Patents by Inventor Andrew Ian McKenzie

Andrew Ian McKenzie 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: 12345105
    Abstract: A horizontal pipe storing and stand building system may include a pipe rack and a horizontal stand building system arranged adjacent to the pipe rack and configured to receive tubulars from the pipe rack and construct pipe stands in a horizontal orientation. The system may also include a delivery system arranged adjacent the horizontal stand building system and opposite the pipe rack. The delivery system may be configured to receive horizontally arranged pipe stands from the horizontal stand building system and deliver them to a drill rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Ian McKenzie
  • Patent number: 11988059
    Abstract: A dual activity top drive may include a mechanized system configured for suspension from a traveling block of a drill rig and for engaging and rotating a drill string from the top of the drill string. The dual activity top drive may also include a primary pipe handling system suspended from the mechanized system and configured for handling a pipe string and an auxiliary pipe handling system suspended from the mechanized system and configured for handling a segment of pipe to be added or removed from the pipe string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Ian McKenzie
  • Patent number: 11982139
    Abstract: A passive spacer system may include a racking board comprising a slot and a spacer arranged along the slot such that a portion of the spacer impinges on the slot. The spacer may be biased in a neutral position and configured to move to a spacing position due to motion of tubulars into and out of the racking board, which interact with the portion of the spacer that impinges on the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Saunders, Andrew Ian McKenzie, Justin Benjamin Kinney, Neil West
  • Patent number: 11834914
    Abstract: A quick connect pipe connection for drill pipe may include a box end having an annular end surface that gives way internally to a receiving portion and externally to an engagement portion. The connection may also include a pin end configured for rotationally and longitudinally engaging the box end. The pin end may include a tapered portion configured for longitudinal insertion into the receiving portion and resisting relative rotation between the box end and the pin end. The pin end may also include a collar configured for sleeving over the engagement portion of the box end and resisting relative longitudinal motion between the box end and the pin end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Ian McKenzie, Dominick Mancuso
  • Publication number: 20230258046
    Abstract: A horizontal pipe storing and stand building system may include a pipe rack and a horizontal stand building system arranged adjacent to the pipe rack and configured to receive tubulars from the pipe rack and construct pipe stands in a horizontal orientation. The system may also include a delivery system arranged adjacent the horizontal stand building system and opposite the pipe rack. The delivery system may be configured to receive horizontally arranged pipe stands from the horizontal stand building system and deliver them to a drill rig.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventor: Andrew Ian McKenzie
  • Publication number: 20230134100
    Abstract: A passive spacer system may include a racking board comprising a slot and a spacer arranged along the slot such that a portion of the spacer impinges on the slot. The spacer may be biased in a neutral position and configured to move to a spacing position due to motion of tubulars into and out of the racking board, which interact with the portion of the spacer that impinges on the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher J. Saunders, Andrew Ian McKenzie, Justin Benjamin Kinney, Neil West
  • Patent number: 11613940
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automated drill pipe handling operations, such as trip in, trip out, and stand building operations. A pipe handling system of the present disclosure may include a lifting system for handling a load of a pipe stand, a pipe handling robot configured for engaging with the pipe stand and manipulating a position of the pipe stand, and a feedback device configured to provide information about a condition of the pipe stand, the lifting system, or the pipe handling robot. In some embodiments, the pipe handling robot may be a first robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a first end of the pipe stand, and the system may include a second pipe handling robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a second end of the pipe stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Ian McKenzie, Robert Benjamin Donnally
  • Publication number: 20220145704
    Abstract: A dual activity top drive may include a mechanized system configured for suspension from a traveling block of a drill rig and for engaging and rotating a drill string from the top of the drill string. The dual activity top drive may also include a primary pipe handling system suspended from the mechanized system and configured for handling a pipe string and an auxiliary pipe handling system suspended from the mechanized system and configured for handling a segment of pipe to be added or removed from the pipe string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Andrew Ian McKenzie
  • Patent number: 11274508
    Abstract: A pipe handling system for handling drill pipe on a drill rig may include a lifting system configured for handling a load of a pipe stand and a first pipe handling robot arranged at or near a drill floor of the drill rig and configured for manipulating a bottom end of the pipe stand between a setback area on the drill floor and well center. The system may also include a second pipe handling robot arranged at or near a racking board of the drill rig and configured for manipulating a top end of the pipe stand between the racking board and well center. The first pipe handling robot may have a base that is supported from a location outside a plan view envelope of the setback area of the drill floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Ian McKenzie, Dominick Mancuso, Justin Benjamin Kinney
  • Publication number: 20210301602
    Abstract: A pipe handling system for handling drill pipe on a drill rig may include a lifting system configured for handling a load of a pipe stand and a first pipe handling robot arranged at or near a drill floor of the drill rig and configured for manipulating a bottom end of the pipe stand between a setback area on the drill floor and well center. The system may also include a second pipe handling robot arranged at or near a racking board of the drill rig and configured for manipulating a top end of the pipe stand between the racking board and well center. The first pipe handling robot may have a base that is supported from a location outside a plan view envelope of the setback area of the drill floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Ian McKenzie, Dominick Mancuso, Justin Benjamin Kinney
  • Publication number: 20210246738
    Abstract: A quick connect pipe connection for drill pipe may include a box end having an annular end surface that gives way internally to a receiving portion and externally to an engagement portion. The connection may also include a pin end configured for rotationally and longitudinally engaging the box end. The pin end may include a tapered portion configured for longitudinal insertion into the receiving portion and resisting relative rotation between the box end and the pin end. The pin end may also include a collar configured for sleeving over the engagement portion of the box end and resisting relative longitudinal motion between the box end and the pin end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Ian McKenzie, Dominick Mancuso
  • Publication number: 20200040674
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for automated drill pipe handling operations, such as trip in, trip out, and stand building operations. A pipe handling system of the present disclosure may include a lifting system for handling a load of a pipe stand, a pipe handling robot configured for engaging with the pipe stand and manipulating a position of the pipe stand, and a feedback device configured to provide information about a condition of the pipe stand, the lifting system, or the pipe handling robot. In some embodiments, the pipe handling robot may be a first robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a first end of the pipe stand, and the system may include a second pipe handling robot configured for engaging with and manipulating a second end of the pipe stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew Ian McKenzie, Robert Benjamin Donnally