and thereafter, selectively locking and unlocking the apparatus for manipulation by the operator. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^ Full bore gun system and method November 3, 1998 United States Patent Number 5,829,538 Inventors: Wesson; David S. (Waxahachie, TX); Shewchenko; Don (Fort Worth, TX).      A tubing conveyed perforating apparatus is shown which includes a tubular assembly made up of a plurality of tubular sections. One or more elongate charge holders are located within the interior bore of the tubular assembly and carry explosive charges thereon. A firing head is carried on the tubular assembly for detonating the explosive charges to perforate a surrounding well bore. The charge holders and explosive charges are comprised of materials which disintegrate upon detonation of the explosive charges, whereby the interior bore of the tubular assembly is fully open after detonation. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   System for producing high density, extra large well perforations August 25, 1998 United States Patent Number 5,797,464 Inventors: Pratt, Dan W. (Fort Worth, TX); Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX); George, Kevin R. (Cleburne, TX); Rollins, James A. (Fort Worth, TX).      A shaped charge and liner having a minimum outside diameter determined by the formula: D(L) =2.625-0.3571(6 -D(ID)) Where: D(L) =Liner Minimum Outside Diameter D(ID) =Carrier Inside Diameter      The geometry of the shaped charge reduces the chances of interference between charges by controlling burn time, as does the positioning of the primer cord. The liner has an open end with a minimum outside diameter determined by the formula. The shape of the case and liner is determined by keeping the center of the primer cord a distance not greater than 0.10 (D(ID)) from the center line of the carrier, ideally not greater than 0.05 (D(ID)). This yields a large diameter, flat shaped charge that may be loaded in a tubular carrier having a charge or perforation density of at least 10 shots per foot. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   High Density Perforating Gun System July 28, 1998 United States Patent Number 5,785,130 Inventors: Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX); Pratt, Dan W. (Fort Worth, TX).      The high density perforating gun has a carrier housing tube and an interior charge housing tube.  Zinc allow shaped charges are mounted through the charge housing tube in a phased relationship between about 135 and 145 degrees.  This provides for an 18 shot per foot perforating gun system.  The shaped charges if selected length are inserted into the carrier housing tube and held in place by fastener fitted to fastener ring slots. The nose ends of the shaped charges are fitted with ears to receive a detonating cord.  This positions the primer cord in tension and generally coaxially with the carrier housing tube to prevent charge interference and assure sequential detonation. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   StimGunTM Assembly July 7, 1998  United States Patent Number 5,775,426 Inventors: Snider, Philip M. (Houston, TX); Haney, Joseph P. (Coeur d'Alene, ID); Haney, Robert L. (Calgary, CA); Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX); Cuthill, David A. (Calgary, CA). - Licensed to Owen Oil Tools, Inc. by Marathon Oil Company http://www.marathon.com      The Mara-Stim process/StimGunTM assembly is a method and apparatus for perforating and stimulating a subterranean formation which is penetrated by a well bore having casing positioned therein so as to establish fluid communication between the formation and the well bore. A shell, sheath or sleeve of propellant material is positioned so as to substantially encircling at least one shaped charge in a subterranean well bore and is ignited due to the shock, heat and/or pressure generated from the detonated charge. Upon burning, the propellant material generates gases which clean perforations formed in the formation by detonation of the shaped charge(s) and which extend fluid communication between the formation and the well bore. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) - Click here to view StimGunTM information ^   Split Shot® Cutter February 24, 1998  United States Patent Number 5,720,344 Inventors: Newman, Frederic M. (1618 W. Dingier, Midland, TX 79705).      The Split Shot® Cutter is a method of removing a pipe string anchored in cement within a wellbore involves the use of a coupling cutter having a linear charge that is magnetically oriented radically and rotationally within the pipe. The coupling cutter also has a coupling sensor that identifies the location of a coupling electronically. One first determines the free length of pipe that is above the cement. The coupling sensor then finds the lowest coupling that is just above the cement level so that the linear charge can be axially aligned to that coupling. A magnet on the cutter properly orients the linear charge both radically and rotationally relative to the inner wall of the pipe. The charge is detonated to longitudinally split the coupling. The pipe string is then disassembled and pulled from the wellbore. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) - Click here to view Technical Information Catalog Page - Click here to view Split Shot® information ^   Spiral ShogunTM / Snake (Wave strip perforating system) September 2, 1997 United States Patent Number 5,662,178 Inventors: Shirley, Jay R. (Crowley, TX); Owen, Harold D. (Fort Worth, TX).      