Patents by Inventor Dennis P. Nguyen

Dennis P. Nguyen 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: 20180112485
    Abstract: A system in some embodiments includes sealing system including an energizing member that simultaneously seats a plurality of sealing elements about a plurality of control lines, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20180106128
    Abstract: A system in some embodiments includes a back pressure valve configured to mount in a mineral extraction system. The back pressure valve comprises a cylindrical body comprising a venting port coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and a plunger disposed in the venting port, wherein the plunger comprises a stem that extends from the venting port into an adjacent cavity of the cylindrical body. In some embodiments, a method of operating a valve, includes biasing a plunger to an open position, biasing a valve locking mechanism to a locked position in relation to a bore of a mineral extraction system, and biasing a plunger to a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Kirk P. Guidry, Thomas E. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180100364
    Abstract: A system includes a hanger running tool, which has a tool body, a first piston configured to move a first lock member between first locked and unlocked positions between the tool body and a hanger, and a second piston configured to move a second lock member between second locked and unlocked positions between the hanger and a tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20180100368
    Abstract: A load shoulder assembly is provided to land a component in a bore of a mineral extraction system. The load shoulder assembly includes a housing and a retractable shoulder assembly disposed in the housing. The retractable shoulder assembly is configured to selectively move a load shoulder surface between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, KyThu Do Nguyen, Jordan Alan Whiteman
  • Publication number: 20180073326
    Abstract: A system includes a seal assembly that includes an annular body, an interior sealing assembly coupled to an interior surface of the body, and an exterior sealing assembly coupled to an exterior surface of the body. The interior sealing assembly is actuated by a first piston and configured to form a seal between the body and a first fixed substantially tubular member disposed radially interior of the body. The exterior sealing assembly is actuated by a second piston, and configured to form a seal between the body and a second fixed substantially tubular member disposed about the seal assembly. The seal assembly is configured to be run through a blowout preventer (BOP) stack and installed between the first and second fixed substantially tubular members to seal a mineral extraction well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Delbert E. Vanderford
  • Patent number: 9903174
    Abstract: An assembly for providing torque to an object in a wellhead. The assembly includes a body attachable to the wellhead and including a bore with a centerline. The body further includes a first set of pistons within cylinders oriented at angles offset from and perpendicular to the centerline of the bore. The pistons are moveable within the cylinders between a retracted position and an extended position where the pistons are extended into the body bore. The movement of the pistons between the retracted and extended positions imparts a linear force capable of rotating the object in the wellhead in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Christy L. Petter
  • Patent number: 9890606
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for installing a wellhead component in a single trip. Generally, a wellhead component may be run into a wellhead using a running tool. The running tool may then be retrieved from the wellhead and replaced with a locking tool, which is also run into the wellhead. Additional tools may be used to over-pull the wellhead component and to cementing the wellhead component in place. The process of retrieving and running tools into the wellhead is both time-consuming and costly. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments include a one-trip tool configured to run a wellhead component into a wellhead, engage an internal coupling to lock the wellhead component in place, over-pull the wellhead component to ensure the internal coupling was properly engaged, and cement the wellhead component in place within the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9885220
    Abstract: A hanger running tool includes a radially outer surface having at least one recess extending circumferentially about at least a portion of a periphery of the hanger running tool. The hanger running tool also includes at least one alignment element disposed within the at least one recess. The at least one alignment element protrudes radially outward from the radially outer surface and is configured to contact a radially inner surface of a wellhead as the hanger running tool moves within the wellhead. In some embodiments, the hanger running tool includes a plurality of recesses each extending circumferentially about a respective portion of the periphery of the hanger running tool, and the recesses of the plurality of recesses are circumferentially separated from one another to enable fluid to flow through at least one axial flow slot of the hanger running tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Kristin Vorderkunz
  • Publication number: 20180010408
    Abstract: An isolation flange assembly including a body including a receptacle disposed therein, and a first seal assembly disposed in the receptacle of the body, wherein the first seal assembly is configured to sealingly engage an inner surface of the receptacle of the body and an outer surface of a tubular member extending into the receptacle of the body, wherein the first seal assembly includes an annular radially outer seal, and an annular radially inner seal in engagement with the outer seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dennis P. NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 9856711
    Abstract: A connection assembly for connecting a control line to a component is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a control line coupled to a tubing hanger with a connection assembly. The connection assembly includes a first fitting connected to the control line and to the tubing hanger, with the first fitting sealing against the control line and the tubing hanger, and a main body disposed about the control line and connected to the tubing hanger with the main body sealing against the tubing hanger. The connection assembly also includes a second fitting connected to the control line and to the main body so as to seal against the control line and the main body, an internal cavity, and a test port. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20170370177
