Roger W Fincher

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:

6443249, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

May 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/854765

Inventors:

Christopher C. Beuershausen - Lafayette LA
Mark W. Dykstra - Kingwood TX
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX
Roland Illerhaus - The Woodlands TX
Steve R. Matson - Spring TX
James A. Norris - Sandy UT
Michael P. Ohanian - Slidell LA
Rudolf C. O. Pessier - Houston TX

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 1046

US Classification:

175431

Abstract:

A PDC-equipped rotary drag bit especially suitable for directional drilling. Cutter chamfer size and backrake angle, as well as cutter backrake, may be varied along the bit profile between the center of the bit and the gage to provide a less aggressive center and more aggressive outer region on the bit face, to enhance stability while maintaining side cutting capability, as well as providing a high rate of penetration under relatively high weight on bit.

US Patent:

6527054, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Sep 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/661734

Inventors:

Roger W. Fincher - Conroe TX
Peter Fontana - Houston TX

Assignee:

Deep Vision LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 712

US Classification:

166357, 166358, 137544

Abstract:

This invention provides apparatus and methods for controlling the particle size of the solid mass present in the circulating drilling fluid returning from an underwater wellhead during the drilling of a subsea wellbore. The system may include a separator at the sea floor adjacent the wellhead, which separates solids above a predetermined size from the wellstream. The wellstream then enters one or more underwater pumps, which pump the wellstream to the surface. A crusher, as a separate unit, integrated in the separator or in the pump, receives the separated solids and reduces them to relatively small-sized particles. The small particles are then pumped or moved to the surface by the pumps utilized for pumping the wellstream to the surface or by a separate underwater pump. Alternatively, the separated solids are collected from the separator into a container, which container is then transported to the surface by a suitable method. Solids reaching the surface are removed to obtain filtered fluid, which after conditioning by conventional methods is pumped back into the wellbore as the drilling fluid.

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:

7000715, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/233329

Inventors:

Lawrence Allen Sinor - Kingwood TX, US
Christopher C. Beuershausen - Spring TX, US
Mark W. Dykstra - Kingwood TX, US
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Roland Illerhaus - The Woodlands TX, US
Rudolf C. O. Pessier - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 10/46

US Classification:

175431, 175428

Abstract:

A superabrasive cutter-equipped rotary drag bit especially suitable for directional drilling in subterranean formations is provided. The bit may employ PDC cutters in an engineered cutter placement profile exhibiting optimal aggressiveness in relation to where the cutters are positioned along the profile of the bit extending from a cone region laterally, or radially, outward toward a gage region therefore. The engineered cutter placement profile may include cutters exhibiting differing degrees of aggressiveness positioned in order to maximize rate-of-penetration and minimize torque-on-bit while maintaining side cutting capability and steerability.

US Patent:

7055627, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

Nov 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/713708

Inventors:

Peter Fontana - Amsterdam, NL
Roger Fincher - Conroe TX, US
Larry Watkins - Conroe TX, US
Peter Aronstam - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 44/00

US Classification:

175 65, 175 25

Abstract:

The present invention provides drilling systems for drilling wellbores. The drilling system includes an umbilical that passes through a wellhead and carries a drill bit. A drilling fluid system supplies drilling fluid into an annulus (supply line) between the umbilical and the wellbore, which discharges at the drill bit bottom and returns to the wellhead through the umbilical (return line) carrying the drill cuttings. A fluid circulation device, such as a turbine or centrifugal pump, is operated in the return line to provide the primary motive force for circulating drilling fluid through a fluid circuit formed by the supply line and return line. Optionally, a secondary fluid circulation device in fluid communication with the return line can cooperate with the fluid circulation device to circulate drilling fluid and/or a near bit fluid circulation device can be used to provide localized flow control or suction pressure to improve bit cleaning.