The Spiral Shogun / Snake is a perforating gun having an elongated mounting strip and a selected wave or non-linear, zing-sag form as seen in a plan view, with an outer surface diameter sized for convenient insertion and removal from a well. The mounting strip has a series of openings spaced in intervals for mounting capsule explosive charges in a phased relationship between 0 and 360 degrees. The cross-sectional area of the mounting strip around each opening is selected to prevent fragmentation of the carrier upon detonation of the charges. The mounting strip is preferably metallic with a selected amplitude and wave length. In each opening is an explosive capsule with a hollow cap with a nose for attachment to one of the openings. The cap has an annular, interior thread with a thread run-out of selected width. The explosive capsule has a hollow body having an open end with exterior threads and a width less than the width of the thread run-out in the cap to permit free spinning of the body in the cap after thread makeup for convenient threading and connection with the detonating cord. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Spiral ShogunTM June 17, 1997 United States Patent Number 5,638,901 Inventors: Shirley, Jay R. (Crowley, TX); Owen, Harold D. (Fort Worth, TX).      The Spiral Shogun is a perforating gun having an elongated, spiral strip with an outer surface, cylindrical about a longitudinal axis, and a diameter sized for convenient entry and removal from a well. The strip has a series of threaded openings spaced in intervals for mounting capsule explosive charges in a phased relationship between 0 and 360 degrees. The cross-sectional area of the strip around each opening is selected to prevent fragmentation of the carrier upon detonation of the charges. The spiral strip is preferably metallic and forms a helical band with a pitch in a range of 12 to 24 inches. In each threaded opening is an explosive capsule with a hollow cap having at one end a threaded nose for attachment to one of the threaded openings. The cap has an annular, interior thread with a thread run-out of selected width at the other end. The capsule has a hollow body having an open end with exterior threads with a width less than the width of the thread run-out in the cap to permit free spinning of the body in the cap after thread make-up. The closed end of the body has a slot and retainer to receive a detonating cord. The hollow body of the explosive capsule may be freely spun to align the slot and retainer for convenient threading and connection with the detonating cord. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) - Click here to view Technical Information Catalog Page ^   Powr*PerfTM February 4, 1997 United States Patent Number 5,598,891 Inventors: Snider, Philip M. (Houston, TX); Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX). Licensed by Marathon Oil Company to: - Owen Oil Tools, Inc. http://www.marathon.com - Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. http://www.halliburton.com - TriPoint http://www.tripointinc.com      The Powr*PerfTM is an apparatus and method for perforating and fracturing subterranean formations to enhance fluid production. At least one unlined punch charge is loaded into at least one punch charge carrier, and the void spaces in the punch charge carrier are filled with sand. The punch charge carrier is assembled with at least one perforating charge carrier, loaded with at least one perforating charge, and a means for detonation. The assembly is positioned in a well containing a pressurized fluid adjacent the interval to be perforated and/or fractured, and the charges are detonated. The one or more punch charges create one or more apertures in the punch charge carrier, allowing sand to enter the well and be carried by the fluid in the well into the perforations and/or fractures created by the perforating charges and the pressurized fluid. The sand scours and/or props the perforations and/or fractures. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Safety Electrical Firing System November 5, 1996 United States Patent Number 5,571,986 Inventors: Snider, Philip M. (Houston, TX); Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX); Andrich; Lyle W. (Mansfield, TX); Smith; William D. (Fort Worth, TX).      The Safety Electrical Firing System is a method and apparatus of activating electric wireline firing systems in which a firing pin is restrained against movement toward a detonator until application of sufficient voltage to the apparatus. The firing pin is not permitted to move immediately upon application of voltage to the apparatus thereby providing a period during which voltage may be interrupted to prevent detonation of the system. The requisite voltage which must be applied to the apparatus is relatively high thereby ensuring against premature detonation of the system due to high radio frequencies, stray voltages or other electrical influences. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Coiled Tubing Conveyed Shogun August 6, 1996 United States Patent Number 5,542,480 Inventors: Owen, Harold D. (Fort Worth, TX); Wesson, David S. (Waxahachie, TX).      