    Abstract: A system including a hydraulic tool configured to energize a lock ring system and a seal assembly with a hydraulic fluid, wherein the hydraulic tool including a hydraulic body configured to couple to a hydraulic fluid source, a first piston configured to move axially with respect to the hydraulic body to energize the seal assembly, and a second piston configured to move axially with respect to the hydraulic body to energize the lock ring system, wherein the first and second pistons are simultaneously exposed to the hydraulic fluid in an opening in the hydraulic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9822601
    Abstract: A system includes a setting tool configured to set a sealing assembly within an annular space between a hanger and a wellhead. The setting tool comprises an outer annular sleeve and an inner annular sleeve disposed radially inward of the outer annular sleeve. The inner annular sleeve includes a flexible finger configured to removably couple the setting tool to the sealing assembly. The setting tool includes a shear pin extending between the outer annular sleeve and the inner annular sleeve. The shear pin is configured to break in response to axial compression of the setting tool to enable the outer annular sleeve to move axially relative to the inner annular sleeve, and the outer annular sleeve is configured to interact with the sealing assembly to set the sealing assembly within the annular space via axial movement of the outer annular sleeve relative to the inner axial sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Kristin Vorderkunz, Frank Z. Pei
  • Patent number: 9810354
    Abstract: Various novel connectors are provided. In one embodiment, the connector includes a collar configured to receive first and second components. In this embodiment, the connector may also include a load ring configured to be received in a groove of the second component and to move into and out of engagement with the collar when the second component is received by the collar. The connector of this illustrative embodiment may also include a cotter configured for installation to the second component and to inhibit disengagement of the load ring from the collar. In some embodiments, engagement of the load ring and the collar effects securing of the first and second components to one another. Other devices, systems, and methods related to connectors are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk P. Guidry, Dennis P. Nguyen, Joseph R. Wilhelmi, Terry L. Shinn
  • Patent number: 9803445
    Abstract: A system in some embodiments includes sealing system including an energizing member that simultaneously seats a plurality of sealing elements about a plurality of control lines, respectively. Further embodiments provide a method including disposing a plurality of sealing elements about a plurality of control lines, respectively, and fastening an energizing member to simultaneously seat each of the sealing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9790759
    Abstract: A multi-component tubular coupling is provided for wellhead assemblies. In one embodiment, the multi-component tubular coupling may include a first tubular member, a landing ring, and a second tubular member. The second tubular member may include internal threads, lock screws, or any combination thereof to couple to a wellhead component. In another embodiment, the multi-component tubular coupling may only include the first tubular member and the landing ring. In such an embodiment, a wellhead component may be secured to the coupling via lock screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9790760
    Abstract: A system including a hanger system configured to support a tubular, including a hanger body with first and second axial sides, and an aperture extending between the first and second axial sides, wherein the hanger body is configured to receive the tubular through the aperture, a first retaining ring configured to couple to the tubular, and a first support ring configured to couple to the first axial side of the hanger body and radially energize the first retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9790747
    Abstract: A system including a first tubular with a first fluid passage configured to receive a fluid for use in a mineral extraction system, a second tubular surrounding the first tubular, a protective cover coupled to the second tubular with a shear pin, wherein the second tubular is configured to move the protective cover from a first axial position to a second axial position, and the protective cover is configured to form a first seal around the first fluid passage; and a retainer coupled to the first tubular or the protective cover and configured to couple the protective cover to the first tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9725969
    Abstract: A system including a positive lock system, including a lock ring system, including a load ring configured to engage a tubular, and a lock ring configured to radially energize the load ring by moving only in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Maria R. Contreras
  • Patent number: 9719323
    Abstract: A system includes a back pressure valve configured to mount in a mineral extraction system. The back pressure valve comprises a cylindrical body comprising a venting port coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and a plunger disposed in the venting port, wherein the plunger comprises a stem that extends from the venting port into an adjacent cavity of the cylindrical body. A method of operating a valve, includes biasing a plunger to an open position, biasing a valve locking mechanism to a locked position in relation to a bore of a mineral extraction system, and biasing a plunger to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis P. Nguyen, Kirk P. Guidry, Thomas E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9702201
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for setting a metal-to-metal seal (e.g., in an annular space between wellhead components) using a temporary elastomer seal. For example, the annular space may be sealed with one or more elastomer seals before hydraulically setting the metal-to-metal seal. A seal assembly may include the elastomer seals and the metal-to-metal seal. Positioning the seal assembly in the annular space between the wellhead components may isolate pressure in the annular space below the seal such that the metal-to-metal seal may be set. In an exemplary embodiment, a hydraulic mechanism axially compresses the metal-to-metal seal between two members of the seal assembly, thereby radially expanding and setting the metal-to-metal seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis P. Nguyen