Patents by Inventor David Anthony Ballard

David Anthony Ballard 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: 20240106711
    Abstract: Top-of-rack (TOR) switches are connected to a network fabric of a data center. Each TOR switch corresponds to a rack of the data center, and is configured to provide access to the network fabric for computing devices mounted in the rack. In one method, a TOR switch is mounted in a rack. The TOR switch is connected to a network fabric of a data center. A lock is used to control physical access to the rack. A request to physically access the rack is received from a computing device (e.g., a badge implementing a security token, or a mobile device). The request includes authentication credentials. The computing device is then authenticated. In response to authenticating the computing device, the lock is configured to provide physical access to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Anthony Lochhead, Manikandan Subramanian, David Hess, Michael Andra Ballard, Adam Scott Wayne
  • Patent number: 10479922
    Abstract: Cement compositions may contain a cement component and an oil-immiscible solvent and used in a number of cementing applications. In another aspect, methods for sealing subterranean zones may include emplacing a cement composition into a wellbore containing a cement component and an oil-immiscible solvent, contacting the cement composition with a water source, and reacting the cement composition with the water source to form a hardened cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: M-I Drilling Fluids U.K. Limited
    Inventor: David Anthony Ballard
  • Patent number: 10208239
    Abstract: A method of removing a water-based filter cake from a wellbore, the method comprising: contacting the filter cake with a mixture comprising: a non-aqueous, polar solvent; an agent selected to breakdown the filter cake; said mixture comprising <5 wt % water and preferably being essentially anhydrous. The low water content of the mixture actually slows the degradation of the filter cake which has surprisingly been found to be more effective as it allows a more even removal of the filter cake and a more efficient use of the mixture; without the tendency to create local holes in the filter cake where the mixture could escape. Embodiments of the present invention use a polar solvent with a dielectric constant of more than (15), preferably more than (30) such as (15) monoethylene glycol (MEG). In preferred embodiments the agent comprises a salt based on potassium EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: M-I Drilling Fluids UK Ltd
    Inventor: David Anthony Ballard
  • Patent number: 10072198
    Abstract: Methods for reducing loss of wellbore fluid to formation may include pumping an oil-based wellbore fluid into the wellbore, where the wellbore includes an oleaginous continuous phase and a plurality of modified brine phases dispersed in the oleaginous continuous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: M-I Drilling Fluids UK Limited
    Inventor: David Anthony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20170233631
    Abstract: Methods for reducing loss of wellbore fluid to formation may include pumping an oil-based wellbore fluid into the wellbore, where the wellbore includes an oleaginous continuous phase and a plurality of modified brine phases dispersed in the oleaginous continuous phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: David Anthony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20170130115
    Abstract: Cement compositions may contain a cement component and an oil-immiscible solvent and used in a number of cementing applications. In another aspect, methods for sealing subterranean zones may include emplacing a cement composition into a wellbore containing a cement component and an oil-immiscible solvent, contacting the cement composition with a water source, and reacting the cement composition with the water source to form a hardened cement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: M-I Drilling Fluids U.K. Limited
    Inventor: David Anthony Ballard
  • Publication number: 20130210684
    Abstract: A method of removing a water-based filter cake from a wellbore, the method comprising: contacting the filter cake with a mixture comprising: a non-aqueous, polar solvent; an agent selected to breakdown the filter cake; said mixture comprising <5 wt % water and preferably being essentially anhydrous. The low water content of the mixture actually slows the degradation of the filter cake which has surprisingly been found to be more effective as it allows a more even removal of the filter cake and a more efficient use of the mixture; without the tendency to create local holes in the filter cake where the mixture could escape. Embodiments of the present invention use a polar solvent with a dielectric constant of more than (15), preferably more than (30) such as (15) monoethylene glycol (MEG). In preferred embodiments the agent comprises a salt based on potassium EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: M-I DRILLING FLUIDS U.K. LIMITED
    Inventor: David Anthony Ballard