Patents Assigned to Dril-Quip, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11959567
    Abstract: Systems: and methods for decreasing bending stress in flange bolting for a connection between a flange and an adjacent piece of equipment is provided. The flange connection includes a single flange with multiple bolts extending: therethrough. The bolts are threaded into the adjacent piece of equipment at one end, and a nut is disposed at an opposite end. of each bolt to provide a means for tightening and/or securing the flange connection. The equipment to which the flange is attached may include subsea well equipment with relatively large outer diameters. The disclosed flange connection utilizes: an initial region of a counterbored (or unthreaded) hole in the mating equipment piece just prior to the start of the thread formed through the equipment. Additionally, a compound hub flange connection is disclosed to further reduce the bending stress on the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Manning, Justin Rye, Flavio Santos
  • Patent number: 11952853
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling subsea tubular members together are provided. An apparatus may be used to properly orient and/or provide communication between a first subsea tubular member that is being landed on a second subsea tubular member. An apparatus for coupling subsea tubular members may include an alignment sub and a corresponding alignment member. The alignment sub includes: a generally cylindrical body having one or more fluid, electric, or fiber optic lines extending therethrough, one or more couplings coupled to at least one end of the alignment sub, and an orientation profile disposed on a surface of the alignment sub. The alignment member has a profile designed to interface with the orientation profile of the alignment sub. One of the alignment sub and the alignment member remains stationary while the other rotates relative to the stationary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Andrew Mitchell, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, David Scantlebury, Matthew Crotwell, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 11952854
    Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 11913908
    Abstract: Systems and methods for continuously monitoring mass loss through flow erosion of a well equipment component are provided. The disclosed system includes a wear transducer mounted to the equipment component proximate a portion of the equipment component exposed to erosive fluid flow. The wear transducer includes a metal coupon including an elongated end that extends into a flowpath of the equipment component such that the elongated end is exposed to the erosive fluid flow. The wear transducer also includes an ultrasonic sensor disposed within the metal coupon. The ultrasonic sensor transmits ultrasonic signals through the metal coupon toward the elongated end and receives ultrasonic signal reflections reflected back from the elongated end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Kalb, Alexander Anthony Bradley
  • Patent number: 11834918
    Abstract: Systems and methods for proper orientation of the connections of a tubing hanger and a subsea assembly in a wellhead or tree are provided. The alignment is accomplished with the use of an orientation spool adaptor equipped with positional sensors and an orientation helix. Calibration of the positional sensors at the surface allows for orientation with simple vertical deployment. Positional sensors may provide real time data such as location, speed of installation and orientation back to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. McLaughlin, Gregory D. Williams, Eleazar Herrera, Morris B. Wade, Todd Scaggs
  • Patent number: 11828127
    Abstract: A tubing: hanger assembly with a shiftable annulus seal is provided. The shiftable annulus seal allows for selectively sealing the tubing hanger within a easing hanger, a wellhead, or a tubing head. The tubing hanger assembly also includes a secondary annulus flow path formed through the body of the tubing hanger. The shiftable annulus seal selectively opens/closes a relatively large flow path to the tubing string annulus for circulation of fluid through the tubing string and setting a-packer. The secondary annulus flow path facilitates monitoring and bleeding of pressure front the annulus after the shiftable annulus seal is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris D. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 11828130
    Abstract: A release mechanism for a mechanically locked wiper plug system is provided. The release mechanism may utilize a shifting sleeve to rotate or pivot a release.sub, thus: disengaging a load shoulder and releasing the plug system, in some embodiments, the plug system may be mechanically locked to a running tool via corresponding slotted load shoulders in the running tool and on a release sub. The release sub may be connected: to an actuation sleeve via shear screws. Furthermore, the actuation sleeve may contain a guide consisting of one or more helical slotted guides which interact with the release sub shear screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob S. Warneke
  • Patent number: 11773678
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly having an arrangement of primary well barriers provided in equipment that is located within the well and/or the wellhead housing is provided. The subsea wellhead assembly may include a tubing hanger positioned in or below a wellhead housing coupled to a subsea well, a tree cap fluidly coupled to the tubing hanger and disposed atop the wellhead housing, and a pair of master production valves configured to be selectively actuated from an open position to a closed position to shut in the subsea well, each of the pair of master production valves located within or below the wellhead housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Bartlett, Daniel J. McLaughlin, Raymond Guillory, Blake T. DeBerry, Marcus Smedley, Gregory K. Norwood, David A. Scantlebury, Andrew B. Mitchell, Darren W. Mills
  • Patent number: 11767754
    Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time monitoring of well conditions and actuation of downhole equipment are provided. A subsea wellhead system comprises a tubing hanger landed in a wellhead, wherein the tubing hanger comprises a first fiber optic cable; a tree landed on the tubing hanger, wherein the tree comprises a second fiber optic cable; a transducer disposed at a downhole location, wherein the first fiber optic cable is communicatively coupled to the transducer and extends between the transducer and the seal sub; and a seal sub, wherein the seal sub is landed in the tubing hanger, wherein the seal sub comprises: a fiber optic communications line that is communicatively coupled to the first fiber optic cable and the second fiber optic cable; wherein the seal sub and the tubing hanger form an electrical connection regardless of an orientation of the tubing hanger relative to the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Kalb, Justin D. Gorhum
  • Patent number: 11686171
    Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 11686172
    Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 11624253
