Patents by Inventor Flavio Santos
Flavio Santos 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: 11959567Abstract: Systems: and methods for decreasing bending stress in flange bolting for a connection between a flange and an adjacent piece of equipment is provided. The flange connection includes a single flange with multiple bolts extending: therethrough. The bolts are threaded into the adjacent piece of equipment at one end, and a nut is disposed at an opposite end. of each bolt to provide a means for tightening and/or securing the flange connection. The equipment to which the flange is attached may include subsea well equipment with relatively large outer diameters. The disclosed flange connection utilizes: an initial region of a counterbored (or unthreaded) hole in the mating equipment piece just prior to the start of the thread formed through the equipment. Additionally, a compound hub flange connection is disclosed to further reduce the bending stress on the bolts.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Manning, Justin Rye, Flavio Santos
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Patent number: 11952853Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling subsea tubular members together are provided. An apparatus may be used to properly orient and/or provide communication between a first subsea tubular member that is being landed on a second subsea tubular member. An apparatus for coupling subsea tubular members may include an alignment sub and a corresponding alignment member. The alignment sub includes: a generally cylindrical body having one or more fluid, electric, or fiber optic lines extending therethrough, one or more couplings coupled to at least one end of the alignment sub, and an orientation profile disposed on a surface of the alignment sub. The alignment member has a profile designed to interface with the orientation profile of the alignment sub. One of the alignment sub and the alignment member remains stationary while the other rotates relative to the stationary structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Andrew Mitchell, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, David Scantlebury, Matthew Crotwell, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Patent number: 11952854Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20240069004Abstract: The present invention refers to an online monitoring system for the gravitational separation of oil emulsions, more specifically, a monitoring system for the properties related to the emulsions, such as the drop size distribution (DSD) and the water content (WC), simultaneously, in pressurized and heated systems at high pressures and temperatures, respectively, using near-infrared region (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with optical microscopy. The online monitoring system is innovative as it overcomes the current need of the oil industry to remove aliquots from emulsified systems under high pressure and temperature, preferably up to 70 bar (7 MPa) and 150° C., respectively, for determination of the properties of emulsions, which causes disturbances and affects the physicochemical characteristics of emulsions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Flavio Cortinas ALBUQUERQUE, Simonise Figueiredo AMARANTE CUNHA, Ayslan Santos PEREIRA DA COSTA, Gustavo RODRIGUES BORGES, Cláudio DARIVA, Elton FRANCESCHI
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Patent number: 11686172Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Patent number: 11686171Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20220364428Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20220364427Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20220364426Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20220090461Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling subsea tubular members together are provided. An apparatus may be used to properly orient and/or provide communication between a first subsea tubular member that is being landed on a second subsea tubular member. An apparatus for coupling subsea tubular members may include an alignment sub and a corresponding alignment member. The alignment sub includes: a generally cylindrical body having one or more fluid, electric, or fiber optic lines extending therethrough, one or more couplings coupled to at least one end of the alignment sub, and an orientation profile disposed on a surface of the alignment sub. The alignment member has a profile designed to interface with the orientation profile of the alignment sub. One of the alignment sub and the alignment member remains stationary while the other rotates relative to the stationary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Andrew Mitchell, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, David Scantlebury, Matthew Crotwell, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Patent number: 11206032Abstract: In an embodiment an analog-to-digital converter circuit has an input for receiving at least a first analog signal level, a ramp generator adapted to provide a ramp signal having a constant and adjustable starting level which splits into a first section which is rising and a second section which is falling concurrently to the first section's rising, wherein the starting level lies within an input range of the analog-to-digital converter circuit, a comparison unit which is coupled by its first input to the input of the analog-to-digital converter circuit and is coupled by its second input in a switchable manner to the ramp generator, a counter which is coupled to a control unit, and the control unit which is coupled to an output of the comparison unit, wherein the control unit is prepared to enable the counter depending on a comparison of the ramp signal with the first analog signal level and to determine a digital value as a function of a count of the counter reached at an intersection point of the ramp signalType: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AGInventors: Rodolfo Rodrigues, Flavio Santos
