Patents by Inventor Nicholas J. Cannon
Nicholas J. Cannon 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: 20240141747Abstract: Oil and gas operations according to which a wellhead is operably associated with a wellbore, a valve is operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the wellbore, a frac line is operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module is operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Publication number: 20240141748Abstract: Oil and gas operations according to which a wellhead is operably associated with a wellbore, a valve is operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the wellbore, a frac line is operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module is operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11959358Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for bleeding off a hydraulic fracturing manifold used in oil and gas extraction operations.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11873945Abstract: System, apparatus, and method for delivering grease to process valve(s). The system generally includes a grease cylinder to which grease is delivered, a piston, an actuator, and a first process valve. The piston extends at least partially within the grease cylinder. The actuator strokes the piston within the grease cylinder to meter a first amount of the delivered grease to the first process valve. The actuator comprises a power cylinder within which the piston extends. The piston comprises a head portion slidably disposed in the power cylinder and dividing the power cylinder into first and second chambers. The head portion has a first cross-sectional area. The piston includes another portion contacting the grease in the grease cylinder and having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The actuator may also meter a second amount of the delivered grease to a second process valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11867023Abstract: A system and methods according to which a controller communicates control signals to a first frac leg, which includes a wellhead operably associated with a first wellbore, a valve operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the first wellbore, a frac line operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead. The first frac leg includes a first sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A grease system lubricates the first frac leg and the zipper module. The grease system includes a second sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A second frac leg is operably associated with a second wellbore. The second frac leg includes a third sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. The first, second, and/or third sub-controllers may receive control signals from the controller via a communication bus.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11788376Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Joel H. Young, Brian A. Baker, Austin C. Johnson
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Publication number: 20230243249Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Austin C. Johnson, Kyle Schultz, Ronnie Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Justin Robinson, Barton Hickie
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Publication number: 20230167709Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for bleeding off a hydraulic fracturing manifold used in oil and gas extraction operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Publication number: 20230160278Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture a plurality of oil and gas wells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Jordan Kuehn, Austin Johnson, Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Publication number: 20230065605Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Joel H. Young, Brian A. Baker, Austin C. Johnson
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Patent number: 11591889Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2022Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Austin C. Johnson, Kyle Schultz, Ronnie Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Justin Robinson, Barton Hickie
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Patent number: 11560770Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture a plurality of oil and gas wells. In one or more embodiments, the execution of the hydraulic fracturing plan implements the following steps: communicating fluid to a first well via a manifold and a first valve, the first valve being associated with both the manifold and the first well; and, in response to determining that the fluid communicated via the manifold has satisfied one or more conditions: opening a second valve; communicating fluid to a second well via the second valve; and closing the first valve after opening the second valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Jordan Kuehn, Austin Johnson, Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Publication number: 20220364435Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture a plurality of oil and gas wells.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Jordan Kuehn, Austin Johnson, Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Publication number: 20220356794Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Austin C. Johnson, Kyle Schultz, Ronnie Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Justin Robinson, Barton Hickie
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Patent number: 11480028Abstract: A system and methods according to which a controller communicates control signals to a first frac leg, which includes a wellhead operably associated with a first wellbore, a valve operably coupled to the wellhead, opposite the first wellbore, a frac line operably coupled to the wellhead, and a zipper module operably coupled to the frac line, opposite the wellhead. The first frac leg includes a first sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A grease system lubricates the first frac leg and the zipper module. The grease system includes a second sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. A second frac leg is operably associated with a second wellbore. The second frac leg includes a third sub-controller that receives control signals from the controller. The first, second, and/or third sub-controllers may receive control signals from the controller via a communication bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11480027Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11473399Abstract: Methods and apparatus according to which a first valve is opened, or kept open, the first valve being part of a wellhead including a flow component above the first valve. The method may further include detecting a state of the first valve and, in response to detecting the state of the first valve, metering an amount of grease to the first valve. In addition, or instead, the method may further include opening, or keeping open, a second valve, the second valve being operably coupled to the wellhead and positioned above the flow component, and, after opening, or keeping open, each of the first and second valves, detecting whether the second valve is open or closed, in response to detecting that the second valve is open, preventing the first valve from being closed, and in response to detecting that the second valve is closed, allowing the first valve to be closed.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11401779Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing plan executable by a hydraulic fracturing system to hydraulically fracture a plurality of oil and gas wells.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Jordan Kuehn, Austin Johnson, Ronnie B. Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon
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Patent number: 11396799Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a swap adapter is connected to a swap station while a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore. The swap adapter is connected to a second fracturing pump via a first suction conduit and a first discharge conduit. The swap station is connected to a suction manifold via a second suction conduit. The swap station is connected to the discharge manifold via a second discharge conduit. After connecting the swap adapter to the swap station, and while the discharge manifold remains pressurized by at least the first fracturing pump: fluid is drawn from the suction manifold using the second fracturing pump; and pressurized fluid is discharged into the discharge manifold using the second fracturing pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: DOWNING WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT, LLCInventors: Austin C. Johnson, Kyle Schultz, Ronnie Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Justin Robinson, Barton Hickie
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Publication number: 20220098964Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system according to which a swap adapter is connected to a swap station while a discharge manifold is pressurized by at least a first fracturing pump, said discharge manifold being adapted to communicate pressurized fluid to an oil and gas wellbore. The swap adapter is connected to a second fracturing pump via a first suction conduit and a first discharge conduit. The swap station is connected to a suction manifold via a second suction conduit. The swap station is connected to the discharge manifold via a second discharge conduit. After connecting the swap adapter to the swap station, and while the discharge manifold remains pressurized by at least the first fracturing pump: fluid is drawn from the suction manifold using the second fracturing pump; and pressurized fluid is discharged into the discharge manifold using the second fracturing pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Austin C. Johnson, Kyle Schultz, Ronnie Beason, Nicholas J. Cannon, Justin Robinson, Barton Hickie