Patents by Inventor Toby Pugh

Toby Pugh 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).

  • Patent number: 10788054
    Abstract: A jet pump of a downhole tool in a wellbore, wherein the jet pump has a nozzle in fluid communication with a throat and wherein the throat is further in fluid communication with a diffuser, the jet pump further having a central channel located towards an uphole end of the downhole tool, wherein the central channel is configured to house a volume of power fluid; a first annular channel defined in the downhole tool, wherein the first annular channel is arranged around the nozzle and in fluid communication with the central channel; a volume of production fluid located towards a downhole end of the downhole tool; a second annular channel defined in the downhole tool configured to house the volume of production fluid; and a reverse channel in fluid connection with the second annular channel, wherein the reverse channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Toby Pugh, Osman Nunez, Michael Juenke
  • Publication number: 20170074089
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for sensing a cavitation-related event in an artificial lift system for hydrocarbon production and operating the system based on the sensed event. One example method of operating an artificial lift system for a wellbore generally includes monitoring the wellbore for an indication (e.g., an acoustic or vibrational indication) of an event associated with cavitation in the artificial lift system and adjusting at least one parameter of the artificial lift system if the event is detected. One example system for hydrocarbon production generally includes an artificial lift system for a wellbore and at least one sensor configured to detect an indication of an event associated with cavitation in the artificial lift system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Manish AGARWAL, Ross E. MOFFETT, Michael C. KNOELLER, Toby PUGH, Bryan A. PAULET
  • Publication number: 20160138616
    Abstract: A jet pump of a downhole tool in a wellbore, wherein the jet pump has a nozzle in fluid communication with a throat and wherein the throat is further in fluid communication with a diffuser, the jet pump further having a central channel located towards an uphole end of the downhole tool, wherein the central channel is configured to house a volume of power fluid; a first annular channel defined in the downhole tool, wherein the first annular channel is arranged around the nozzle and in fluid communication with the central channel; a volume of production fluid located towards a downhole end of the downhole tool; a second annular channel defined in the downhole tool configured to house the volume of production fluid; and a reverse channel in fluid connection with the second annular channel, wherein the reverse channel is in fluid communication with the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Toby Pugh, Osman Nunez, Michael Juenke
  • Patent number: 8303272
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump avoids problems with gas lock found in conventional pumps. The pump draws in production fluid in a lower pump volume during the pump's upstroke and diverts the produced fluid to an upper pump volume during the downstroke. Spent power fluid is communicated to the upper pump volume during the pump's upstroke. The pump piston in the upstroke expels the entire volume via a check valve that communicates the upper pump volume with a discharge outlet. The check valve increasing the discharge pressure of the upper pump volume, the upper pump volume of the spent power fluid being greater than the upper pump volume, and the upper pump piston compressing produced gas in the upper pump volume all combine to prevent or reduce the chances that the pump will gas lock during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Pugh, John Kelleher, Clark Robison
  • Publication number: 20100230091
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump avoids problems with gas lock found in conventional pumps. The pump draws in production fluid in a lower pump volume during the pump's upstroke and diverts the produced fluid to an upper pump volume during the downstroke. Spent power fluid is communicated to the upper pump volume during the pump's upstroke. The pump piston in the upstroke expels the entire volume via a check valve that communicates the upper pump volume with a discharge outlet. The check valve increasing the discharge pressure of the upper pump volume, the upper pump volume of the spent power fluid being greater than the upper pump volume, and the upper pump piston compressing produced gas in the upper pump volume all combine to prevent or reduce the chances that the pump will gas lock during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB INC.
    Inventors: Toby Pugh, John Kelleher, Clark Robison