Patents by Inventor Joao Tadeu Vidal de Sousa

Joao Tadeu Vidal de Sousa 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).

  • Automated method and system for recognizing well control events
    Patent number: 6820702
    Abstract: An automated method and system for recognizing a well control event includes determining a state of drilling operations. When drilling operations are in a circulating state, a benchmark for a relative flow value. The relative flow value is based on a flow of drilling fluid into a well bore and a flow of drilling fluid out of the well bore. A limit on variation of the relative flow value is determined from the benchmark. A cumulative sum for the relative flow value is determined over time in response to the relative flow value exceeding the limit. A well control event is recognized based on the cumulative sum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Noble Drilling Services Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Niedermayr, Mitchell D. Pinckard, Gerhard P. Glaser, Joao Tadeu Vidal de Sousa
  • Automated method and system for recognizing well control events
    Publication number: 20040040746
    Abstract: An automated method and system for recognizing a well control event includes determining a state of drilling operations. When drilling operations are in a circulating state, a benchmark for a relative flow value. The relative flow value is based on a flow of drilling fluid into a well bore and a flow of drilling fluid out of the well bore. A limit on variation of the relative flow value is determined from the benchmark. A cumulative sum for the relative flow value is determined over time in response to the relative flow value exceeding the limit. A well control event is recognized based on the cumulative sum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Niedermayr, Mitchell D. Pinckard, Gerhard P. Glaser, Joao Tadeu Vidal de Sousa