Patents by Inventor Dominique P. Berta

Dominique P. Berta 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: 20160167755
    Abstract: A method deploys an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) configured to sense a property of an ice floe includes defining a sector of an ocean region having a potential for an ice floe where the sector has a first predicted path selected from a first plurality of predicted paths as determined by a first probability function. The method also includes placing a docking station for the UUV at a location in the sector where the location is determined to intersect with the first predicted path. The method further includes sending instructions having an estimated location of the ice floe to the UUV at the docking station instructing the UUV to sail to a second predicted path that is selected from a second plurality of predicted paths that are determined by a second probability function using the estimated location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Khalid A. SOOFI, Dominique P. BERTA
  • Publication number: 20160042480
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method of assessing characteristics of a proposed offshore structure design includes: receiving input data from a user via a user interface, the input data including characteristics of a proposed design of an offshore structure; estimating, by a processor, a weight of the offshore structure and expected forces on the structure based on the input data; calculating allowable stresses and stability of the offshore structure based on the estimated weight and expected forces; estimating a cost of fabrication of the offshore structure based on the input data; estimating a cost of transportation and installation of the offshore structure based on the input data; calculating a total estimated cost of the offshore structure based on the cost of fabrication and the cost of transportation and assembly; and outputting the estimated weight, expected forces and total cost to the user via a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ivica T. GRGAS, Dominique P. BERTA
  • Patent number: 9254894
    Abstract: A subsea facility for hydrocarbon recovery in deep waters and methods of installation are provided. More specifically, the subsea facility equipment is on multiple modules equipped with a buoyancy system to allow the modules to sink to the sea floor. The modules can be attached and unattached to each other, thus allowing for a module to be raised to the surface for repairs without affecting the rest of the subsea facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhihao George Gu, Chad A. Petrash, Ivica T. Grgas, Amal C. Phadke, Dominique P. Berta
  • Publication number: 20150225043
    Abstract: A subsea facility for hydrocarbon recovery in deep waters and methods of installation are provided. More specifically, the subsea facility equipment is on multiple modules equipped with a buoyancy system to allow the modules to sink to the sea floor. The modules can be attached and unattached to each other, thus allowing for a module to be raised to the surface for repairs without affecting the rest of the subsea facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhihao George GU, Chad A. PETRASH, Ivica T. GRGAS, Amal C. PHADKE, Dominique P. BERTA
  • Publication number: 20150160177
    Abstract: A method of measuring a physical property of a solid body is provided. The method includes remotely deploying a measurement device into a body of ice prone water. The method also includes embedding the measurement device within an ice pack newly formed within the body of ice prone water. The method further includes storing data of the physical property within the measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Dominique P. BERTA, Matthew L. CLINGERMAN
  • Patent number: 8976056
    Abstract: Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) collect and transmit information about ice floe thickness; this is combined with SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR images from satellites to identify and track dangerously thick regions of ice. The overlayed data is presented graphically to allow tracking of the thick ice regions over time. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Rolf Christer Broman, Dominique P. Berta, Khalid A. Soofi, Peter G. Noble
  • Patent number: 8967273
    Abstract: A system for the detection, containment and removal of hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Anthony W. Ray, Randall S. Shafer, Ravi Aurora, Dominique P. Berta
  • Patent number: 8956081
    Abstract: An ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Peter G. Noble, Randall S. Shafer, Dominique P. Berta
  • Patent number: 8911179
    Abstract: The invention relates to a jack-up rig. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the jack-up rig comprises at least two derricks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology
    Inventors: Peter G. Noble, Randall S. Shafer, Dominique P. Berta, Yew Yuen Chow, Tak On Cheung, Kok Seng Foo, Chin Kau Quah, Cynthia Wang
  • Patent number: 8870497
