Patents by Inventor Christopher Wrighton

Christopher Wrighton 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: 20250084756
    Abstract: An assembly and a method for determining a lifetime expectancy of the electrical submersible pump. An assembly includes a motor, a motor head coupled to the motor, a power cable, a sensor module, and a local controller. The motor head has one or more toroidal transformers. The power cable extends into the motor head through the toroidal transformers to the motor. The sensor module receives power from toroidal transformers, detects a condition of the motor, and transmits a signal representing the condition of the motor. The local controller receives electrical power from the toroidal transformers; receives the signal representing the condition of the motor; based on the condition of the motor, determines a mass flow rate of the motor; and based on the mass flow rate of the motor, determines a life expectancy of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Publication number: 20250043668
    Abstract: An ESP assembly includes a motor having a stator, a rotor, a drive shaft, and an asymmetric magnetic ring mounted to an end of the drive shaft. Electricity for driving the motor is provided by a power source on surface and delivered to the motor through a power cable inserted into the wellbore. Power cable leads insert into a star connection mounted around an end of the shaft having the ring and that houses a downhole sensor. During operation of the ESP assembly, the sensor tracks the rotor position by monitoring ring rotation. Information about the rotor position is transmitted uphole along the power cable. A controller on surface receives and processes the position information, and delivers control commands to the motor that are transmitted down the power cable. The power cable is connected to the controller and to the sensor by current transformers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Donald Jamieson, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 12180825
    Abstract: A diagnostics and control system (DCS) for an artificial lift system (ALS) in a well, comprising: a sensor network comprising a plurality of sensors for monitoring and obtaining measurements at a power source of the ALS and at a downhole pump of the ALS; a conditioning subsystem configured to measure ALS system performance data; a processing subsystem configured to receive communications from the conditioning subsystem and comprising a processor configured to process sensor data obtained by the sensor network; and a permanent local wellsite monitor that is controlled by the processing subsystem and is powered using a production controller of the ALS, wherein the permanent local wellsite monitor comprises a central surveillance center for transmitting commands and coordinating testing of the ALS among the sensor network, the conditioning subsystem, and the processing subsystem; wherein a condition of the ALS is evaluated by the permanent local wellsite monitor using the processed sensor data, testing results a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, SHANKS TECH LTD
    Inventors: Rafael Adolfo Lastra Melo, Dave Shanks, Jinjiang Xiao, Christopher Wrighton
  • Publication number: 20240401602
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping assembly includes a motor, a pump connected to the motor by a shaft, and a labyrinth type seal section between the motor and pump. Hydrostatic pressure is communicated between the motor and pump across the seal section and through a breather tube in the seal section that is configured to restrict fluid communication from the pump to the motor. A U-shaped bend is provided in the breather tube to increase its effective length. Optionally, a number of recycle loops are formed on the breather tube similar to a Tesla valve. In an alternative, the shaft includes a helical flight that directs fluid to a mechanical shaft seal between pump and seal section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Publication number: 20240353249
    Abstract: A system for determining a flow rate of a fluid in a well includes an electrical submersible pump disposed in the well, a motor disposed on the electrical submersible pump, and a downhole sensor module connected to the motor. The electrical submersible pump includes a vertical axis. The system includes a metering module extending from the downhole sensor module including a plurality of dynamic pressure sensors along the vertical axis. The plurality of dynamic pressure sensors are connected to an outer diameter of the metering module. The plurality of dynamic pressure sensors are configured to measure a pressure fluctuation of the fluid. The system includes a processor configured to receive data from the plurality of dynamic pressure sensors and determine the flow rate of the fluid based on the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicants: Aramco Overseas Company UK Ltd, ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY, SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Sakethraman Mahalingam, Christopher Wrighton, Vjay Ramakrishnan, Muhammad Arsalan
  • Publication number: 20240191609
    Abstract: A solids trap module for an electrical submersible pump (ESP) of a wellbore is provided. The module includes a solids buffer and a fluid passage, the fluid passage having a first segment configured to redirect a fluid in a first angular direction relative to an axial axis, and a second segment configured to redirect at least a portion of the redirected fluid flow in a second angular direction different than the first angular direction. The first segment, the second segment, and the solids buffer are configured to cooperate to cause settling of solids entrained by the fluid flowing through the solids trap module during a period when the ESP does not operate and to re-entrain settled solids into the fluid flowing through the solids trap module when the ESP is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Aramco Overseas Company UK Ltd
    Inventors: Rae Andrew Younger, Richard Mark Pye, Christopher Wrighton
  • Patent number: 11952874
