Patents by Inventor David William Beck

David William Beck 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: 10072494
    Abstract: A system for determining a characteristic of an oil well includes a signal source to generate an excitation signal during a first time duration and to generate a local oscillator signal during a second time duration. The system further includes a directional coupler, and a resonator disposed in an annulus of an oil well to receive the excitation signal through the directional coupler. The system also includes a mixer to receive a resonator signal from the resonator through the directional coupler, to receive the local oscillator signal, and to generate a mixer output signal based on the resonator signal and the local oscillator signal. The system further includes a filter to filter the mixer output signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal having an intermediate frequency, and a processor to determine a pressure or a temperature experienced by the resonator based on the intermediate frequency signal and the excitation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Patent number: 10047595
    Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Publication number: 20170356274
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to provide power and monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power wirelessly to isolated zones defined between packer elements. Data signals are similarly transmitted. The packer elements include magnetic toroidal cores for power and signal transmission via inductively coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Publication number: 20170211368
    Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Publication number: 20170145812
    Abstract: A system for determining a characteristic of an oil well includes a signal source to generate an excitation signal during a first time duration and to generate a local oscillator signal during a second time duration. The system further includes a directional coupler, and a resonator disposed in an annulus of an oil well to receive the excitation signal through the directional coupler. The system also includes a mixer to receive a resonator signal from the resonator through the directional coupler, to receive the local oscillator signal, and to generate a mixer output signal based on the resonator signal and the local oscillator signal. The system further includes a filter to filter the mixer output signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal having an intermediate frequency, and a processor to determine a pressure or a temperature experienced by the resonator based on the intermediate frequency signal and the excitation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Patent number: 9540923
    Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Publication number: 20160160636
    Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
  • Patent number: 9360384
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid includes a Bourdon tube that has a helical segment and an anvil. A portion of the anvil is positioned within the helical segment. The sensor also includes a dielectric material positioned between the portion of the anvil and the helical segment. The anvil, the dielectric material, and the helical segment form a variable capacitor. A capacitance of the variable capacitor changes based on a pressure applied to the Bourdon tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: David William Beck
  • Patent number: 9316063
    Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Manuel Eduardo Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Jacobo Archuleta, Patrick Rodriguez, David William Beck, Scot Ellis, Wade Ogg
  • Publication number: 20160003027
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting structural integrity of a well casing. The system may detect casing structural integrity events. The casing structural integrity events may include structural failures of the casing and/or potential structural failures of the casing. The well casing may be drilled and/or otherwise embedded into a geologic structure. The well casing may be subject to geologic forces generated by the geologic structure. Unplanned and/or unexpected forces and/or movement may pose a risk to the structural integrity of the casing. Forces and/or movement of sufficient magnitude may result in damage to and/or destruction of the casing. Damage to and/or destruction of the casing may cause a loss of the natural resources being extracted via the well associated with the well casing, contamination of areas surrounding the well, undesirable surface expression, and/or other negative effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Clark THOMPSON, David William BECK
  • Publication number: 20150252625
    Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Eduardo Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Jacobo Archuleta, Patrick Rodriguez, David William Beck, Scot Ellis, Wade Ogg
  • Patent number: 9103198
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Robert Louis Williford, David William Beck
  • Publication number: 20150070186
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Robert Louis Williford, David William Beck
  • Patent number: 8844362
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing pressure of a fluid includes a tubular housing that has a first capacitor plate segment and a second capacitor plate segment. Each of the first capacitor plate segment and the second capacitor plate segment includes a respective substantially planar inner surface. The pressure sensor also includes an anvil positioned within the tubular housing. The anvil and the tubular housing function as opposite terminals of a variable capacitor. A first capacitor plate side of the anvil and the first capacitor plate segment face each other and have a first gap therebetween. A second capacitor plate side of the anvil and the second capacitor plate segment face each other and have a second gap therebetween. Capacitance of the variable capacitor changes in response to a first change in a size of the first gap and a second change in a size of the second gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: David William Beck, Jacobo Rogelio Archuleta
  • Publication number: 20140238143
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid includes a Bourdon tube that has a helical segment and an anvil. A portion of the anvil is positioned within the helical segment. The sensor also includes a dielectric material positioned between the portion of the anvil and the helical segment. The anvil, the dielectric material, and the helical segment form a variable capacitor. A capacitance of the variable capacitor changes based on a pressure applied to the Bourdon tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: David William Beck