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig with a conical piled monopod working together to drill wells and produce hydrocarbons in ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig. Both the hull and conical piled monopod are shaped with ice-bending surfaces to bend and break up ice that comes into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Randall S. Shafer, Peter G. Noble, Ravi P. Aurora, Thomas E. Ramsey, Ted H. Westerman, Dominique P. Berta
  • Publication number: 20140313072
    Abstract: A method correlates satellite image data with data taken from multiple upward-looking sonars moored on the sea floor. The correlation of this information facilitates the prediction of ice thickness in later seasons using synthetic aperture radiation only, thus allowing for the assessment of threats to oil exploration, production or completion facilities located in the Arctic Ocean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Khalid A. SOOFI, John R. COLOGGI, Dominique P. BERTA, Peter G. NOBLE, Christopher M. YETSKO
  • Patent number: 8851799
    Abstract: A jack-up rig while in open water operates with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Peter G. Noble, Randall S. Shafer, Dominique P. Berta
  • Publication number: 20140262314
    Abstract: A system for the detection, containment and removal of hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Anthony W. RAY, Randall S. SHAFER, Ravi AURORA, Dominique P. BERTA
  • Patent number: 8821071
    Abstract: A conical piled monopod provides a fixed, ice worthy structure used in cold weather offshore environments for accessing hydrocarbon deposits under the seafloor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Ravi P. Aurora, Thomas E. Ramsey, Randall S. Shafer, Peter G. Noble, Ted H. Westerman, Dominique P. Berta
  • Patent number: 8807875
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig with a conical piled monopod working together to drill wells and produce hydrocarbons in ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and in sockets attached to the conical piled monopod. Both the hull and conical piled monopod are shaped with ice-bending surfaces to bend and break up ice that comes into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Randall S. Shafer, Peter G. Noble, Ravi P. Aurora, Thomas E. Ramsey, Ted H. Westerman, Dominique P. Berta
  • Patent number: 8801333
    Abstract: A system operates like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Peter G. Noble, Randall S. Shafer, Dominique P. Berta, Michael B. Winfree
  • Publication number: 20130101357
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the ice worthy jack-up rig that comprises at least two derricks so as to double the exploration efficiency and lower the relating costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicants: Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre PTE Ltd., ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Peter G. NOBLE, Randall S. SHAFER, Dominique P. BERTA, Yew Yuen CHOW, Tak On CHEUNG, Kok Seng FOO, Chin Kau QUAH, Cynthia WANG
  • Publication number: 20130099960
    Abstract: Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) collect and transmit information about ice floe thickness; this is combined with SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR images from satellites to identify and track dangerously thick regions of ice. The overlayed data is presented graphically to allow tracking of the thick ice regions over time. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Rolf Christer BROMAN, Dominique P. BERTA, Khalid A. Soofi, Peter G. Noble
  • Patent number: 8224783
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for managing related information generated by a plurality of individuals. The information management system includes a data repository adapted to store related data tied to a key parameter field, and at least one application server coupled to the data repository and adapted to provide a plurality of applications to a plurality of users. Each of the applications is adapted to generate at least some data having the key parameter field, and the at least one server is adapted to retrieve and update data when any one of the applications uses and generates data having the key parameter field. The method for managing information includes serving a plurality of applications to respective users, wherein the applications are adapted to generate data tied to a key parameter field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dexter A. Burleigh, Dominique P. Berta, Jerry C. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20120128433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conical piled monopod which is a fixed, ice worthy structure used in cold weather offshore environments for accessing hydrocarbon deposits under the seafloor. The conical piled monopod provides a much lower cost offshore facility as compared to a very large, gravity based structure. The conical piled monopod has a base that is designed to rest on a minimally prepared seafloor and be held in a fixed locations by pilings inserted deep into the seafloor. The top deck is designed to be at least 60 feet across with a sloped or inclined perimeter surface to bend and break the ice that comes into contact with the conical piled monopod as the ice would otherwise impose significant lateral forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Ravi P. Aurora, Thomas E. Ramsey, Randall S. Shafer, Peter G. Noble, Ted H. Westerman, Dominique P. Berta