Topic leaderboard
Earth drilling & obtaining oil, gas or water
Ranked by the PatentIndex Score — a 1–99 percentile within E21B · public-visibility date · generated 2026
top 25 per window · public-visibility date
Rising· last 2 yrs
Inventors whose newest E21B patents became public in the last 2 years — the current frontier
- 199Harold J. Vinegar263 patents · 51,543 citations
- 296Eldon Schelske35 patents · 2,843 citations
- 392Todd Coli35 patents · 2,843 citations
- 488Philip D. Nguyen327 patents · 14,953 citations
- 583Michael H. Johnson149 patents · 5,409 citations
- 679Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh56 patents · 2,154 citations
- 775Jeffrey G. Morris24 patents · 1,516 citations
- 871Brandon N. Hinderliter87 patents · 3,979 citations
- 967Tony Yeung136 patents · 3,884 citations
- 1063Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon118 patents · 3,678 citations
- 1158Joseph Foster81 patents · 3,067 citations
- 1254Jared Oehring103 patents · 4,990 citations
- 1350Robert Kurtz19 patents · 1,668 citations
- 1446Chad Lawman40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 1542David Kubricht40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 1638David Todd40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 1733Jeffrey Pollack40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 1829John J. Crosetto40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 1925John Fischer41 patents · 1,179 citations
- 2021Richard Cheatham40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 2117Tyler Nolen41 patents · 1,179 citations
- 2213Rod Shampine73 patents · 1,959 citations
- 238William Troy Huey23 patents · 1,159 citations
- 244Jim B. Surjaatmadja119 patents · 5,848 citations
- 251Peter Quigley51 patents · 2,377 citations
Active· last 5 yrs
Sustained E21B output across the last 5 years
- 199Harold J. Vinegar263 patents · 51,543 citations
- 296John Michael Karanikas95 patents · 18,249 citations
- 392Eldon Schelske35 patents · 2,843 citations
- 488Todd Coli35 patents · 2,843 citations
- 583Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson69 patents · 3,760 citations
- 679John E. Mercer182 patents · 5,641 citations
- 775David R. Hall294 patents · 12,179 citations
- 871Paulo Tubel60 patents · 8,750 citations
- 967Philip D. Nguyen327 patents · 14,953 citations
- 1063Michael H. Johnson149 patents · 5,409 citations
- 1158James V. Leggett, Iii28 patents · 4,484 citations
- 1254Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh56 patents · 2,154 citations
- 1350Jeffrey G. Morris24 patents · 1,516 citations
- 1446Brandon N. Hinderliter87 patents · 3,979 citations
- 1542Tony Yeung136 patents · 3,884 citations
- 1638Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon118 patents · 3,678 citations
- 1733Joseph Foster81 patents · 3,067 citations
- 1829Jared Oehring103 patents · 4,990 citations
- 1925Robert Kurtz19 patents · 1,668 citations
- 2021Chad Lawman40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 2117David Kubricht40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 2213David Todd40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 238Jeffrey Pollack40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 244John J. Crosetto40 patents · 1,179 citations
- 251John Fischer41 patents · 1,179 citations
All-time canon
Career PatentIndex Score in E21B
- 199Harold J. Vinegar263 patents · 51,543 citations
- 296Scott Lee Wellington151 patents · 33,542 citations
- 392Eric Pierre De Rouffignac135 patents · 31,634 citations
- 488Etuan Zhang88 patents · 19,520 citations
- 583Robert Charles Ryan87 patents · 19,173 citations
- 679Thomas David Fowler86 patents · 18,696 citations
- 775Ilya Emil Berchenko98 patents · 22,473 citations
- 871George Leo Stegemeier106 patents · 22,684 citations
- 967Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr.58 patents · 12,718 citations
- 1063Kevin Albert Maher49 patents · 10,876 citations
- 1158John Michael Karanikas95 patents · 18,249 citations
- 1254Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld13 patents · 2,814 citations
- 1350Bruce Gerard Hunsucker10 patents · 2,475 citations
- 1446Lanny Gene Schoeling14 patents · 2,702 citations
- 1542Ajay Madhav Madgavkar12 patents · 2,978 citations
- 1638James Louis Menotti10 patents · 1,625 citations
- 1733John Matthew Coles10 patents · 1,429 citations
- 1829John Ward10 patents · 1,592 citations
- 1925Charles Robert Keedy7 patents · 1,335 citations
