Cy-Fair man receives patent for new hardfacing configuration

A man from the Cy-Fair area is part of a team that recently received a U.S. patent for a new way of configuring hardfacing in a drill bit.

For many years engineers have applied various metals to parts of drill bits to protect them from wear. Various materials for hardfacing and different ways of placing it on the drill yield different benefits depending on conditions of the earth through which the drill is moving. Therefore, new ways of applying hardfacing are always being developed.

The inventors named in the patent are Alan J. Massey of the Cy-Fair area of Houston, David K. "Keith" Luce of Splendora and Keith L. Nehring of Houston. The patent was originally filed on Feb. 15, 2008, and was approved on Feb. 22 of this year. Its official number is 7,891,443. The inventors were represented in the patent process by Houston-based international law firm Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, whose offices can be found at 711 Louisiana St., Suite 2300. The patent's owner is listed as Baker Hughes Inc.

Baker Hughes specializes in technologies designed to help petroleum companies get the greatest value from their wells, as well as offering integrated operations and reservoir consulting. Its global headquarters is located in the River Oaks area at 2929 Allen Parkway, Suite 2100. The company's U.S. division also has offices in the Aldine area at 17015 Aldine Westfield Road.