Patents Assigned to Vetco Gray Inc.
  • Patent number: 10900316
    Abstract: An annular seal for sealing an interface between a wellhead housing and a casing hanger. The annular seal includes a central body portion and a first pair of seal legs extending in a first direction from the central body portion. Each of the first pair of seal legs sealingly engages one of the wellhead housing or the casing hanger, and are further energized by bore pressure. The annular seal also includes a second pair of seal legs extending in a second direction from the central body portion. Each of the second pair of seal legs sealingly engages one of the wellhead housing or the casing hanger, and is further energized by annulus pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: David Lawrence Ford, Joseph William Pallini, Thomas Allen Fraser, Daniel Ralph Barnhart, Daniel Caleb Benson
  • Patent number: 10822907
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member having a bore and an inner wellhead member located in the bore, defining an annular pocket between the outer and inner wellhead members. A sealing assembly is located within the annular pocket, the sealing assembly having an annular seal and an energizing ring. The energizing ring engages inner and outer legs of the annular seal to push the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. A retainer nut is threadingly attached to the free end of the outer leg of the sealing assembly. Mating grooves are located on one of an inner diameter of the retainer nut and an outer diameter of the energizing ring and mating protrusions located on the other. The mating protrusions mate with the mating grooves to prevent relative axial movement between the energizing ring and the annular seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Robert Jen-Yue Du, Dinesh Narayan, Durai Balaji, David Lawrence Ford, Baozhi Zhu, Krishnanand Anandan, Kendra Limbrick
  • Patent number: 10711554
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly provides a positive indication of landing of a wellhead member and locking of a wellhead member to a wellhead. The subsea wellhead assembly includes at least one positive indicator assembly disposed within a wellhead member, and a communication line extending down a running string from a platform to a running tool disposed in a subsea wellhead. The at least one positive indicator assembly provides confirmation of setting of the wellhead member, and the communication line is in communication with the positive indicator assembly to communicate the confirmation of setting with the platform following setting of the wellhead member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventor: Rodney Mark Fenwick
  • Publication number: 20180305984
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus for forming a tubular fitting includes an annular body having an axial height and radial thickness. The apparatus also includes an inner arm forming at least a portion of the annular body, the inner arm positioned at a first end of the annular body with an inner arm thickness that is less than the radial thickness. The apparatus includes an outer arm forming at least a portion of the annular body, the outer arm positioned at a second end of the annular body with an outer arm thickness that is less than the radial thickness. Also, the apparatus includes one or more self-limiting features that control movement of the inner arm and the outer arm relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Baozhi Zhu, Luke Andrew McElmurry, Daniel Barnhart, David L. Ford, Gregory Matthew Dunn
  • Publication number: 20180283162
    Abstract: A system includes a wellhead monitoring system. The wellhead monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive from a sensor a detection of one or more operating parameters associated with a wellhead disposed within a subsea environment. The sensor is coupled to the wellhead, and is configured to detect the one or more operating parameters within the subsea environment. The processor is configured to store the detection of the one or more operating parameters, and to generate an output based at least in part on the detection of the one or more operating parameters. The output includes an indication of an operational fatigue or an operational health of the wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Derrell Wade Bird, Chad Eric Yates
  • Patent number: 9897215
    Abstract: A gate valve for use in oil field applications and including a seat seal assembly. The seat seal assembly includes primary, secondary, and tertiary seals for sealing the space between the seat rings and the valve body. The provision of multiple seals in the seat seal assembly provides redundancy that allows for maintenance of the seal between the components even if one or two of the individual seals fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Jon B. Kahn, Fabio Okamoto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9890598
    Abstract: A key assembly is press fit into an annular space between a box and pin member to resist relative rotation of the box and pin members. The key assembly includes wedge like members that contact one another along complementary tapered surfaces, and when in contact generate radial forces into the box and pin member to secure the connection between the box and pin. The outer wedge is inserted first into the annular space between the box and pin members, and has rows of elongate teeth that project radially outward into contact with an inner surface of the box member. Because the outer wedge is pushed radially outward against the box member rather than axially sliding therebetween, the teeth protrude into the surface of the box member thereby increasing the anti-rotation force created by the outer wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Steen, John E. Nelson, Chau Hoang, Daniel C. Benson, Stephen D. Peters