- 2021Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.9 patents · 1,575 citations
- 2117Nigel Dennis Griffin44 patents · 6,088 citations
- 2213Peter Raymond Hughes18 patents · 3,984 citations
- 238Eldon Schelske35 patents · 2,843 citations
- 244Todd Coli35 patents · 2,843 citations
- 251Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson69 patents · 3,760 citations
Rising· last 2 yrs
The top-scoring E21B patents made public in the last 2 years
- 199US11920684B1✦ AIMechanically or hybrid mounted valve seat23 cites · 202490% earned
- 296US11913679B1✦ AIGeothermal systems and methods with an underground magma chamber16 cites · 202484% earned
- 392US11867032B1✦ AIDownhole perforating gun system and methods of manufacture, assembly and use19 cites · 202485% earned
- 488US11905814B1Detecting entry into and drilling through a magma/rock transition zone13 cites · 202488% earned
- 583US12270394B2Packing bore wear sleeve retainer system8 cites · 202476% earned
- 679US11897828B1Thermochemical reactions using geothermal energy12 cites · 202482% earned
- 775US12410848B1Electric heavy-load push-pull tool4 cites · 202582% earned
- 871US12110878B2Systems and methods for generation of electrical power at a drilling rig7 cites · 202475% earned
- 967US12338708B2Choke system with capacity for passage of large debris7 cites · 202475% earned
- 1063US12084952B2Electric powered hydraulic fracturing pump system with single electric powered multi-plung10 cites · 202475% earned
- 1158US12215555B2Systems and methods for operating candle filters to recover glycols from drilling operatio10 cites · 202487% earned
- 1254US12129752B1Precise deep oil and gas navigation system based on structural evaluation of sand/shale fo6 cites · 202485% earned
- 1350US12123292B1Differentiated real-time injection-production optimization adjustment method of intelligen6 cites · 202485% earned
- 1446US12378863B1Method and device for determining fracture closure pressure based on hydraulic fracturing3 cites · 202580% earned
- 1542US12338697B2Two-part drilling and running tool including a one way mechanism8 cites · 202466% earned
- 1638US12000257B2Fluid end8 cites · 202480% earned
- 1733US12180861B1Systems and methods to utilize heat carriers in conversion of thermal energy8 cites · 202486% earned
- 1829US11913300B1Wellbore chemical injection with tubing spool side extension flange8 cites · 202486% earned
- 1925US11988046B1Hydrojets rotary drill bit8 cites · 202486% earned
- 2021US11927093B1Enhanced sensing of subsea wells using optical fiber8 cites · 202486% earned
- 2117US12135016B2Systems for generating geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle operation during hydro5 cites · 202459% earned
- 2213US12140124B2Systems and methods for generation of electrical power at a drilling rig5 cites · 202469% earned
- 238US12146475B2Systems and methods for generation of electrical power in an organic rankine cycle operati5 cites · 202472% earned
- 244US12404931B2Dual ring stuffing box5 cites · 202477% earned
- 251US12123291B1Method and system for updating three-dimensional lithology model for precision navigation 5 cites · 202484% earned
Active· last 5 yrs
The top-scoring E21B patents of the last 5 years
- 199US10954770B1✦ AISystems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit185 cites · 202181% earned
- 296US10961993B1✦ AIContinuous high-power turbine fracturing equipment180 cites · 202188% earned
- 392US10895202B1✦ AIDirect drive unit removal system and associated methods173 cites · 202181% earned
- 488US11143006B1Fracturing device140 cites · 202190% earned
- 583US10961908B1Systems and methods to enhance intake air flow to a gas turbine engine of a hydraulic frac166 cites · 202194% earned
- 679US11105250B1Rain shield assembly, pipe assembly and turbine fracturing unit138 cites · 202190% earned
- 775US10907459B1Methods and systems for operating a fleet of pumps161 cites · 202182% earned
- 871US11236739B2Power sources and transmission networks for auxiliary equipment onboard hydraulic fracturi134 cites · 202185% earned
- 967US11047379B1Status monitoring and failure diagnosis system for plunger pump160 cites · 202194% earned
- 1063US11242737B2Turbine fracturing equipment149 cites · 202190% earned
- 1158US10982523B1Frac manifold missile and fitting149 cites · 202190% earned
- 1254US11111768B1Drive equipment and methods for mobile fracturing transportation platforms113 cites · 202185% earned
- 1350US11519395B2Turbine-driven fracturing system on semi-trailer90 cites · 202287% earned
