Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Guy McClung
  • Patent number: 7051814
    Abstract: A tubing injector (10) includes a traction device (12) having opposed grippers (14) laterally moveable so as to move a respective chain link member (16) of an endless loop chain into gripping engagement with the coiled tubing. A drive motor (11) is provided for powering the endless loop chain, and a plurality of roller bearings (20) each act between a respective chain link member and a gripper. A pressure compensating device (30) subjects fluid in a fluid passageway in the roller bearing (20) to a fluid pressure functionally related to subsea pressure. The tubing injector may be used for injecting the coiled tubing subsea into a wellhead or into another flowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: John Goode, Ivan Iankov, Ronald Yater
  • Patent number: 7051990
    Abstract: A blowout preventer which, in certain aspects, has a main body with a main top, a main bottom, and a main bore therethrough from the main top to the main bottom, at least one bonnet releasably secured to the main body, the at least one bonnet containing movable ram apparatus, and side mount apparatus including at least one side mount secured exteriorly to the main body, the side mount for selectively supporting the at least one bonnet; and, in certain aspects, one or more rollers rotatably connected to the bonnet for facilitating movement of the bonnet on the side mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Benjamin Springett, Eric T. Ensley, James D. Brugman
  • Patent number: 7051989
    Abstract: A blowout preventer which, in certain aspects, has a main body and ram block holding apparatus releasably secured to and movable with respect to the main body and/or to a door or bonnet, movable ram apparatus within the body including a ram block, the ram block holding apparatus positioned for selective engagement of and support of the ram block and for moving the ram block away from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Benjamin Springett, Dean Allen Bennett
  • Patent number: 7044430
    Abstract: Lock bars for blowout preventers and blowout preventers having, in certain aspects, a body with a top, a bottom, and a bore therethrough, at least one bonnet releasably secured to the body, a first lock bar recess defined by a first portion in the body and a second portion in the bonnet, at least one lock bar removably disposed in the lock bar recess for releasably connecting the at least one bonnet to the body, the at least one lock bar having a body with a first end and a second tapered end and/or with an end opening in an end of the at least one lock bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Brugman, Frank Benjamin Springett, Dean Allen Bennett
  • Patent number: 7040488
    Abstract: A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen assembly apparatus, the basket having an interior surface, vibrator apparatus connected to the basket to vibrate it and the screen assembly apparatus releasably secured thereto, seal apparatus connected to the screen assembly for sealing an interface with a part of the interior surface of the basket, the seal apparatus including a seal holder removably holding a seal member, the seal holder having a projection projecting into a recess of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Seyffert, George Alexander Burnett, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Patent number: 7025062
    Abstract: A device for releasably emplacement around a part of a person's body, the device having at least one body member having a length and a width and two spaced-apart ends including a first end and a second end and a top side and a bottom side, a first amount of releasably cooperating fastener material on the first end on the top side of the at least one body member, a second amount of releasably cooperating fastener material on the second end on the top side of the at least one body member, a third amount of releasably cooperating fastener material on the first end on the bottom side of the at least one body member, a fourth amount of releasably cooperating fastener material on the second end on the bottom side of the at least one body member, and the amounts of releasably cooperating fastener material positioned so that the first amount can releasably cooperate with the fourth amount upon folding the body member so that the ends are adjacent each other and the second amount can releasbly cooperate with the third
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventors: Floyd E. Bigelow, Jr., Elizabeth K. Bigelow
  • Patent number: 7026950
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating one or more than one physically detectable physical influence changes to control or manipulate a down hole device. The present invention intercepts existing control signals to various controllers on the rig and superimposes an encoded command on these existing control signals. The controllers comprise of motor drives, choke controllers, acoustic pulse generators, tracer injectors and other controllers that are used to generate a physically detectable changes in the rig environment. The encoded command acting on existing or new controllers generates a perceptible change in a physical parameter such as a variation in drilling mud pressure, a variation in drill string rotation speed, a variation is weight on bit, generation of acoustic pulse, or a variation in tracer injection properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Mallappa I. Guggari, Keith Womer
  • Patent number: 7018326
    Abstract: A centrifuge for separating feed material into component parts, in one aspect primarily solid and primarily liquid parts, the centrifuge, in certain aspects, including a conveyor rotatably mounted in a rotatable housing, the conveyor having an interior and at least one impeller, the rotatable housing having a separating region with a pool area and a beach area with feed material passable through the interior of the conveyor, the feed material directed radially by the impeller(s) and spread by the impeller(s), in certain aspects along the conveyor or part thereof, onto part of the pool area, and/or in certain aspects onto the beach area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard James Koch, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, John Patrick Wright, Subrata Mitra, Hubert Frank Baker
  • Patent number: 7017650
    Abstract: Wellbore heat loop systems, fillers for bores in the systems, and methods of the use of such systems; the systems in certain aspects having a heat loop wellbore in the earth having heat loop pipe extending down to one side of a bottom member and up therefrom on another side thereof, the bottom member in certain aspects having a body with first and second bores therethrough, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing; and, in certain aspects, filler material around the heat loop in the wellbore with a gel material mixed with the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Johnson, Jr., Gregory R. Tinkler, Thomas R. Amerman
