Patents by Inventor Douglas Milliman
Douglas Milliman 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: 11692410Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 11519237Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20220018205Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20210262312Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 11035217Abstract: Provided is a life cycle tracking system including a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. For example, the operations can include effecting a change in a first database including data related to a set of components installed on a blowout preventer stack, in response to a drag and drop operation having been performed on a human machine interface. The change can include associating information from a second database to the first database. The second database includes data related to a set of spare components.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Prakash Kumar Arcot
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Patent number: 10876369Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20200125429Abstract: Provided is a life cycle tracking system including a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. For example, the operations can include effecting a change in a first database including data related to a set of components installed on a blowout preventer stack, in response to a drag and drop operation having been performed on a human machine interface. The change can include associating information from a second database to the first database. The second database includes data related to a set of spare components.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Prakash Kumar Arcot
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Patent number: 10545803Abstract: Provided is a life cycle tracking system including a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. For example, the operations can include effecting a change in a first database including data related to a set of components installed on a blowout preventer stack, in response to a drag and drop operation having been performed on a human machine interface. The change can include associating information from a second database to the first database. The second database includes data related to a set of spare components.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Prakash Kumar Arcot
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Patent number: 10196871Abstract: A control system for a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) positioned in a lower stack, the lower stack releasably engaged with a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The control system includes a surface logic solver positioned at or adjacent the surface of the sea that generates commands for operating the subsea BOP, a first subsea logic solver attached to the LMRP and in communication with the surface logic solver so that the first subsea logic solver receives the commands from the surface logic solver, and a second subsea logic solver attached to a hydraulic control unit in the lower stack. The second subsea logic solver is in hydraulic communication with the subsea BOP, and the first subsea logic solver so that the second subsea logic solver receives the commands from the first subsea logic solver and implements the commands by activating the hydraulic control unit to operate the BOP.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John S. Holmes, Amine Abou-Assaad, Douglas Milliman, Luis Huerta
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Patent number: 10048673Abstract: A BOP system for use in a high pressure subsea environment, including a BOP stack including a lower marine riser package and a lower stack portion, the lower stack portion having a plurality of BOP rams attached to a subsea wellhead. The system also includes a riser subsystem extending from a drilling vessel to the BOP stack and providing fluid communication therebetween, a ship board subsystem electronically, mechanically, and hydraulically connected to the BOP stack and the riser subsystem to control the functions of the BOP stack and the riser subsystem, and a safety instrumented system having a surface logic solver and at least one subsea logic solver, the safety instrumented system in communication with at least a portion of the BOP rams to act as a redundant control system in case of failure of the ship board subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION, LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20180073320Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 9803448Abstract: A control system for a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) positioned in a lower stack, the lower stack releasably engaged with a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The control system includes a surface logic solver positioned at or adjacent the surface of the sea that generates commands for operating the subsea BOP, a first subsea logic solver attached to the LMRP and in communication with the surface logic solver so that the first subsea logic solver receives the commands from the surface logic solver, and a second subsea logic solver attached to a hydraulic control unit in the lower stack. The second subsea logic solver is in hydraulic communication with the subsea BOP, and the first subsea logic solver so that the second subsea logic solver receives the commands from the first subsea logic solver and implements the commands by activating the hydraulic control unit to operate the BOP.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION, LLCInventors: John S. Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis Huerta
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Publication number: 20170284164Abstract: A control system for a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) positioned in a lower stack, the lower stack releasably engaged with a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The control system includes a surface logic solver positioned at or adjacent the surface of the sea that generates commands for operating the subsea BOP, a first subsea logic solver attached to the LMRP and in communication with the surface logic solver so that the first subsea logic solver receives the commands from the surface logic solver, and a second subsea logic solver attached to a hydraulic control unit in the lower stack. The second subsea logic solver is in hydraulic communication with the subsea BOP, and the first subsea logic solver so that the second subsea logic solver receives the commands from the first subsea logic solver and implements the commands by activating the hydraulic control unit to operate the BOP.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John S. Holmes, Amine Abou-Assaad, Douglas Milliman, Luis Huerta
