Patents by Inventor Eric Smedstad

Eric Smedstad 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: 8973665
    Abstract: A technique for subsea intervention operations incorporates use of a compliant guide that extends between a surface location and a subsea installation. The technique facilitates deployment of tool strings into a subsea well. For example, a portion of the compliant guide can be used as a subsea lubricator during pressure deployment of tool strings. In some applications, a tool entry guide can be connected into the subsea installation to facilitate deployment of tool strings into the subsea well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Andrea Sbordone, René Schuurman, Yves Le Moign, Pascal Panetta, Alan J. Johnston, Axel Destremau, Eric Smedstad
  • Patent number: 7931090
    Abstract: A technique is provided for control of subsea well systems. The technique utilizes a subsea controller coupled to a plurality of subsea well system components to allow localized control of the subsea well system. The subsea controller can be used in a variety of functional applications, such as balancing power distribution to subsea components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Smedstad, Rory MacKenzie, John Kerr, Randall A. Shepler, Rohitashva Singh
  • Patent number: 7845412
    Abstract: A technique for subsea intervention operations enables pressure control to be accomplished at the surface while borehole fluid control is exercised at the seabed. A compliant guide extends between a subsea well installation and a surface location, such as a surface intervention vessel. A buffer fluid is deployed within the compliant guide to maintain the borehole fluids proximate the seabed. The buffer fluid also enables pressure control over the buffer fluid and the borehole fluid to be performed from the surface. Additionally, a flexible conveyance can be used to move intervention tools through the compliant guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Sbordone, Eric Smedstad, Rene Schuurman, Alan Johnston, Axel Destremau, Yves Le Moign
  • Publication number: 20100139926
    Abstract: A technique for subsea intervention operations incorporates use of a compliant guide that extends between a surface location and a subsea installation. The technique facilitates deployment of tool strings into a subsea well. For example, a portion of the compliant guide can be used as a subsea lubricator during pressure deployment of tool strings. In some applications, a tool entry guide can be connected into the subsea installation to facilitate deployment of tool strings into the subsea well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Andrea Sbordone, René Schuurman, Yves Le Moign, Pascal Panetta, Alan J. Johnston, Axel Destremau, Eric Smedstad
  • Publication number: 20080185153
    Abstract: A technique improves the capabilities and performance of subsea intervention operations. An intervention vessel is coupled with a subsea well system via a compliant guide. The structure and arrangement of the compliant guide enables passage of a variety of intervention tools and a variety of conveyance mechanisms to facilitate performance of intervention operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Smedstad, Yves Le Moign, Andrea Sbordone, Rene Schuurman, Pascal Paneta, Axel Destremau, Alan Johnston, Lars Mangal
  • Publication number: 20080185152
    Abstract: A technique for subsea intervention operations enables pressure control to be accomplished at the surface while borehole fluid control is exercised at the seabed. A compliant guide extends between a subsea well installation and a surface location, such as a surface intervention vessel. A buffer fluid is deployed within the compliant guide to maintain the borehole fluids proximate the seabed. The buffer fluid also enables pressure control over the buffer fluid and the borehole fluid to be performed from the surface. Additionally, a flexible conveyance can be used to move intervention tools through the compliant guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Sbordone, Eric Smedstad, Rene Schuurman, Alan Johnston, Axel Destremau, Yves Le Moign
  • Patent number: 7261162
    Abstract: A subsea communications module includes an interface to communicate with a surface facility over a communications link using a packet-based protocol. The communications link can be implemented with a fiber optic line, wire-based line, and/or other types of communications lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gregor E. Deans, Roderick MacKenzie, John A. Kerr, David J. Mathis, Eric Smedstad
  • Patent number: 7224080
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a subsea power system for use in capturing “free” or “waste” energy (e.g., thermal, geothermal, pressurized subsurface gases or liquids, wind, wave, solar, or other free, waste, or low cost energy sources) to convert and/or store to power a subsea service or device during times when the free or waste energy supply is not as abundant, is not available, or demands require greater output than is provided at steady state. The subsea power system may include: (1) one or more energy-capturing devices—such as a turbine and/or thermoelectric generator—for harvesting free or waste energy, (2) a fuel cell, electrolyzer, and oxygen and hydrogen storage vessels for harvesting energy from the surrounding seawater, and (3) a power converter for receiving energy from the various sources and converting the energy into a useful form consumable by subsea devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Smedstad
  • Publication number: 20070107907
    Abstract: A technique is provided for control of subsea well systems. The technique utilizes a subsea controller coupled to a plurality of subsea well system components to allow localized control of the subsea well system. The subsea controller can be used in a variety of functional applications, such as balancing power distribution to subsea components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Smedstad, Rory MacKenzie, John Kerr, Randall Shepler, Rohitashva Singh
  • Publication number: 20060006656
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a subsea power system for use in capturing “free” or “waste” energy (e.g., thermal, geothermal, pressurized subsurface gases or liquids, wind, wave, solar, or other free, waste, or low cost energy sources) to convert and/or store to power a subsea service or device during times when the free or waste energy supply is not as abundant, is not available, or demands require greater output than is provided at steady state. The subsea power system may include: (1) one or more energy-capturing devices—such as a turbine and/or thermoelectric generator—for harvesting free or waste energy, (2) a fuel cell, electrolyzer, and oxygen and hydrogen storage vessels for harvesting energy from the surrounding seawater, and (3) a power converter for receiving energy from the various sources and converting the energy into a useful form consumable by subsea devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric Smedstad