  • Patent number: 7000776
    Abstract: Screen assemblies for a vibratory separator and methods of using them, the screen assemblies in one aspect including a first screen portion having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, a second screen portion adjacent the second end of the first screen portion, the second screen portion projecting down from the second end of the first screen portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Winkler, Thomas C. Adams, Kenneth W. Seyffert, David Wayne Largent, David L. Schulte, Jr., Charles N. Grichar, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Patent number: 7000777
    Abstract: Screen assemblies for a vibratory separator, the screen assemblies in certain aspects having at least two screening members, the at least two screening members connected by sewing material, and methods for making such screen assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Adams, David L. Schulte, Jr., Kenneth W. Seyffert, David Wayne Laragent, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Patent number: 6991508
    Abstract: A play activity set having, in at least certain aspects, target apparatus at which at least one object may be directed; at least one object for throwing at the target apparatus; the target apparatus and the at least one object made by separating box material from a single box or from a plurality of boxes; and, in one aspect, such a play activity set wherein the single box is, e.g., a pizza box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
  • Patent number: 6988567
    Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, using a cuttings processor with a rotating annular screen to separate fluid from drilled cuttings and/or such methods including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, David Wood, Kenneth W. Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6969042
    Abstract: A blowout preventer with a main body; a base releasably connected to the main body, the base having a base space therein, the base having a ram shaft opening; a primary piston movably disposed within the base space; a ram shaft to which the primary piston is connected, the ram shaft including a ram end and a piston end; a ram connected to the ram end of the ram shaft; a housing connected to the base, the housing having a housing space therein, the housing including a middle member with a member opening; a booster piston movably disposed within the housing space and having a booster shaft projecting therefrom and a booster shaft space therein; the shaft including a push portion selectively movable to abut the ram shaft to prevent movement of the ram shaft and to transfer force of the booster piston to the primary piston; and power fluid apparatus for the primary piston and the booster piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Thomas Gaydos
  • Patent number: 6968700
    Abstract: A method for producing electrical power which, in certain aspects, includes producing a water/methanol mixture and feeding it to converting apparatus that produces a feed stream with hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and steam; recovering hydrogen from the feed stream and feeding the hydrogen to combusting apparatus which produces power; powering a turbine with the power to drive an electrical generator producing electricity; recovering steam from an exhaust of the turbine; condensing the steam and feeding it to the converting apparatus; and systems for doing this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventors: Henry A. Lott, John B. Goss
  • Patent number: 6955219
    Abstract: A method for installing a heat exchange pipe loop in a borehole, the method in at least certain aspects, including drilling a borehole with a sonic drill system having a head and casing connected thereto, a drill shoe on a lower end of the casing movable by the sonic drill head to drill the borehole, pumping fluid (e.g., water and drilling fluid) into the casing, out through a lower end of the casing, and up to earth surface in an annular space in the borehole so that drilled material flows to the earth surface, lowering a heat exchange pipe loop down into the casing, introducing grout into the casing around the heat exchange pipe loop, and extracting the casing from the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard E. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6955262
    Abstract: A support apparatus for supporting at least one screen assembly of a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator having seal apparatus for sealing an interface between a portion of the at least one screen assembly and an interior surface of the support apparatus, the seal apparatus including a seal member removably held by a seal holder within the vibratory separator, the support apparatus including container apparatus having a side wall, the side wall having an opening therethrough adjacent an end of the seal apparatus, and a cover removably connected to the side wall on an exterior surface thereof, the cover removable to provide access to the seal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Varco, I/P Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Seyffert, George Alexander Burnett, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Patent number: 6953097
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a mixture of drilling fluid and beads into a flow of drilling fluid, e.g., flowing in a conduit or flowing upwardly within an annulus of a riser, the method in certain aspects including: introducing an initial stream including a mixture of drilling fluid and beads into a hydrocyclone; processing the initial stream with the hydrocyclone producing a first stream and a second stream, the first stream containing drilling fluid and beads and the second stream containing drilling fluid; and feeding the first stream to shale shaker apparatus and/or to centrifugal liquid/liquid separator apparatus producing a primary stream and a secondary stream, the primary stream including beads and drilling fluid; and feeding the primary stream into the conduit or into an annulus of the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Seyffert
  • Patent number: 6944547
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a drilling rig having a control management system, comprises programming the control system with at least one resource module, the at least one resource module having at least one operating model having at least one set of programmed operating rules related to at least one set of operating parameters. In addition, the system and method provide an authenticating hierarchical access to at least one user to the at least one resource module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Womer, William I. Koederitz, Mallappa I. Guggari
  • Patent number: D519136
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Alden Folk, Steven Lorne Folk