Patents by Inventor Alan Sweeney

Alan Sweeney 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).

  • Publication number: 20140283583
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Patent number: 8746044
    Abstract: A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Clearwater International LLC
    Inventors: Jack Curr, Brian Hallett, Alan Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8746042
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for subsea pipeline servicing, including line-pack testing, physical integrity testing, recovery of damaged sections of pipelines, and product removal from subsea structures. In one embodiment of the invention, a subsea pipeline service skid is provided including at least one sample collection bladder affixed to the skid and in fluid communication with a skid mounted pump dimensioned to pull a sample from the subsea pipeline. In another embodiment, a product removal bladder is provided for removal of the hydrocarbons from a subsea structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Valkyrie Commissioning Services Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8596911
    Abstract: A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Curr, Brian Hallett, Alan Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8539821
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Clearwater International LLC
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Patent number: 8505362
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Clearwater International LLC
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Publication number: 20120115758
    Abstract: A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
    Inventors: Jack Curr, Brian Hallett, Alan Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20120114418
    Abstract: A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
    Inventors: Jack Curr, Brian Hallett, Alan Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20120055237
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Publication number: 20120055575
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Patent number: 8099997
    Abstract: A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Curr, Brian Hallett, Alan Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8065905
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Publication number: 20090067931
    Abstract: A gelled composition for pipeline, flowline, pipeline jumper or flowline jumper dewatering or preventing ingress of seawater into open pipeline systems or components during tie-in operations of jumpers or additional pipe, valving, manifolds, subsea pipeline architecture or flow conduits operations is disclosed, where the composition includes a concentrated metal formate solution and a hydratable polymer. The gelled formate compositions have improved dewatering properties with 100% or 360 pipe coverage. The gelled formate compositions have can also be reused by breaking and reformulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
    Inventors: Jack Curr, Brian Hallett, Alan Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20080314124
    Abstract: Method for dewatering, pressure testing, hydrotreating, suppressing methane hydrate formation and suppressing solution freezing point in pipeline operations have been disclosed, where the solution used in the operations includes an effective amount of a metal formate salt. The metal formate salt solutions have a low viscosity, have a high density, have a low metals corrosivity, are non-volatile, have a low solubility in hydrocarbons, are readily biodegradable, have a low toxicity, are non-hazardous, have a low environmental impact, have a freezing point depression property forming water/formate eutectic point mixtures, and have a water-structuring and water activity modification property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Sweeney, Brian Hallett
  • Publication number: 20050175119
    Abstract: A system and method for accurately determining Eb/No information for a signal transmitted by a second communications station, via electromagnetic wave signals, to a first communications station. The system involves a noise generating subsystem for generating a known quantity of noise that is applied to the received signal to create a composite signal. Signal attenuators are used to define a known operating point for the composite signal. A receiver at the first communications station monitors the signal and provides a downlink loss representative of rain attenuation affecting the signal. A demodulator generates an Eb/No value of the composite signal which is then output to a computer. The computer extrapolates, from the composite signal and the downlink loss, a highly accurate Eb/No value which is not influenced by atmospheric conditions or by losses introduced by signal components of the system itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: David Worley, Alan Sweeney