Patents by Inventor Eric Dale Larson
Eric Dale Larson 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).
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Patent number: 11692410Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 11519237Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20220018205Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Publication number: 20210262312Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 10876369Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 10287843Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) includes a pressure driven operator that is equipped with a balancing circuit to offset pressure inside the BOP. The operator, which is used to drive a ram, includes a piston, coupled to the ram by an operator arm, and a balance arm on a side of the piston opposite the operator arm. Pressure from inside the BOP communicates to an end of the balance arm opposite the piston and exerts a force to drive the ram radially inward.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION LLCInventors: Eric Dale Larson, Brian Scott Baker
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Patent number: 10048673Abstract: A BOP system for use in a high pressure subsea environment, including a BOP stack including a lower marine riser package and a lower stack portion, the lower stack portion having a plurality of BOP rams attached to a subsea wellhead. The system also includes a riser subsystem extending from a drilling vessel to the BOP stack and providing fluid communication therebetween, a ship board subsystem electronically, mechanically, and hydraulically connected to the BOP stack and the riser subsystem to control the functions of the BOP stack and the riser subsystem, and a safety instrumented system having a surface logic solver and at least one subsea logic solver, the safety instrumented system in communication with at least a portion of the BOP rams to act as a redundant control system in case of failure of the ship board subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION, LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 9945401Abstract: A mechanism to reduce load of a hydraulic cylinder having a body, a stem movable within the body, and a piston rod connected to the stem. The mechanism includes a mechanism body attached to the body and defining a recess, and a retainer attached to the mechanism adjacent the opening of the recess so that the retainer substantially fills the opening of the recess, and having an aperture that receives an end of the piston rod. The mechanism further includes a cap attached to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder within the recess, the cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the retainer, and a spring connected to the cap at a first end and to the retainer at a second end so that as the piston rod moves relative to the failsafe mechanism body, to reduce load transfer between the piston rod and the cylinder body.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION, LLCInventors: Joseph Edison Huseman, Eric Dale Larson, Jamie Clay Gamble, Wayne Harvey, Alexander McAuley, Juan Pedro Trevino
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Publication number: 20180073320Abstract: A blowout preventer system including a lower blowout preventer stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system. The blowout preventer system further including at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 9759018Abstract: A system for aligning an auxiliary line connection in a termination assembly of a marine riser assembly includes a terminal block secured to an outer diameter of a termination ring. The terminal block has a piston housing that extends through a sidewall of the termination ring. A ring adapter has an outer diameter sized to engage an inner diameter of the termination ring when a shoulder of the ring adapter is landed on a load shoulder of the termination ring. A moveable floating ring assembly is retained within the piston pocket of the ring adapter. A piston housed within piston housing is moveable between a retracted position where an outer end of the piston is spaced apart from the floating ring assembly, and an extended position for forming a sealed auxiliary path from the terminal block to the ring adapter.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: Alex David Stibich, Eric Dale Larson, Jamie Clay Gamble
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Publication number: 20170138377Abstract: A mechanism to reduce load of a hydraulic cylinder having a body, a stem movable within the body, and a piston rod connected to the stem. The mechanism includes a mechanism body attached to the body and defining a recess, and a retainer attached to the mechanism adjacent the opening of the recess so that the retainer substantially fills the opening of the recess, and having an aperture that receives an end of the piston rod. The mechanism further includes a cap attached to the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder within the recess, the cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture in the retainer, and a spring connected to the cap at a first end and to the retainer at a second end so that as the piston rod moves relative to the failsafe mechanism body, to reduce load transfer between the piston rod and the cylinder body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Joseph Edison Huseman, Eric Dale Larson, Jamie Clay Gamble, Wayne Harvey, Alexander McAuley, Juan Pedro Trevino
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Publication number: 20160319623Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) includes a pressure driven operator that is equipped with a balancing circuit to offset pressure inside the BOP. The operator, which is used to drive a ram, includes a piston, coupled to the ram by an operator arm, and a balance arm on a side of the piston opposite the operator arm. Pressure from inside the BOP communicates to an end of the balance arm opposite the piston and exerts a force to drive the ram radially inward.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Eric Dale Larson, Brian Scott Baker
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Patent number: 9410393Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) includes a pressure driven operator that is equipped with a balancing circuit to offset pressure inside the BOP. The operator, which is used to drive a ram, includes a piston, coupled to the ram by an operator arm, and a balance arm on a side of the piston opposite the operator arm. Pressure from inside the BOP communicates to an end of the balance arm opposite the piston and exerts a force to drive the ram radially inward.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: Eric Dale Larson, Brian Scott Baker