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well include an electrical submersible pump assembly with a motor, where the motor has a stator located within a motor housing. The stator has a stator body with an interior cavity. A rotor assembly is located within the interior cavity of the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft, a rotor member, and an intermediate rotor bearing assembly. A liner is located along an interior surface of the interior cavity, the liner being a thin walled member that is secured to the motor housing and seals the stator body from a wellbore fluid. A rotor cavity is located within an inner bore of the liner. A membrane is located within the liner, the membrane formed of a material operable to bind a component of the wellbore fluid. A hydrophobic fluid is circulating within the rotor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Publication number: 20240068338
    Abstract: An oil slinger apparatus includes a metal disc having a center annulus and an outer annulus disposed on a motor. The center annulus comprises a space between an inner diameter and an outer diameter with at least one feed hole in the space. The oil slinger apparatus includes an impeller imprint on the outer annulus with a vane around each of the at least one feed hole; and a keyway disposed on the metal disc configured to fit a key for aligning the oil slinger to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Aramco Overseas Company UK Ltd
    Inventor: Christopher Wrighton
  • Patent number: 11913464
    Abstract: An assembly and a method for lubricating an electric submersible pump assembly disposed in a wellbore are described. The assembly includes a pump to pressurize a wellbore fluid and an electric motor to rotate the pump. The electric motor is lubricated by a dielectric oil. A sensor is coupled to the electric motor to sense a condition of the electric motor and transmit a signal including a value representing the condition. A controller is coupled to the electric motor and the sensor. The controller receives the signal from the sensor, compares the value to a threshold value, determines when the value is greater than the threshold value, and responsive to determining that the value is greater than a threshold value indicating a presence of contaminated dielectric oil, flows a clean dielectric oil from an accumulator to the electric motor to expel the contaminated dielectric oil out of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Publication number: 20230296015
    Abstract: A diagnostics and control system (DCS) for an artificial lift system (ALS) in a well, comprising: a sensor network comprising a plurality of sensors for monitoring and obtaining measurements at a power source of the ALS and at a downhole pump of the ALS; a conditioning subsystem configured to measure ALS system performance data; a processing subsystem configured to receive communications from the conditioning subsystem and comprising a processor configured to process sensor data obtained by the sensor network; and a permanent local wellsite monitor that is controlled by the processing subsystem and is powered using a production controller of the ALS, wherein the permanent local wellsite monitor comprises a central surveillance center for transmitting commands and coordinating testing of the ALS among the sensor network, the conditioning subsystem, and the processing subsystem; wherein a condition of the ALS is evaluated by the permanent local wellsite monitor using the processed sensor data, testing results a
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicants: Aramco Overseas Company UK Ltd, Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Shanks Tech Ltd
    Inventors: Rafael Adolfo Lastra Melo, Dave Shanks, Jinjiang Xiao, Christopher Wrighton
  • Patent number: 11697982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing fluids from a subterranean well include an electrical submersible pump assembly with a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit has a motor housing and a stator is located within the motor housing. The stator has a stator body with an interior cavity. A rotor assembly is located within the interior cavity of the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft extending along the central axis of the stator, a rotor member, and an intermediate rotor bearing assembly. The rotor member and the intermediate rotor bearing assembly circumscribe the rotor shaft. An impeller is mounted on the rotor shaft and located within the interior cavity of the stator. A liner with a polygonal cross section is located along an interior surface of the interior cavity. The liner is secured to the motor housing and seals the stator body from a wellbore fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam, Krzysztof Karol Machocki
  • Publication number: 20230184069
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well include an electrical submersible pump assembly with a motor, where the motor has a stator located within a motor housing. The stator has a stator body with an interior cavity. A rotor assembly is located within the interior cavity of the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft, a rotor member, and an intermediate rotor bearing assembly. A liner is located along an interior surface of the interior cavity, the liner being a thin walled member that is secured to the motor housing and seals the stator body from a wellbore fluid. A rotor cavity is located within an inner bore of the liner. A membrane is located within the liner, the membrane formed of a material operable to bind a component of the wellbore fluid. A hydrophobic fluid is circulating within the rotor cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Publication number: 20220333608
    Abstract: An assembly and a method for lubricating an electric submersible pump assembly disposed in a wellbore are described. The assembly includes a pump to pressurize a wellbore fluid and an electric motor to rotate the pump. The electric motor is lubricated by a dielectric oil. A sensor is coupled to the electric motor to sense a condition of the electric motor and transmit a signal including a value representing the condition. A controller is coupled to the electric motor and the sensor. The controller receives the signal from the sensor, compares the value to a threshold value, determines when the value is greater than the threshold value, and responsive to determining that the value is greater than a threshold value indicating a presence of contaminated dielectric oil, flows a clean dielectric oil from an accumulator to the electric motor to expel the contaminated dielectric oil out of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Publication number: 20220065081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing fluids from a subterranean well include an electrical submersible pump assembly with a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit has a motor housing and a stator is located within the motor housing. The stator has a stator body with an interior cavity. A rotor assembly is located within the interior cavity of the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft extending along the central axis of the stator, a rotor member, and an intermediate rotor bearing assembly. The rotor member and the intermediate rotor bearing assembly circumscribe the rotor shaft. An impeller is mounted on the rotor shaft and located within the interior cavity of the stator. A liner with a polygonal cross section is located along an interior surface of the interior cavity. The liner is secured to the motor housing and seals the stator body from a wellbore fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Sakethraman Mahalingam, Krzysztof Karol Machocki
