Patents by Inventor Gary Corbett
Gary Corbett 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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Publication number: 20230022591Abstract: The present application pertains to a swivel insertable into a casing ram. The swivel comprises an inner mandrel having an upper end section and a lower end section configured to be operably connectable and rotatable with an upper workstring section and a lower workstring section, the inner mandrel comprising a longitudinal passage forming a continuation of a passage in the workstring. An outer housing is configured to seal the inner mandrel inside the outer housing. The outer diameter of the outer housing and the length of the outer housing is configured to fit a casing ram. In contrast to prior art tools placed within annular blowout preventers which have limited differential pressure ranges, the instant device allows for differential pressure during operation as high as 10,000 psi or more. The instant devices also may allow for aggressive frac pack treatments and facilitate reverse out operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Thomas Gary Corbett, Donald Ray Lanceslin
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Publication number: 20200256148Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for actuating tools in a well in a reservoir, such as sliding sleeves used to direct fracturing fluid into the reservoir. The sleeves are actuated using drop balls that seat in the tool with sufficient force to cause the sleeve to move. The drop balls are made from a frangible material having a compressed or deformed shape memory alloy component therewithin. After the drop balls have actuated the sleeves in the well, they are exposed to a temperature change from below to above the transition temperature of the shape memory alloy such that the component expands and the frangible material fragments into pieces, such that the pieces allow unobstructed fluid flow in the well. Optionally, a heating element can be used to effect the temperature change.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventor: Thomas Gary CORBETT
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Patent number: 9650865Abstract: An autonomous active flow control valve system for regulating and controlling flow across well segments is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the valve system includes a central control unit and one or more flow control devices communicatively coupled to the central control unit. Each flow control device includes at least one valve and at least one sensor for sensing various well or flow parameters. The central control unit receives sensor data from the sensor and controls the valve according to a pre-programmed control protocol. The valve may be opened, closed, and adjusted in response to detected well or flow parameters in order to maintain a desirable flow profile across well segments either in production or injection well.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Namhyo Kim, Kai Sun, Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi, Krystian K. Maskos, Thomas Gary Corbett
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Patent number: 9531303Abstract: A flow energy harvesting device having a harvester pipe includes a flow inlet that receives flow from a primary pipe, a flow outlet that returns the flow into the primary pipe, and a flow diverter within the harvester pipe having an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet, a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe and having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape, and an outlet section coupled to the constriction section. The harvester pipe may further include a piezoelectric structure extending from the inlet section through the constriction section and point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point results in oscillatory pressure amplitude inducing vibrations in the piezoelectric structure sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect and to generate electrical power for harvesting.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignees: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Stewart Sherrit, Phillip E. Walkemeyer, Jeffrey L. Hall, Hyeong Jae Lee, Tim Colonius, Phillipe Tosi, Namhyo Kim, Kai Sun, Thomas Gary Corbett, Alvaro Jose Arrazola
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Patent number: 9518438Abstract: Self-initialized packers for use in high temperature steam injection applications in wellbores are provided. The packers include an actuating mechanism for setting a packing element for sealing within an openhole or cased hole. The actuating mechanism includes an actuator sleeve that includes an actuating element constructed from a shape memory alloy that has a transformation temperature range greater than a geothermal temperature of the wellbore, and is actuated upon heating from steam injection. Systems and methods of using the packers are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Kai Sun, Thomas Gary Corbett
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Publication number: 20160123111Abstract: An autonomous active flow control valve system for regulating and controlling flow across well segments is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the valve system includes a central control unit and one or more flow control devices communicatively coupled to the central control unit. Each flow control device includes at least one valve and at least one sensor for sensing various well or flow parameters. The central control unit receives sensor data from the sensor and controls the valve according to a pre-programmed control protocol. The valve may be opened, closed, and adjusted in response to detected well or flow parameters in order to maintain a desirable flow profile across well segments either in production or injection well.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Namhyo Kim, Kai Sun, Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi, Krystian K. Maskos, Thomas Gary Corbett
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Publication number: 20150152716Abstract: An improved particle or sand filtering apparatus, method and system is disclosed. The apparatus may be adapted to filter particles or sand from a particle-laden hydrocarbon fluid by employing a stacked multi-layered screen in an X-Y plane and having at least one screen comprised of a plurality of first wires and a plurality of second wires that are woven. The stacked screen may be placed within a production tubing in a wellbore for the production of hydrocarbons from the wellbore. The apparatus is configured to facilitate passage of particle-laden fluid through the screen in a direction that is substantially parallel to an X-Y plane of the screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Namhyo Kim, David Underdown, Thomas Gary Corbett, Antonio Lazo, Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi, Earl B. Claiborne, JR.