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Publication number: 20160168926Abstract: A system for aligning an auxiliary line connection in a termination assembly of a marine riser assembly includes a terminal block secured to an outer diameter of a termination ring. The terminal block has a piston housing that extends through a sidewall of the termination ring. A ring adapter has an outer diameter sized to engage an inner diameter of the termination ring when a shoulder of the ring adapter is landed on a load shoulder of the termination ring. A moveable floating ring assembly is retained within the piston pocket of the ring adapter. A piston housed within piston housing is moveable between a retracted position where an outer end of the piston is spaced apart from the floating ring assembly, and an extended position for forming a sealed auxiliary path from the terminal block to the ring adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventors: Alex David Stibich, Eric Dale Larson, Jamie Clay Gamble
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Publication number: 20160109874Abstract: A BOP system for use in a high pressure subsea environment, including a BOP stack including a lower marine riser package and a lower stack portion, the lower stack portion having a plurality of BOP rams attached to a subsea wellhead. The system also includes a riser subsystem extending from a drilling vessel to the BOP stack and providing fluid communication therebetween, a ship board subsystem electronically, mechanically, and hydraulically connected to the BOP stack and the riser subsystem to control the functions of the BOP stack and the riser subsystem, and a safety instrumented system having a surface logic solver and at least one subsea logic solver, the safety instrumented system in communication with at least a portion of the BOP rams to act as a redundant control system in case of failure of the ship board subsystem.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Applicant: HYDRIL USA DISTRIBUTION, LLCInventors: John Steven Holmes, Douglas Milliman, Luis E. Huerta, Eric Dale Larson, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Robert Arnold Judge, Viral Shah
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Patent number: 9316080Abstract: A shearing device that torsionally shears an oilfield tubular by gripping the tubular at vertically spaced apart locations and exerting a torsional force at the locations. Tong assemblies are provided for gripping the tubular, where the tong assemblies include a tong member pivotally mounted on a tong arm. The tong assemblies may be housed in a blowout preventer mounted on a wellhead assembly; projecting the tong assemblies radially inward engages the tong members with the tubular, and moving the arm further radially inward imparts the torsional force onto the tubular. In an alternate embodiment, the shearing device includes holding rams that project radially inward to engage the tubular and a torque rack that tangentially engages the tubular thereby torqueing the tubular.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLCInventor: Eric Dale Larson
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Publication number: 20150167417Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) includes a pressure driven operator that is equipped with a balancing circuit to offset pressure inside the BOP. The operator, which is used to drive a ram, includes a piston, coupled to the ram by an operator arm, and a balance arm on a side of the piston opposite the operator arm. Pressure from inside the BOP communicates to an end of the balance arm opposite the piston and exerts a force to drive the ram radially inward.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Hydril USA Manufacturing LLCInventors: Eric Dale LARSON, Brian Scott Baker
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Patent number: 8746349Abstract: A drilling riser adapter variably connects and releases a riser from a subsea wellhead assembly. The drilling riser adapter has a hydraulically actuated engagement assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging a lower end of the marine riser. The drilling riser adapter also includes a control panel communicatively coupled to the engagement assembly for actuating the engagement assembly to engage and disengage the lower end of the marine riser. The drilling riser adapter also includes a hydraulic fluid pressure receptacle on the control panel for engagement by a remotely operated vehicle to supply hydraulic fluid pressure to the engagement assembly. The drilling riser adapter may be actuated subsea to release a first riser from the wellhead assembly, and connect to a second riser.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric Dale Larson, Robert Allen Blue
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Publication number: 20140034316Abstract: A shearing device that torsionally shears an oilfield tubular by gripping the tubular at vertically spaced apart locations and exerting a torsional force at the locations. Tong assemblies are provided for gripping the tubular, where the tong assemblies include a tong member pivotally mounted on a tong arm. The tong assemblies may be housed in a blowout preventer mounted on a wellhead assembly; projecting the tong assemblies radially inward engages the tong members with the tubular, and moving the arm further radially inward imparts the torsional force onto the tubular. In an alternate embodiment, the shearing device includes holding rams that project radially inward to engage the tubular and a torque rack that tangentially engages the tubular thereby torqueing the tubular.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: HYDRIL USA MANUFACTURING LLCInventor: Eric Dale Larson
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Publication number: 20130333897Abstract: A diverter cover assembly includes a first arrangement of sliding plates positioned above a central bore of a diverter and movable in substantially opposite directions to open and close over the central bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: HYDRIL USA MANUFACTURING LLCInventors: Laura Christine Wells, Leonard G. Childers, Eric Dale Larson, Robert Allen Blue, Luis Melendez