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Publication number: 20160306831Abstract: Provided is a life cycle tracking system including a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. For example, the operations can include effecting a change in a first database including data related to a set of components installed on a blowout preventer stack, in response to a drag and drop operation having been performed on a human machine interface. The change can include associating information from a second database to the first database. The second database includes data related to a set of spare components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Prakash Kumar Arcot
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Publication number: 20160109874Abstract: A BOP system for use in a high pressure subsea environment, including a BOP stack including a lower marine riser package and a lower stack portion, the lower stack portion having a plurality of BOP rams attached to a subsea wellhead. The system also includes a riser subsystem extending from a drilling vessel to the BOP stack and providing fluid communication therebetween, a ship board subsystem electronically, mechanically, and hydraulically connected to the BOP stack and the riser subsystem to control the functions of the BOP stack and the riser subsystem, and a safety instrumented system having a surface logic solver and at least one subsea logic solver, the safety instrumented system in communication with at least a portion of the BOP rams to act as a redundant control system in case of failure of the ship board subsystem.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION, LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20160090810Abstract: A control system for a subsea blowout preventer (BOP) positioned in a lower stack, the lower stack releasably engaged with a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The control system includes a surface logic solver positioned at or adjacent the surface of the sea that generates commands for operating the subsea BOP, a first subsea logic solver attached to the LMRP and in communication with the surface logic solver so that the first subsea logic solver receives the commands from the surface logic solver, and a second subsea logic solver attached to a hydraulic control unit in the lower stack. The second subsea logic solver is in hydraulic communication with the subsea BOP, and the first subsea logic solver so that the second subsea logic solver receives the commands from the first subsea logic solver and implements the commands by activating the hydraulic control unit to operate the BOP.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: John S. Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis Huerta
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Publication number: 20070144868Abstract: An induction subsystem for a conveyor sortation system and method of inducting articles includes providing a plurality of tandem conveying surfaces. The speeds of the conveying surfaces are individually controllable. At least one sensor is provided for sensing articles on at least one of the conveying surfaces. A control is responsive to the at least one sensor for controlling the speeds of said conveying surfaces in a manner that controls relative positions of articles. The control defines a plurality of feedback-gapping algorithms. Each of the feedback-gapping algorithms is defined between adjacent conveying surfaces for adjusting relative speeds of those adjacent conveying surfaces as a function of at least one parameter of the articles. The control controls relative positions of articles with the feedback-gapping algorithms beginning with a pair of adjacent conveying surfaces and cascading through adjacent pairs of adjacent conveying surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2007Publication date: June 28, 2007Applicant: DEMATIC CORP.Inventors: David Zeitler, Martin Doane, Douglas Milliman
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Publication number: 20050075754Abstract: A conveyor system, such as an induction subsystem for supplying articles to a sortation subsystem, and method of conveying articles includes providing a conveying surface for conveying a series of articles and at least one sensor for sensing the articles on the conveying surface. A control is provided which establishes at least one parameter for each of the articles and controls the conveying surface as a function of the at least one parameter of each of the articles. The control includes a computer and a program for the computer. The program includes at least one probability estimator. The control determines the at least one parameter of each of the articles at least in part by the at least one probability estimator. The control controls gaps between articles or synchronizes arrival of articles at the sortation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2004Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: David Zeitler, Martin Doane, Douglas Milliman
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Patent number: 5917983Abstract: A fiber optic sensor coil is wound from a length of optical fiber with the mid-point of the optical fiber at the mid-point of the innermost layer of the coil and subsequent layers of the coil each have alternating turns of the two sections of the fiber emanating from the mid-point. The layers of alternating turns are formed by first winding a portion of one segment in such a fashion that adjacent turns are spaced apart by a distance equivalent to the diameter of the optical fiber. The layer is completed by winding a portion of the other segment such that the turns of the other segment are disposed between adjacent turns of the one segment. The number of turns in adjacent layers are unequal such that the turns of a next layer are arranged in grooves formed between two adjacent turns of optical fiber in the previous layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Inventors: Jerry L. Page, David R. Bina, Douglas Milliman
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Patent number: 5841932Abstract: A fiber optic sensor coil is wound from a length of optical fiber with the mid-point of the optical fiber at the mid-point of the innermost layer of the coil and subsequent layers of the coil each have alternating turns of the two sections of the fiber emanating from the mid-point. The layers of alternating turns are formed by first winding a portion of one segment in such a fashion that adjacent turns are spaced apart by a distance equivalent to the diameter of the optical fiber. The layer is completed by winding a portion of the other segment such that the turns of the other segment are disposed between adjacent turns of the one segment. The number of turns in adjacent layers are unequal such that the turns of a next layer are arranged in grooves formed between two adjacent turns of optical fiber in the previous layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1996Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: Jerry L. Page, David R. Bina, Douglas Milliman