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Publication number: 20140319970Abstract: A flow energy harvesting device having a harvester pipe includes a flow inlet that receives flow from a primary pipe, a flow outlet that returns the flow into the primary pipe, and a flow diverter within the harvester pipe having an inlet section coupled to the flow inlet, a flow constriction section coupled to the inlet section and positioned at a midpoint of the harvester pipe and having a spline shape with a substantially reduced flow opening size at a constriction point along the spline shape, and an outlet section coupled to the constriction section. The harvester pipe may further include a piezoelectric structure extending from the inlet section through the constriction section and point such that the fluid flow past the constriction point results in oscillatory pressure amplitude inducing vibrations in the piezoelectric structure sufficient to cause a direct piezoelectric effect and to generate electrical power for harvesting.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Stewart Sherrit, Phillip E. Walkemeyer, Jeffrey L. Hall, Hyeong Jae Lee, Tim Colonius, Luis Phillipe Tosi, Namhyo Kim, Kai Sun, Thomas Gary Corbett, Alvaro Jose Arrazola
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Publication number: 20140041858Abstract: Self-initialized packers for use in high temperature steam injection applications in wellbores are provided. The packers include an actuating mechanism for setting a packing element for sealing within an openhole or cased hole. The actuating mechanism includes an actuator sleeve that includes an actuating element constructed from a shape memory alloy that has a transformation temperature range greater than a geothermal temperature of the wellbore, and is actuated upon heating from steam injection. Systems and methods of using the packers are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Kai Sun, Thomas Gary Corbett
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Publication number: 20120111580Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for insertion of a component into an oil or gas well. Typically, the well includes a cased hole section and may also include an uncased hole section. In some applications, the well deviates substantially from the vertical direction. The apparatus may include a tool member and an engagement mechanism mounted upon the tool member. The engagement mechanism is configured for selective frictional engagement to the cased hole section of the well. A piston is connected to the tool member and is configured for extension relative to the tool member. The component for insertion into the well may be a sand control screen, a perforating gun, or other device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Fraser G. Martin, Thomas Gary Corbett, David Reuel Underdown
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Patent number: 6983795Abstract: A gravel packing system featuring pressure actuated sliding sleeve valves mounted to an exterior annulus around a blanking pipe for screen sections is disclosed. An internal sliding sleeve valve is provided for subsequent closure of access through the screens. The presence of the annulus between the blanking pipe and the screen permits a backup access through perforating the blanking pipe while not damaging the screen. The sliding sleeve valves that are mounted internally and externally on the blanking pipe are removable apart from the screen section that already has gravel packed around it, if they fail to operate and need repair.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Stephen N. Zuklic, Allen W. Womble, Wilfred Schexnayder, Jr., Gary Corbett, Richard Y. Xu, David Rothers, Brian Roth, Russell T. Louviere
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Publication number: 20040045709Abstract: A gravel packing system featuring pressure actuated sliding sleeve valves mounted to an exterior annulus around a blanking pipe for screen sections is disclosed. An internal sliding sleeve valve is provided for subsequent closure of access through the screens. The presence of the annulus between the blanking pipe and the screen permits a backup access through perforating the blanking pipe while not damaging the screen. The sliding sleeve valves that are mounted internally and externally on the blanking pipe are removable apart from the screen section that already has gravel packed around it, if they fail to operate and need repair.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Stephen N. Zuklic, Allen W. Womble, Wilfred Schexnayder, Gary Corbett, Richard Y. Xu, David Rothers, Brian Roth, Russell T. Louviere
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Patent number: 6704799Abstract: A time-efficient inter-process communication method (50, 60) and protocol allowing producers and consumers to execute at any combination of periods, where producers (12) and consumers (14, 16, 18) are isolated from execution ordering variations. The method and protocol is for periodic broadcast-type inter-process communication in a harmonic rate system. The system has a plurality of threads sharing a memory space (42) and including consuming threads and producing threads having potentially different rates. The producing threads have a period and are adapted to produce a message consumable by said consuming threads. The memory space (42) includes a plurality of buffers (44) for messages produced. The method includes the step of writing (58) a copy of said produced message to a buffer in said memory space during said producing thread's period, wherein only one copy of said produced message is written, regardless of the difference in rates between producing and consuming threads.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Honeywell Inc.Inventors: Gary Corbett Kindorf, Aaron Raymond Larson
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Patent number: 6305468Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing any given length of a completion filter assembly is described. An outer perforated jacket is assembled over the filter media, which is itself placed over a coarse support screen or drainage layer. In the preferred embodiment, the drainage layer and outer jacket have end rings such that when advanced through a die are pushed together with the filter media in between to effect a seal of the subassembly. The subassembly can then be placed on a support pipe which is perforated, and if metallic, the end rings are welded to the support pipe to complete the assembly. Optionally, many of the components can be made of materials which lend buoyancy to the assembly so that when it is advanced into a long lateral, it will float to assist in its proper positioning.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1999Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: John T. Broome, Benn A. Voll, Gary Corbett, Jim Goodson, Yusheng Yuan, Elmer R. Peterson