Michael S. Oliver
Engineering at Robinhood Cir, Lafayette, LA

5853055, Dec 29, 1998

Jun 27, 1996

8/671517

Michael A. Siracki - The Woodlands TX
Per I. Nese - Houston TX
Alan W. Lockstedt - Tomball TX
Dennis Cisneros - Kingwood TX
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA
Gary R. Portwood - Kingwood TX

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

F21B 1018

175340

A rotary cone bit for drilling bore holes in earth formations whose body has a thread pin end and a dome end from which extend three legs. A cutter cone is rotatably mounted to each leg and is radially oriented about the bit's central axis. Each cutter cone has a gage row of cutting elements extending from the cone surface nearest the mouth and a nose row extending nearest the cone's apex. A center jet for emitting fluid or mud is located on the dome. The jet has a converging nozzle with an exit orifice which extends below a predefined horizontal plane intersected by the cones or cutting elements. The exit orifice has a constant diameter for a length at least equal to its diameter for reducing the diffusion of the fluid or mud flow emitted. Fluid or mud emitted from the center jet travels substantially uninterrupted within a cylindrical space between the cones which is not invaded by any cutting element. This reduced diffusion substantially uninterrupted fluid flow strikes the bore hole bottom with maximum impact energy for enhanced removal of earth formation cuttings.

2005004, Mar 3, 2005

Aug 18, 2004

10/920875

Michael Oliver - Lafayette LA, US
Kerry Koffler - Willis TX, US

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B010/00

175371000

A lubricant pump and cone movement dampener system for a rolling cone cutter of an earth-boring bit is disclosed. The system includes an axial bore passing through the end of journal pin. The axial bore is fitted with a unidirectional valve and is in fluid communication with the bit's lubricant and with a grease passage. Lubricant, such as a grease, is pumped through the grease passage in the cone cutter, where it passes through the valve, out of the bore, and into the journal gap formed by the interior of the cone cutter and the exterior of the journal pin. Axial movement of the cone caused by formation forces acting upon the cone cutter as it rotates in the borehole causes more lubricant to be drawn into the journal gap. When the cone moves axially back in the opposite direction, heated lubricant in the gap is expelled from the gap via holes within the ball race of the journal pin. The system cycles cooler grease through the gap, dampens axial cone movement and reduces damage to the journal seal.

5305837, Apr 26, 1994

Jul 17, 1992

7/916046

Roger P. Johns - Terrace Mustang OK
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA
Huy D. Bui - Houston TX

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 704, E21B 414

175 61

An air percussion hammer drill is disclosed for operation in an earthen formation. The air compression hammer mechanism comprises a piston that reciprocates while simultaneously rotating within its housing. A hammer drill bit slidably keyed to the bottom of the piston transfers the impact energy to the formation and rotates during operation independent of an attached drill string. The air percussion hammer assembly is therefore ideally suited to directional drilling activities.

RE36166, Mar 30, 1999

Apr 24, 1996

8/638993

Roger P. Johns - Terrace Mustang OK
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA
Huy D. Bui - Houston TX

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 704, E21B 414

175 61

An air percussion hammer drill is disclosed for operation in an earthen formation. The air compression hammer mechanism comprises a piston that reciprocates while simultaneously rotating within its housing. A hammer drill bit slidably keyed to the bottom of the piston transfers the impact energy to the formation and rotates during operation independent of an attached drill string. The air percussion hammer assembly is therefore ideally suited to directional drilling activities.

5322136, Jun 21, 1994

Jul 17, 1992

7/916285

Huy D. Bui - Houston TX
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 414

175 65

An air percussion hammer drill is disclosed for operation in an earthen formation. The air compression hammer mechanism comprises a piston that reciprocates while simultaneously rotating within its housing. A hammer drill bit slidably keyed to the bottom of the piston transfers the impact energy to the formation and rotates during operation independent of an attached drill string.

4591008, May 27, 1986

Aug 22, 1984

6/643220

Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA

Smith International, Inc. - Newport Beach CA

E21B 910, E21B 1022, E21B 1014

175227

This invention discloses a method to protect the lubrication reservoir system for sealed bearing rotary cone rock bits. A multiplicity of flush-type tungsten carbide inserts are positioned in each leg of the rock bit surrounding the lubrication reservoir cover cap. The inserts prevent erosion of the leg around the cover cap, thus protecting the snap ring that secures the cover cap within the reservoir chamber.

5056610, Oct 15, 1991

Sep 17, 1990

7/583902

Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA
Chris E. Cawthorne - The Woodlands TX
Gary Erpenbeck - Costa Mesa CA

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 1022

175371

Sealed bearing rotary cone drill bits are subject to seal wear from detritus or debris generated during operation of the drill bit in a borehole. The debris invades the seal gland area resulting in premature cone bearing failure. A shale burn plug secured in the leg back face and positioned between the base of the rotary cone and the leg back face has a shale or detritus diverting ridge formed in the face of the plug. Additionally, the burn plug is energized to urge the ridged face of the burn plug against the base of the rotary cone; the ridge being radially oriented to divert debris away from the seal gland.

4687067, Aug 18, 1987

May 1, 1986

6/858487

Richard D. Smith - Lakewood CA
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA
Richard D. Crouse - Huntington Beach CA

Smith International, Inc. - Newport Beach CA

E21B 1018

175340

A three cone rock bit is disclosed having at least a pair of mini-extended nozzles extending from a dome portion of the bit. Two 120. degree. leg segments contain extended nozzles, a third 120. degree. segment is nozzleless. The mini-extended nozzles convert hydraulic pressure to kinetic fluid flow energy with a minimum of flow disturbance, thereby delivering a concentrated flow of fluid against the floor of the formation and across the cutting face of the bit, sweeping detritus past the nozzleless 120. degree. leg segment and up the borehole. A centerjet mini-extended nozzle may additionally be positioned in the rock bit dome to further enhance borehole penetration.

RE36848, Sep 5, 2000

Jun 18, 1996

8/665801

Huy D. Bui - Houston TX
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 414

175 65

An air percussion hammer drill is disclosed for operation in an earthen formation. The air compression hammer mechanism comprises a piston that reciprocates while simultaneously rotating within its housing. A hammer drill bit slidably keyed to the bottom of the piston transfers the impact energy to the formation and rotates during operation independent of an attached drill string.

4711311, Dec 8, 1987

Nov 20, 1986

6/933407

Lance D. Underwood - Mission Viejo CA
Michael S. Oliver - Lafayette LA

Smith International, Inc. - Newport Beach CA

E21B 1018

175340

An erosion and vibration resistant nozzle apparatus is disclosed for earth drilling rock bits. The nozzle includes a flow bean that is retained in a nozzle cavity by a threaded retainer, the retainer having at least one axially aligned slot therethrough to more fully engage the roots and crests of the retention threads to firmly secure the nozzle bean within its nozzle cavity. The split retainer may also have a conically shaped interior opening that conforms to a cone shaped exterior of the exit end of the nozzle bean for a more secure retention of the nozzle body within the nozzle cavity.