  • Patent number: 9869174
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the orientation and position of components in an oil well. The system includes a first well component, a second well component, and a transducer attached to the first well component, for generating a pulse. The system also includes a transceiver attached to the second well component for measuring the parameters of the pulse generated by the transducer, and a processor in communication with the transceiver that receives information about the parameters of the pulse as measured by the transceiver, and that calculates the position of the transceiver relative to the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Jude Szpunar, Daniel W. Sexton, Chad Eric Yates, Oladapo Akinyede, Samved Bhatnagar
  • Publication number: 20180002998
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing having a bore with a wellhead housing sidewall and a longitudinal axis. A hanger lands in the bore, the hanger having a hanger sidewall. Parallel circumferentially extending hanger sidewall ridges are located on the hanger sidewall. Each of the hanger sidewall ridges have upper and lower flanks that converge to a crest. Hanger sidewall bands are located between adjacent ones of the hanger sidewall ridges. A metal seal ring has an outer seal surface in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the wellhead housing sidewall and an inner seal surface in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the hanger sidewall bands. Crests of the hanger sidewall ridges embed into the inner seal surface to restrict relative movement between the hanger and the seal ring. A recess extends through each of the hanger sidewall ridges from the upper flank to the lower flank to allow any fluid trapped between the hanger sidewall ridges to flow out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Ford, Guaraci Bornia, Hugo Lopes, Ricardo Silva
  • Patent number: 9856710
    Abstract: An well assembly having a housing with an inner surface, the assembly including a tubular member inserted in the housing and having an outer surface. The assembly further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the inner or outer surfaces, the protrusions separated by gaps defined between adjacent protrusions. In addition, the well assembly includes a metal to metal seal pressed against and deformed by the protrusions. A plurality of hollow tubes are provided for insertion in the gaps between the protrusions, the tubes being collapsible upon engagement with the metal to metal seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Baozhi Zhu, Jeffrey Allen Raynal, Nicholas Peter Gette
  • Publication number: 20170328138
    Abstract: A tubular member connection system includes a box having an inner diameter surface and internal box threads. A pin has an outer diameter surface and external pin threads, the pin threads shaped to mate with the box threads to releasably secure the pin to the box so that the pin and the box are aligned along a common central axis. A slot is located in one of the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface, the slot having a pair of sidewalls. An anti-rotation profile is located in the other of the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface. A key is sized to fit within the slot and have a key profile shaped to engage the anti-rotation profile and prevent relative rotational movement between the box and the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: William Alexander Loose-Mitchell, Mayur Mansukh, Joseph William Pallini, JR., Dennis Robert Martinchich
  • Patent number: 9816538
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder enclosing a cavity, the cylinder containing a thru hole, an inner cylinder surface, and a longitudinal axis, and a piston within the cavity and movable relative to the cylinder in parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first and second positions. The piston includes a rod extending through the thru hole, the piston attached to the rod and in sealed engagement with the inner cylinder surface, and dividing the cavity into low and high pressure cavities, and each of the low and high pressure cavities containing a hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic cylinder further including a flexible bladder within the high pressure cavity containing a gas and preventing the gas from mixing with hydraulic fluid in the high pressure cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Robert James Wagner, Benjamin James Kubichek, Daniel Louis Havelka
  • Patent number: 9803446
    Abstract: A mechanical lockdown system for a subsea wellhead connector includes a lockdown member or plate that engages with a tie rod that is connected to the wellhead assembly. The lockdown system includes a support member that is permanently secured to an annular ring through which the tie rod passes. The lockdown system also includes a first handle and a second handle that are installed using a plunger or spring loaded system such that mechanical lockdown system can be easily moved from a lockdown open position to a lockdown engaged position as and when desired with minimal ROV interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Irving Jair Villasenor, Viviana Resendiz, Sergio Romero
  • Patent number: 9797215