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Patent number: 11199066Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling subsea tubular members together are provided. An apparatus may be used to properly orient and/or provide communication between a first subsea tubular member that is being landed on a second subsea tubular member. An apparatus for coupling subsea tubular members may include an alignment sub and a corresponding alignment member. The alignment sub includes: a generally cylindrical body having one or more fluid, electric, or fiber optic lines extending therethrough, one or more couplings coupled to at least one end of the alignment sub, and an orientation profile disposed on a surface of the alignment sub. The alignment member has a profile designed to interface with the orientation profile of the alignment sub. One of the alignment sub and the alignment member remains stationary while the other rotates relative to the stationary structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Andrew Mitchell, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, David Scantlebury, Matthew Crotwell, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20210198970Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20210164595Abstract: Systems: and methods for decreasing bending stress in flange bolting for a connection between a flange and an adjacent piece of equipment is provided. The flange connection includes a single flange with multiple bolts extending: therethrough. The bolts are threaded into the adjacent piece of equipment at one end, and a nut is disposed at an opposite end. of each bolt to provide a means for tightening and/or securing the flange connection. The equipment to which the flange is attached may include subsea well equipment with relatively large outer diameters. The disclosed flange connection utilizes: an initial region of a counterbored (or unthreaded) hole in the mating equipment piece just prior to the start of the thread formed through the equipment. Additionally, a compound hub flange connection is disclosed to further reduce the bending stress on the bolts.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Mark A. Manning, Justin Rye, Flavio Santos
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Publication number: 20210099182Abstract: In an embodiment an analog-to-digital converter circuit has an input for receiving at least a first analog signal level, a ramp generator adapted to provide a ramp signal having a constant and adjustable starting level which splits into a first section which is rising and a second section which is falling concurrently to the first section's rising, wherein the starting level lies within an input range of the analog-to-digital converter circuit, a comparison unit which is coupled by its first input to the input of the analog-to-digital converter circuit and is coupled by its second input in a switchable manner to the ramp generator, a counter which is coupled to a control unit, and the control unit which is coupled to an output of the comparison unit, wherein the control unit is prepared to enable the counter depending on a comparison of the ramp signal with the first analog signal level and to determine a digital value as a function of a count of the counter reached at an intersection point of the ramp signalType: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Rodolfo Rodrigues, Flavio Santos
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Publication number: 20210087899Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling subsea tubular members together are provided. An apparatus may be used to properly orient and/or provide communication between a first subsea tubular member that is being landed on a second subsea tubular member. An apparatus for coupling subsea tubular members may include an alignment sub and a corresponding alignment member. The alignment sub includes: a generally cylindrical body having one or more fluid, electric, or fiber optic lines extending therethrough, one or more couplings coupled to at least one end of the alignment sub, and an orientation profile disposed on a surface of the alignment sub. The alignment member has a profile designed to interface with the orientation profile of the alignment sub. One of the alignment sub and the alignment member remains stationary while the other rotates relative to the stationary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Andrew Mitchell, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, David Scantlebury, Matthew Crotwell, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Patent number: 10947805Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20210025258Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Patent number: 10830015Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs
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Publication number: 20190120008Abstract: Systems and methods for landing a tubing hanger in a wellhead and then orienting a tree (or spool, or flowline connection body) relative to the tubing hanger while landing the tree on the wellhead are provided. This alignment is accomplished without the use of either a tubing spool or a BOP stack with an orientation pin. The tubing hanger alignment devices may be used to orientate the tree as the tree is landed so that the couplings and stabs between the tree and the tubing hanger line up with each other just at the moment of landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Blake T. DeBerry, Morris B. Wade, Flavio Santos, Gregory Norwood, Robert Buxton, Justin Rye, Todd L. Scaggs