- 1446US11105266B2System for providing mobile power134 cites · 202193% earned
- 1542US11125066B1Systems and methods to operate a dual-shaft gas turbine engine for hydraulic fracturing111 cites · 202182% earned
- 1638US11109508B1Enclosure assembly for enhanced cooling of direct drive unit and related methods111 cites · 202183% earned
- 1733US11268346B2Fuel, communications, and power connection systems105 cites · 202182% earned
- 1829US11220895B1Automated diagnostics of electronic instrumentation in a system for fracturing a well and 104 cites · 202181% earned
- 1925US11168681B2Drive system for hydraulic fracturing pump102 cites · 202193% earned
- 2021US11499405B2Hydraulic fracturing system for driving a plunger pump with a turbine engine96 cites · 202289% earned
- 2117US11193361B1Methods, systems, and devices to enhance fracturing fluid delivery to subsurface formation94 cites · 202181% earned
- 2213USRE49083EMethods of generating and using electricity at a well treatment93 cites · 202277% earned
- 238US11149533B1Systems to monitor, detect, and/or intervene relative to cavitation and pulsation events d93 cites · 202181% earned
- 244US11549349B2Fracturing control apparatus and control method therefor74 cites · 202289% earned
- 251US11492887B2Power supply semi-trailer for electric drive fracturing equipment87 cites · 202189% earned
All-time canon
The defining E21B patents of the whole record
- 199US4328839A✦ AIFlexible drill pipe1,532 cites · 198295% earned
- 296US4600037A✦ AIFlexible drill pipe1,419 cites · 198695% earned
- 392US6176323B1✦ AIDrilling systems with sensors for determining properties of drilling fluid downhole786 cites · 200195% earned
- 488US5366012AMethod of completing an uncased section of a borehole703 cites · 199495% earned
- 583US4604106AComposite polycrystalline diamond compact702 cites · 198690% earned
- 679US6508305B1Compositions and methods for cementing using elastic particles681 cites · 200395% earned
- 775US4710708AMethod and apparatus employing received independent magnetic field components of a transmi658 cites · 198795% earned
- 871US4140180AMethod for in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous formations646 cites · 197995% earned
- 967US4224380ATemperature resistant abrasive compact and method for making same646 cites · 198095% earned
- 1063US6015015AInsulated and/or concentric coiled tubing622 cites · 200095% earned
- 1158US6092610AActively controlled rotary steerable system and method for drilling wells620 cites · 200095% earned
- 1254US10677035B2Controlling hydrocarbon production607 cites · 201989% earned
- 1350US5082054AIn-situ tuned microwave oil extraction process598 cites · 199295% earned
- 1446US5388648AMethod and apparatus for sealing the juncture between a vertical well and one or more hori586 cites · 199595% earned
- 1542US4560014AThrust bearing assembly for a downhole drill motor579 cites · 198595% earned
- 1638US5501275AControl of particulate flowback in subterranean wells576 cites · 199692% earned
- 1733US5426137AMethod for continuously mixing fluids573 cites · 199595% earned
- 1829US5829520AMethod and apparatus for testing, completion and/or maintaining wellbores using a sensor d572 cites · 199895% earned
- 1925US4390067AMethod of treating reservoirs containing very viscous crude oil or bitumen570 cites · 198395% earned
- 2021US5120327ACutting composite formed of cemented carbide substrate and diamond layer569 cites · 199295% earned
- 2117US4860581ADown hole tool for determination of formation properties565 cites · 198995% earned
- 2213US5551516AHydraulic fracturing process and compositions559 cites · 199695% earned
- 238US4991614AMethod and a plant for transport of hydrocarbons over a long distance from an offshore sou556 cites · 199195% earned
- 244US5868202AHydrologic cells for recovery of hydrocarbons or thermal energy from coal, oil-shale, tar-547 cites · 199995% earned
- 251US4144935AApparatus and method for in situ heat processing of hydrocarbonaceous formations545 cites · 197995% earned
Rising· last 2 yrs
Assignees whose newest E21B patents became public in the last 2 years — the current frontier
- 199SHELL OIL CO1,066 patents · 90,730 citations
- 296SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORP5,209 patents · 118,516 citations
- 392SMITH INTERNATIONAL1,113 patents · 48,536 citations
- 488US SYNTHETIC CORP281 patents · 5,529 citations
- 583GEN ELECTRIC193 patents · 6,624 citations