  • Patent number: 11152831
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well include an electrical submersible pump assembly with a motor. The motor has a motor housing and a stator is located within the motor housing. The stator has a stator body with an interior cavity. A rotor assembly is located within the interior cavity of the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft, a rotor member, and an intermediate rotor bearing assembly. The rotor member and the intermediate rotor bearing assembly circumscribe the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft extends along the central axis of the stator. A liner is located along an interior surface of the interior cavity, the liner being a thin walled member that is secured to the motor housing and seals the stator body from a wellbore fluid. The liner has a polygonal cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Christopher Wrighton
  • Patent number: 11095191
    Abstract: A motor includes a stator, a rotor shaft assembly carried within and supported to rotate by the stator and a closed-loop cooling system. The rotor shaft assembly includes a rotor separated from the stator by a radial gap. The rotor shaft assembly includes an elongate, hollow shaft about which the rotor is configured to rotate. The shaft includes an opening to flow fluid through a hollow portion of the shaft. The closed-loop cooling system includes multiple helical members positioned within the stator. The multiple helical members are configured to flow cooling liquid in a closed flow pathway defined by the radial gap, the opening and the hollow portion of the shaft during rotor rotation within the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Jinjiang Xiao
  • Publication number: 20200274416
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well include an electrical submersible pump assembly with a motor. The motor has a motor housing and a stator is located within the motor housing. The stator has a stator body with an interior cavity. A rotor assembly is located within the interior cavity of the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft, a rotor member, and an intermediate rotor bearing assembly. The rotor member and the intermediate rotor bearing assembly circumscribe the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft extends along the central axis of the stator. A liner is located along an interior surface of the interior cavity, the liner being a thin walled member that is secured to the motor housing and seals the stator body from a wellbore fluid. The liner has a polygonal cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Christopher Wrighton
  • Publication number: 20200220431
    Abstract: A motor includes a stator, a rotor shaft assembly carried within and supported to rotate by the stator and a closed-loop cooling system. The rotor shaft assembly includes a rotor separated from the stator by a radial gap. The rotor shaft assembly includes an elongate, hollow shaft about which the rotor is configured to rotate. The shaft includes an opening to flow fluid through a hollow portion of the shaft. The closed-loop cooling system includes multiple helical members positioned within the stator. The multiple helical members are configured to flow cooling liquid in a closed flow pathway defined by the radial gap, the opening and the hollow portion of the shaft during rotor rotation within the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Christopher Wrighton, Jinjiang Xiao
  • Publication number: 20110034341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (10) for determining the relevance of preparations (4) of sample arrays (1), containing a plurality of individual samples (3) at various positions. To produce a method or a device (10) that can be performed as quickly as possible and preferably without destroying the preparations (4), a device (11) is provided for non-destructive scanning of the preparations (4) of the sample arrays (1), which is connected to a database (12) that contains information on the positions of the individual samples (3) of the preparations (4) and to a computer unit (16) for processing the scanned preparations (4) and for generating data fields for each individual sample (3) and for selecting at least one parameter from each individual sample data field and for comparing this parameter or a value derived therefrom or a combination of parameters or values derived therefrom to at least one threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Gábor Méhes, Wolfgang Schmidt, Christopher Wrighton, Kurt Zatloukal, Harald Zöbl, Peter Hecht
  • Publication number: 20100208955
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatic analysis of biological samples, in particular tissue samples, comprising a device (11) for scanning the samples (1) for forming data sets (4) of the samples (1). To produce a method or a device (10) by which the regions of interest (ROI) of the sample (1) can be determined as quickly as possible and as much as possible without destroying the samples (1), at least one parameter (P) is selected without destroying the sample (1) from a data set (4) of the sample (1) that is formed by using autofluorescence, and this parameter or a value derived therefrom or a combination of parameters (P) or values derived therefrom is compared to at least one threshold value (S), and the comparison value is used as a criterion for determining regions of interest (ROI) of the sample (1) and stored together with a unique identification (ID) of the sample (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Gabor Méhes, Wolfgang Schmidt, Christopher Wrighton, Kurt Zatloukal, Harald Zobl, Peter Hecht