The Coiled Tubing Conveyed Shogun is a longitudinally slotted carrier having one end adapted for mounting on a tubing string, the carrier being non-planar, with a slotted configuration and interior dimensions to enable capsule charge orientation at selected phases between 0 and 360 degrees. The carrier has a frangible seam that fractures upon detonation to form two retrievable strips, each supported by the tubing string for retrieval. The seam is a narrow bridge, formed by slotting the carrier, with a cross sectional area that shatters upon detonation of the shaped charges. The remaining cross sectional area of each strip is sufficient to assure retrieval after detonation. The strips are non-planar, arcade or a segment of a circle in cross section. When the capsule charges are arrayed around many phases, by attaching both from and rear portions of the capsule charges to the unspotted regions of the carrier, plural primer cords are used for detonation. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Overbalanced Surge Valve April 30, 1996 United States Patent Number 5,511,617 Inventors: Snider, Philip M. (12102 Rocky Lake Dr., Houston, TX 77070); Wesson, David S. (Rte. 6, Box 337 A, Waxahachie, TX 75165); Andrich, Lyle W. (735 Newport Dr., Mansfield, TX 76063). - Licensed to Owen Oil Tools, Inc. by Marathon Oil Company http://www.marathon.com/license/asvt.html      The Overbalanced Surge Valve is an apparatus and method for controlling the pressure at which a fluid is introduced into a well penetrating a subterranean formation. The apparatus comprises a blow out sub having a sealed chamber between two plugs. The chamber is filled with a fluid at a known pressure. Thus, the pressure required to release the first plug is independent of the pressure in the well below the sub. The sub is attached to a tubular and positioned within the well. The first plug is then released upon application of a predetermined pressure fluid pressure, and the second plug is released upon application of a lesser pressure. The blow out sub may additionally comprise a tube forming a channel through the first plug, the chamber, and the second plug, with a means for controlling fluid flow through the channel. A first fluid may be introduced into the well via the channel prior to releasing the first plug. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Downhole Charge Carrier Jun. 28, 1994 United States Patent Number 5,323,684 Inventors: Owen, Harold D. (Fort Worth, TX), Umphries, Donald V. (New Iberia, LA ), and Ford, Bob (Fort Worth, TX).      This invention discloses downhole explosive carriers in which the explosive charges are mounted in a unique staggered spiral pattern thereby allowing a greater number of shots that can be fired per unit length while increasing the spacing between explosive charges; the latter advantage further reduces the potential interference between fired shots and pressure change therefore providing a greater perforated hole size. With a 31/2-inch gun perforating through a 41/2- to 5-inch casing, one trip of the present invention downhole provides as much or greater flow area than what could be achieved by two trips of a conventional gun, while eliminating the risk of splitting the casing which can be caused due to multiple shooting. With a 33/8-inch gun perforating a 5-inch trip of the current invention equals two trips of a conventional gun of the same size, plus a 10% improvement in flow rate. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Air Freight Detonating Cord Transport Package April 4, 1989 United States Patent Number 4,817,787 Inventors: Owen, Harold D. (Fort Worth, TX).      The Air Freight Detonating Cord Transport Package is a system for safely transporting detonating cord that uses a container with a mounting board of insulating material with a walled path through which the cord is threaded. The path has a series of loop regions and adjoining, parallel regions through which the parallel cord is separated with a cord separator that will sever adjoining cord in the event of a detonation to terminate further cord detonation. A separator card of cardboard is an ideal separator means. The walled path must otherwise insulate the detonating cord, being formed in one embodiment of cylindrical cardboard tube and in another of expanded polystyrene having a path with an open top. Fastener means secures the detonating cord within the walled path, being "Nylon" in the tube embodiment and interference fit in the expanded polystyrene embodiment.  - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^   Pressure Activated Time Delay Firing Head September 30, 1986 United States Patent Number 4,614,156 Inventors: Colle, Jr., Edward A. (Houston, TX); George, Flint R. (Katy, TX); Yates, Jr., Donald N. (Katy, TX). - Licensed to Owen Oil Tools, Inc.by Halliburton Co. http://www.halliburton.com      The Pressure Activated Time Delay Firing Head is a device for actuating an explosive charge downhole in a wellbore. The device includes a combustive reaction initiator actuated in response to a first pressure condition in a portion of the wellbore and an explosive charge actuator. A time delay device is provided wherein a combustive reaction is initiated by the initiator and continues for a time delay period providing sufficient time for an operator to alter the first pressure condition to a second pressure condition desired at the time of explosive actuation. The delay device is operative at the end of the time delay period after initiation to actuate the explosive charge. - Click here to view patent at US Patent and Trademark Office - Click here to view PDF (Adobe® AcrobatTM Reader Required) ^