Patents by Inventor John S. Burrington

John S. Burrington 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).

  • Magnetic sensor system useful for detecting tool joints in a downhole tubing string
    Patent number: 6720764
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting ferrous changes passing axially through a cylindrical space. In one embodiment, the method comprises surrounding the cylindrical space with a nonmagnetic cylinder having an outer wall and a cylindrical axis; creating an alternating magnetic field in the cylindrical space, the magnetic field created by a rotatable permanent magnet; monitoring the magnetic field with magnetic flux sensors placed outside the outer walls; and detecting changes in the magnetic field as ferrous matter passes axially through the cylindrical space. In other embodiments, the apparatus identifies ferrous changes as the tool joints that connect a jointed tubing string as the tubing string is moved in or out of a well bore, or as the presence or absence of a coiled tubing string in the well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Thomas Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Mahendran S. Relton, John S. Burrington, Jason P. MacInnis, Jonathan J. Falcon