Patents by Inventor Brady Lee Kirchof

Brady Lee Kirchof 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: 10215321
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for preventing overpressurization of piping transporting fluid produced from a pressure source to a receiving facility in which the fluid passes through a high integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS). A relief device is provided in the piping in fluid communication with the HIPPS. In the event that fluid passing through the HIPPS during the valve closure time period has a property exceeding an activation property, the relief device is activated thereby allowing the fluid passing through the HIPPS during the valve closure time period to flow to a fluid containment volume. The fluid containment volume has sufficient volume such that upon the start of the closure of the valve in response to the pressure surge, a portion of the fluid passing through the HIPPS during the valve closure time period is absorbed by the fluid containment volume thereby lessening pressure increase in the piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Antonio Critsinelis, Sid Mebarkia, Meirong Huang, Brady Lee Kirchof, Lauren E. Reiners, Baha T. Tanju
  • Publication number: 20180058620
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for preventing overpressurization of piping transporting fluid produced from a pressure source to a receiving facility in which the fluid passes through a high integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS). A relief device is provided in the piping in fluid communication with the HIPPS. In the event that fluid passing through the HIPPS during the valve closure time period has a property exceeding an activation property, the relief device is activated thereby allowing the fluid passing through the HIPPS during the valve closure time period to flow to a fluid containment volume. The fluid containment volume has sufficient volume such that upon the start of the closure of the valve in response to the pressure surge, a portion of the fluid passing through the HIPPS during the valve closure time period is absorbed by the fluid containment volume thereby lessening pressure increase in the piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Antonio Critsinelis, Sid Mebarkia, Meirong Huang, Brady Lee Kirchof, Lauren E. Reiners, Baha T. Tanju
  • Patent number: 9863571
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus, systems and methods for maintaining desired thermal properties of a flowing hydrocarbon fluid in a subsea pipeline. An insulating layer including a plurality of elongated hollow elements containing an insulation material can surround the pipeline. The apparatus can be located on a seabed and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fluid at one end and to a facility for processing hydrocarbon fluid at another end. One method includes spirally winding an elongated hollow element containing an insulation material around the subsea pipeline. One method includes wrapping the subsea pipeline with a connecting layer which includes surface protrusions protruding radially outwards. An insulating layer having surface features reversibly engageable with the surface protrusions of the connecting layer can be reversibly attached to the connecting layer by engaging the surface features of the at least one elongated hollow element with the surface protrusions of the connecting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Antonio Critsinelis, Sid Mebarkia, Marliee R. Myres, Steven Louis Johnson, Brady Lee Kirchof
  • Publication number: 20170175946
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus, systems and methods for maintaining desired thermal properties of a flowing hydrocarbon fluid in a subsea pipeline. An insulating layer including a plurality of elongated hollow elements containing an insulation material can surround the pipeline. The apparatus can be located on a seabed and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fluid at one end and to a facility for processing hydrocarbon fluid at another end. One method includes spirally winding an elongated hollow element containing an insulation material around the subsea pipeline. One method includes wrapping the subsea pipeline with a connecting layer which includes surface protrusions protruding radially outwards. An insulating layer having surface features reversibly engageable with the surface protrusions of the connecting layer can be reversibly attached to the connecting layer by engaging the surface features of the at least one elongated hollow element with the surface protrusions of the connecting layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Antonio Critsinelis, Sid Mebarkia, Marliee Myres, Stephen Louis Johnson, Brady Lee Kirchof