Patents by Inventor David W. McCulloch
David W. McCulloch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9581009Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and apparatus for monitoring loads on an arched tubing guide of a coiled tubing injector caused by tension on coiled tubing. The load is sensed by a load sensor, for example, a load cell placed in a strut that supports the arched tubing guide, or in a load pin or load cell placed within the structure arched tubing guide or the connection of the arched tubing guide to a frame for the coiled tubing injector, at a location where the load is representative of the load placed on an arched tubing guide by tension in the coiled tubing. The load sensor generates a feedback signal. The load is monitored, either by an operator or a controller, and torque applied to a reel around which the tubing is wound is adjusted to avoid, or in response to, excessive loads on the arched tubing guide.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventors: Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William Benjamin White, David W. McCulloch
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Patent number: 9458682Abstract: A coiled tubing injector comprises a drive system for independently driving a plurality of chains independently but otherwise retarding relative motion between the driven chains when a chain begins to slip uncontrollably.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William B. White, William G. Stewart
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Patent number: 9353593Abstract: A handler holds a blowout preventer (BOP) assembly (partially or fully assembled) for transport and then erects it from a transport position to a vertical position for deployment. In the transport position the BOP assembly generally rests in a horizontal position. During deployment of the BOP assembly by the handler, the handler is capable of moving the BOP assembly to a vertical position, elevating it, and moving it outward, away from the base of the handler and toward a wellhead, so that the BOP assembly may be connected to a coiled tubing injector, work may be performed underneath the BOP assembly before connection to a well head, and the BOP assembly may be placed on top of a well head for connection to the well head.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, LPInventors: Mike Xiaolei Lu, David W. McCulloch
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Patent number: 9316067Abstract: A coiled tubing handler lifts and extends outwardly over wellhead a support platform on which a coiled tubing injector is mounted. The handler collapses into a compact arrangement that allows it and the coiled tubing injector to be transported to a well site on a vehicle or trailer, and then used at the well site to raise, position and support the coiled tubing injector connected to a blow out preventer and riser assembly for connection to a well head. The support platform may be tilted backward and forward, shifted from side-to-side, and raised and lowered on the platform.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, LPInventors: Mike Xiaolei Lu, David W. McCulloch
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Publication number: 20160002987Abstract: A coiled tubing injector comprises a drive system for independently driving a plurality of chains independently but otherwise retarding relative motion between the driven chains when a chain begins to slip uncontrollably.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: David W. MCCULLOCH, Timothy S. STEFFENHAGEN, William B. WHITE, William G. STEWART
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Patent number: 9151122Abstract: A coiled tubing injector comprises a drive system for independently driving a plurality of chains independently but otherwise retarding relative motion between the driven chains when a chain begins to slip uncontrollably.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William B. White, William G. Stewart
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Publication number: 20150101799Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and apparatus for monitoring loads on an arched tubing guide of a coiled tubing injector caused by tension on coiled tubing. The load is sensed by a load sensor, for example, a load cell placed in a strut that supports the arched tubing guide, or in a load pin or load cell placed within the structure arched tubing guide or the connection of the arched tubing guide to a frame for the coiled tubing injector, at a location where the load is representative of the load placed on an arched tubing guide by tension in the coiled tubing. The load sensor generates a feedback signal. The load is monitored, either by an operator or a controller, and torque applied to a reel around which the tubing is wound is adjusted to avoid, or in response to, excessive loads on the arched tubing guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2013Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William Benjamin White, David W. McCulloch
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Patent number: 8727018Abstract: A charging unit, system and method are provided. The system includes an activation unit and a charging unit. The activation unit includes a pump unit, a pressure circuit with an unloader valve to selectively permit fluid to pass from the pump unit to the wellsite component, and an accumulator bank operatively connectable to the pressure circuit to store the fluid under pressure for passage to the wellsite component whereby the wellsite component is selectively activated. The charging unit includes a charging circuit operatively connectable to the pressure circuit to selectively receive the fluid from the pump unit, a charging accumulator operatively connectable to the charging circuit to store the fluid under pressure, and a pressure reducing valve operatively connectable to the charging circuit to selectively pass the fluid from the charging accumulator to the accumulator bank whereby an activation pressure of the fluid provided to the wellsite component is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventor: David W. McCulloch
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Patent number: 8701754Abstract: A coiled tubing injector, rollers on the backside of grippers on a gripper chain pass over at least one shallow groove or depression formed in, or gap between segments of, a planar roller contact surface of a skate, thereby momentarily removing or reducing the force being applied by the skate to the grippers as the grippers pass through at least one predetermined location within a gripping zone of the coiled tubing injector. The reduction or removal of the force on the grippers allows the grippers to reset their positions on the tubing at one or more predetermined locations in order to accommodate changes in the strain caused by changes in stress as the tubing moves through the injector.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventor: David W. McCulloch
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Publication number: 20140000865Abstract: A coiled tubing injector comprises a drive system for independently driving a plurality of chains independently but otherwise retarding relative motion between the driven chains when a chain begins to slip uncontrollably.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William B. White, William G. Stewart
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Publication number: 20130333900Abstract: A coiled tubing injector, rollers on the backside of grippers on a gripper chain pass over at least one shallow groove or depression formed in, or gap between segments of, a planar roller contact surface of a skate, thereby momentarily removing or reducing the force being applied by the skate to the grippers as the grippers pass through at least one predetermined location within a gripping zone of the coiled tubing injector. The reduction or removal of the force on the grippers allows the grippers to reset their positions on the tubing at one or more predetermined locations in order to accommodate changes in the strain caused by changes in stress as the tubing moves through the injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventor: David W. McCulloch
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Patent number: 8544536Abstract: A coiled tubing injector comprises a drive system for independently driving a plurality of chains independently but otherwise retarding relative motion between the driven chains when a chain begins to slip uncontrollably.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William B. White, William G. Stewart
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Publication number: 20120073833Abstract: A coiled tubing injector comprises a drive system for independently driving a plurality of chains independently but otherwise retarding relative motion between the driven chains when a chain begins to slip uncontrollably.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William B. White, William G. Stewart
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Patent number: 7077209Abstract: A mast for lifting and suspending over a wellhead a coiled tubing injector and blow out preventer is pivotally mounted on a rear portion of a truck. The mast has two side-by-side telescoping legs that extend and retract synchronously. When in a retracted position, the blow out preventer and coiled tubing injector are attached to the mast, between the legs, and legs of the mast extended to lift the equipment.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Varco/IP, Inc.Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Mike Xiaolei Lu
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Publication number: 20030201099Abstract: A flow-limiting device is placed in a hydraulic fluid circuit between a hydraulic pump of, for example, a power pack, and a motor of a coiled tubing injector. The flow-limiting device allows hydraulic fluid to flow through the circuit, but limits the rate of flow in order to avoid thermal damage to the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: Varco I/P, Inc.Inventors: Timothy S. Steffenhagen, David W. McCulloch, John E. Goode
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Publication number: 20030079883Abstract: A mast for lifting and suspending over a wellhead a coiled tubing injector and blow out preventer is pivotally mounted on a rear portion of a truck. The mast has two side-by-side telescoping legs that extend and retract synchronously. When in a retracted position, the blow out preventer and coiled tubing injector are attached to the mast, between the legs, and legs of the mast extended to lift the equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: David W. McCulloch, Mike Xiaolei Lu