Patents by Inventor Billy-Bob K. Walker

Billy-Bob K. Walker 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).

  • Plunger lift systems and related methods
    Patent number: 11952887
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Michael C. Tschauner, Christopher C. Frazier, Andrew D. McFadden, Salvador G. Vela, III, Billy-Bob K. Walker, Adam J. Johnson
  • Plunger Lift Systems and Related Methods
    Publication number: 20230019787
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Michael C. Tschauner, Christopher C. Frazier, Andrew D. McFadden, Salvador G. Vela, Billy-Bob K. Walker, Adam J. Johnson