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer tubular wellhead member and an inner tubular wellhead member with a seal pocket between them. A seal ring is located in the seal pocket. An annular energizing ring urges the seal ring into sealing engagement with the outer tubular wellhead member and the inner tubular wellhead member. A recess is located on an outer diameter of the annular energizing ring or a radially inner diameter of the seal ring, and a ratcheted retainer is on the other. A ratchet clip with a clip profile is located within the recess. The recess and the ratchet clip extend less than a full circumferential distance around the outer diameter of the annular energizing ring or the radially inner diameter of the seal ring. A retainer profile on the ratcheted retainer selectively engages with the clip profile of the ratchet clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: David Lawrence Ford, Daniel Ralph Barnhart, Daniel Caleb Benson
  • Patent number: 9797214
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly has a casing hanger for supporting a string of casing, the casing hanger having an external upward-facing shoulder. A shoulder ring is mounted on the shoulder. A radially movable annular lockdown member is carried on the shoulder ring for movement between a refracted position while the casing hanger is being run and an expanded position for engaging an interior surface of a wellhead housing. A casing hanger seal is carried by the casing hanger above the lockdown member. The casing hanger seal has a nose on a lower end that engages and moves the lockdown member to the expanded position while the casing hanger seal is being lowered into a set position. The shoulder ring is formed of a material of greater yield strength than the shoulder. Flow channels between the shoulder and the shoulder ring assist in flowing debris from above the shoulder to below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Aniruddha D. Gadre, Mayur Mansukh, David Lawrence Ford
  • Patent number: 9765588
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing having a bore and a locking profile including a gallery slot, and an annular notch. An inner wellhead assembly is selectively landed in the bore of the wellhead housing, the inner wellhead assembly having a lock ring with a lock ring profile that engages the locking profile. The engaging surface is a sloped downward facing surface at an axially upper end of the gallery slot. The annular notch has a notch engaging profile with a downward facing notch upper shoulder and an upward facing notch lower shoulder. The locking profile includes an inlay, the inlay being located on the notch upper shoulder and the engaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, David Lawrence Ford
  • Patent number: 9759334
    Abstract: A gate valve for use in oil field applications and including a stem seal assembly and a seat seal assembly. Each of the stem and seat seal assemblies accommodate independent primary, secondary, and tertiary seals for sealing the space between the stem and the bonnet, or the seat ring and the valve body, respectively. The provision of multiple seals in each assembly provides redundancy that allows for maintenance of the seal between the components even if one or two of the individual seals fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Jon B. Kahn, Fabio Okamoto Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20170254159
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a riser tensioner includes a cylinder barrel, a rod reciprocally carried within the cylinder barrel and having an external end sealingly extending out of a proximal end of the cylinder barrel, and a piston on an interior end of the rod that slides and seals against an inner surface of the cylinder barrel. The tensioner further includes a selectively sealed low pressure chamber in the cylinder barrel between the piston and a distal end of the cylinder barrel and fillable with a low pressure fluid, and a selectively sealed annulus between the rod and the cylinder barrel, the annulus extending between the piston and the proximal end of the cylinder barrel and fillable with an annulus fluid at a pressure higher than the low pressure fluid, thereby urging the piston and rod towards retraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin James Kubichek, Joseph William Pallini, Jesse B. Riha, Daniel Louis Havelka, Robert James Wagner
  • Patent number: 9745817
    Abstract: A method for tying back a subsea well assembly to a surface platform and a tieback connector used to perform this operation. The tieback connector includes a mandrel having an axis, external threads, an upward facing lip on an external lower end portion of the mandrel, a backup ring having internal threads engaged with the external threads of the mandrel, a sleeve carried on an outside diameter of the backup ring. When the mandrel is rotated relative to the backup ring, the mandrel moves axially upward relative to the sleeve, deforming an annular seal assembly between the upward facing lip of the mandrel and the load bearing surface of the sleeve, thereby creating a seal between the apparatus and the wellhead housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Joseph William Pallini
  • Patent number: 9738762
    Abstract: A solution based polymer nanofiller composite processing method to improve mechanical, electrical, thermal and/or chemical properties. The solution based synthesis method may include the steps of surface functionalizing carbon nanomaterials and dissolving a polymer in a solvent. The functionalized carbon nanomaterials and dissolved polymer may be mixed until the mixture is homogenous. The mixture may be cured to form the polymer carbon nano-composite material, which provides significant improvements in modulus, hardness, strength, fracture toughness, wear, fatigue, creep, and damping performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Li Sun, Anil Pitta, Hung Duong