    Abstract: A subsea well intervention cap is provided. The subsea well intervention cap includes a frame, a first clamp segment coupled to the frame and configured to be fitted over a horizontally oriented flowpath of a subsea well equipment component, and a second clamp segment having a rim segment configured to interface with the first clamp segment, wherein the second clamp segment is movable with respect to the first clamp segment. The subsea well intervention cap also includes an actuation mechanism coupled to the frame that actuates the second clamp segment in a vertically upward direction and in an axial direction with respect to the frame toward the first clamp segment. The subsea well intervention cap is lightweight and able to be installed on subsea well equipment using a standard remote operated vehicle (ROV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Galle
  • Patent number: 11603741
    Abstract: A well production system comprises a safety instrumented system (SIS) having one or more logic solvers; one or more pressure transmitters disposed along a flowpath and communicatively coupled to the one or more logic solvers; one or more valves disposed along the flowpath and communicatively coupled to the SIS, wherein the SIS is configured to selectively actuate the one or more valves based on feedback from the one or more pressure transmitters; and a spare pressure transmitter disposed along the flowpath, wherein the spare pressure transmitter is configured to be selectively coupled to the one or more logic solvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edwin Organ, Duncan Stuart Hogg
  • Patent number: 11603716
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pressure communication within a hydro-pneumatic cylinder are provided. The hydro-pneumatic cylinder generally includes a rod, a barrel coaxial to the rod, and a piston assembly disposed within the barrel and connected to the rod. The barrel is hollow to define a chamber, and the piston assembly is axially movable within the chamber to stroke the rod relative to the barrel. The hydro-pneumatic cylinder includes: a flow path formed axially through the rod of the cylinder. This flow path may allow for pressure communication between a low-pressure side of the cylinder and a pressure energized lower pin located at a distal end of the rod. The lower pin may be actuated, via this pressure communication to secure the end of the cylinder to a tension ring on a riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil B. Prasad, Steven M. Hafernik
  • Patent number: 11585159
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling a platform to a subsea wellhead are provided. The systems may include a riser extending between the platform and the subsea wellhead. The systems may further include an inner drilling riser tie-back connector (“ITBC”) coupled to an inner riser and having an outer body and an inner body. The inner body is at least partially disposed within the outer body, and the inner body is translatable along a longitudinal axis of the ITBC between a first unlocked position and a second locked position. The systems may additionally include a locking mechanism for the ITBC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Nelson, Oscar Maldonado, Bruce J. Witwer
  • Patent number: 11572750
    Abstract: A liner hanger having one: or more enhanced Socking assemblies is provided. The liner hanger includes a liner hanger body, lower slips, upper slips, a packer cone, and a seal that seals an annulus between the liner hanger and an outer casing, The one or more enhanced locking assemblies may include: a packer cone locking assembly that prevents all components of the liner hanger from actuating until it is unlocked; a slips locking assembly that prevents the lower slips from being actuated until it is unlocked; guide rails that prevent. the lower slips and/or the upper slips from being wedged in a radially outward direction during run in; and a floating cone locking assembly that releases the packer cone from being coupled to a spacer of the liner hanger when it is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis W. Payne, Jacob S. Warneke, Steven M. Zakharia
  • Patent number: 11572968
    Abstract: A high capacity universal connector for use in connecting tubular members and a method for sealing the tubular members is provided. First and second tubular members are provided which each have ends that are brought into face-to-face engagement by a connector. A metal sealing element seals against conical surfaces at the ends of the first and second tubular members and enables the entire surface of the end of one tubular member to be bought into engagement with the surface of the end of the other tubular member so as to improve the bending and compression capacity of the assembly comprising the tubular members and the metal sealing element. A metal sealing ring for use in this assembly is also provided, along with a gasket retention assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Morris B. Wade, Mark A. Manning, Blake T. DeBerry, Bruce J. Witwer
  • Patent number: 11543372
    Abstract: Methods for performing seal validation with a chemical pre-treatment are provided. One such method includes establishing an Arrhenius relationship between a material property response of a material exposed to a test fluid based on experimental results of testing a plurality of material samples made of the material across multiple temperatures. The method also includes determining, based on the Arrhenius relationship, a pre-treatment time and a pre-treatment temperature that approximates a seal end-of-life condition. The method further includes pre-treating a seal by exposing the seal to the test fluid at the determined pre-treatment temperature for the determined pre-treatment time, the seal having at least in part a same material composition as the plurality of material samples, and after pre-treating the seal, performing one or more validation tests on the pre-treated seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle A. Comeau
  • Patent number: 11542778
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly having an arrangement of primary well barriers provided in equipment that is located within the well and/or the wellhead housing is provided. All of the well barriers may be located within the tubing hanger and/or the production tubing string extending into the wellbore. The subsea wellhead assembly also includes a flowline connection body placed atop the wellhead housing and fluidly coupled to the tubing hanger. None of the primary barriers for the well are located in the flowline connection body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Bartlett, Daniel J. McLaughlin, Raymond Guillory, Blake T. DeBerry, Marcus Smedley
  • Patent number: 11530607
    Abstract: An interventionless system and method: of detecting a downhole activation device are provided. The system includes a first detector disposed downhole in a fluid pathway and; a second detector disposed downhole of the first detector in the fluid pathway. In one exemplary embodiment, the detectors include a pair of ultrasonic transducers that generate signals indicative of fluid pathway flow. Differences in the signals between the detectors are indicative of the presence of the downhole activation device within the fluid pathway. The system also includes a deployment port disposed above the second detector from which the downhole activation device may be deployed into the fluid pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank D. Kalb