- 679VERMEER MFG CO128 patents · 4,369 citations
- 775BJ ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC142 patents · 3,700 citations
- 871HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC6,335 patents · 16,251 citations
- 967HYDRIL CO212 patents · 11,225 citations
- 1063SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO3,189 patents · 7,346 citations
- 1158CATERPILLAR INC78 patents · 1,245 citations
- 1254KENNAMETAL INC94 patents · 3,729 citations
- 1350YANTAI JEREH PETROLEUM EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD135 patents · 3,180 citations
- 1446DRIL QUIP INC161 patents · 3,897 citations
- 1542UNIV TEXAS44 patents · 1,366 citations
- 1638CHARLES MACHINE WORKS194 patents · 4,134 citations
- 1733MERLIN TECHNOLOGY INC191 patents · 1,652 citations
- 1829UNIV CALIFORNIA29 patents · 1,081 citations
- 1925GRANT PRIDECO INC17 patents · 921 citations
- 2021U S WELL SERVICES LLC82 patents · 1,066 citations
- 2117US ARMY27 patents · 1,339 citations
- 2213CAMERON INT CORP588 patents · 3,350 citations
- 238LOCI CONTROLS INC44 patents · 845 citations
- 244CHEVRON USA INC367 patents · 2,699 citations
- 251NAT OILWELL VARCO LP304 patents · 2,281 citations
Active· last 5 yrs
Sustained E21B output across the last 5 years
- 199SHELL OIL CO1,066 patents · 90,730 citations
- 296SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORP5,209 patents · 118,516 citations
- 392SMITH INTERNATIONAL1,113 patents · 48,536 citations
- 488US SYNTHETIC CORP281 patents · 5,529 citations
- 583GEN ELECTRIC193 patents · 6,624 citations
- 679VERMEER MFG CO128 patents · 4,369 citations
- 775NAT SERVICE ALLIANCE—HOUSTON LLC31 patents · 1,158 citations
- 871BJ ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC142 patents · 3,700 citations
- 967EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RES CO175 patents · 6,305 citations
- 1063HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC6,335 patents · 16,251 citations
- 1158RAYTHEON CO14 patents · 2,287 citations
- 1254HYDRIL CO212 patents · 11,225 citations
- 1350SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO3,189 patents · 7,346 citations
- 1446CATERPILLAR INC78 patents · 1,245 citations
- 1542KENNAMETAL INC94 patents · 3,729 citations
- 1638YANTAI JEREH PETROLEUM EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD135 patents · 3,180 citations
- 1733DRIL QUIP INC161 patents · 3,897 citations
- 1829UNIV TEXAS44 patents · 1,366 citations
- 1925CHARLES MACHINE WORKS194 patents · 4,134 citations
- 2021MERLIN TECHNOLOGY INC191 patents · 1,652 citations
- 2117MI LLC186 patents · 2,959 citations
- 2213TIW CORP41 patents · 1,836 citations
- 238TYPHON TECH SOLUTIONS LLC29 patents · 685 citations
- 244UNIV CALIFORNIA29 patents · 1,081 citations
- 251GRANT PRIDECO INC17 patents · 921 citations
All-time canon
All-time PatentIndex Score in E21B
- 199SHELL OIL CO1,066 patents · 90,730 citations
- 296EVOLUTION WELL SERVICES LLC15 patents · 3,320 citations
- 392WEATHERFORD LAMB902 patents · 44,257 citations
- 488SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORP5,209 patents · 118,516 citations
- 583BAKER HUGHES INC2,867 patents · 121,472 citations
- 679CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC8 patents · 1,732 citations
- 775REEDHYCALOG UK LTD9 patents · 1,286 citations
- 871SMITH INTERNATIONAL1,113 patents · 48,536 citations
- 967CAMCO INT UK LTD42 patents · 4,559 citations
- 1063HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERV INC1,789 patents · 100,052 citations
- 1158IIT RES INST17 patents · 4,215 citations
- 1254DOWELL A DIVISION OF SCHLUMBER19 patents · 3,168 citations
- 1350US WELL SERVICES LLC25 patents · 4,690 citations
- 1446HALLIBURTON CO823 patents · 56,654 citations
- 1542CAMCO DRILLING GROUP LTD42 patents · 4,732 citations
- 1638US SYNTHETIC CORP281 patents · 5,529 citations
- 1733GEN ELECTRIC193 patents · 6,624 citations
- 1829AMOCO CORP120 patents · 11,761 citations
- 1925VERMEER MFG CO128 patents · 4,369 citations
- 2021IN SITU TECHNOLOGY INC25 patents · 4,332 citations
- 2117DIGITAL CONTROL INC37 patents · 2,683 citations
- 2213MOBIL OIL CORP555 patents · 28,225 citations
- 238NAT SERVICE ALLIANCE—HOUSTON LLC31 patents · 1,158 citations
- 244ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO392 patents · 22,702 citations
- 251BJ ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC142 patents · 3,700 citations
90–99 field-defining50–89 strong<50 emergingearned by citationsfrom family breadth