Patents by Inventor George Alexander Burnett

George Alexander Burnett 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: 8118172
    Abstract: A screening apparatus for separating components of a material by vibratory separation which, in certain aspects, includes a vibratable box connected via vibration isolators within a container, the box including screening apparatus thereon or the vibratory separator having replaceable screening cartridges within a container. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco L.P.
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Patent number: 8113356
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed employing a quad-tier shale shaker for processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solids which solids include, in one aspect, lost circulation material (and/or material of size similar to the size of the lost circulation material). This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco L.P.
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20110210083
    Abstract: A method for operating a shale shaker to separate solids from a solids laden fluid, the shale shaker comprising a basket for holding at least one screen and a vibratory mechanism for vibrating the basket to an acceleration value, the method comprising the steps of monitoring the magnitude of the load of solids laden fluid in the basket and adjusting the acceleration value induced in the basket according to the magnitude of the load, wherein the acceleration is stepped down to a low acceleration value below a low load threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Eric Scott, George Alexander Burnett, Khaled El Dorry, Nahum Ronquillo
  • Patent number: 7886850
    Abstract: A system for treating a mixture of drilling fluid and solid material, including a container with an inlet for the introduction of the mixture into the container. The system having a rotatable screen assembly mounted within the container and has at least one screen for screening the mixture and also interior structure for receiving separated drilling fluid from the at least one screen. The system has an interior structure for receiving separated drilling fluid and transmitting the separated drilling fluid to the fluid outlet of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20100270216
    Abstract: A shale shaker for separating solids from solids laden drilling fluid is disclosed as having a basket with a scalping screen deck, at least one first screen deck and at least one second screen deck. The basket further may have a flow tray arranged between said scalping screen deck and at least one first screen deck, and a plurality of first ducts and a plurality of second ducts, the plurality of first ducts for directing solids laden drilling fluid to the at least one first screen deck. The second plurality of second ducts are for directing solids laden drilling fluid to said second screen deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Thomas Robert Larson
  • Publication number: 20100089652
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed employing a shale shaker for processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solids with multiple screen assemblies and conversion apparatus for switching flow to the screen assemblies between series flow and parallel flow; and in one aspect, a screen or screens for screening lost circulation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20100089802
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed employing a quad-tier shale shaker for processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solids which solids include, in one aspect, lost circulation material (and/or material of size similar to the size of the lost circulation material). This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20100038143
    Abstract: A thermal treatment system for receiving liquid from drill cuttings material in which a metering screw system feeds material to a vessel of a thermal reactor. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Brian Bender Madsen, Dale Alton Pierce
  • Publication number: 20090242466
    Abstract: Methods for automatically controlling a vibratory separator, e.g., but not limited to a shale shaker for processing drilling fluid, the methods in certain aspects including: introducing material to a vibratory separator; sensing with sensor apparatus a state parameter indicative of operation of the vibratory separator; providing a signal indicative of a value of said state parameter to control apparatus; and, with the control apparatus, automatically controlling the vibratory separator based on the level of the state parameter. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Kennett Wayne Seyffert
  • Publication number: 20090223876
    Abstract: A screen assembly for a shale shaker comprising a panel (500) and a support structure (600), the panel (500) having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and at least one layer of screening material arranged over the multiplicity of apertures, wherein said panel (500) is removable from said support structure (600).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert
  • Publication number: 20090227477
    Abstract: A screen assembly for a shale shaker comprising a panel (500) and a support structure (600), the panel (500) having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and at least one layer of screening material arranged over the multiplicity of apertures, wherein said panel (500) is removable from said support structure (600).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Publication number: 20090120846
    Abstract: A screening apparatus for separating components of a material by vibratory separation which, in certain aspects, includes a vibratable box connected via vibration isolators within a container, the box including screening apparatus thereon or the vibratory separator having replaceable screening cartridges within a container. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Patent number: 7493969
    Abstract: Vessels, system and methods for conveying drilling cuttings material, which, in certain aspects, include a system for conveying material from a vessel, the system having a vessel for receiving material to be conveyed, a first conduit for conveying air, a second conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying air into the vessel, a metering screw for receiving material from the vessel and for moving the material from the vessel, a discharge line for receiving the material from the metering screw, the discharge line having an exit end, pressure sensor apparatus for sensing pressure in the discharge line, and control apparatus for automatically controlling the metering screw in response to a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Colin Crabb, David Wood, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 7484574
    Abstract: Methods for processing drill cuttings including measuring moisture content of the drill cuttings; systems for doing this; methods for moving drill cuttings using conduits with spaced-apart inlets for applying positive pressure; and feeding apparatuses for loading drill cuttings into a positive pressure conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Colin Crabb, David Wood, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, William Chrtistian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20080083566
    Abstract: A method for reclaiming component materials from a drill cuttings mixture of drilling fluid and cuttings material, the method including flowing a drill cuttings mixture of drilling fluid and cuttings material to a dryer, producing with the dryer dry cuttings material, and conveying with a conveyor system the dry cuttings material to a secondary system, the conveyor system including a positive pressure pneumatic conveying apparatus for conveying the dry cuttings material to the secondary system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Patent number: 7195084
    Abstract: Vessels for selectively holding drilling cuttings material and methods employing such vessels; the vessels, in at least certain aspects, having a body with a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which the material may exit from the body; a first opening through which the material enters into the container; a second opening through which the material passes out from the container; and movement apparatus with a movement member within the container movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the material into the second opening; and in certain aspects, the vessels having moisture-content sensor apparatus on the body for sensing moisture content of material within a vessel; conduit apparatus for conducting drilling cuttings from the exit opening; valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow of material in the conduit apparatus; and a controller in communication with the moisture-content sensor apparatus and the valve apparatus for selective
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Colin Crabb, David Wood, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 7080960
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting solid waste drill cuttings material produced in the drilling of an oil or gas well, the apparatus including: a waste supply apparatus; a feeder to transport the material; a pneumatic conveying apparatus to which the material is transferred from the feeder; at least one blockage sensing device in the conveyor; and a control apparatus for controlling feed rate of the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventor: George Alexander Burnett
  • Patent number: 7040488
    Abstract: A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen assembly apparatus, the basket having an interior surface, vibrator apparatus connected to the basket to vibrate it and the screen assembly apparatus releasably secured thereto, seal apparatus connected to the screen assembly for sealing an interface with a part of the interior surface of the basket, the seal apparatus including a seal holder removably holding a seal member, the seal holder having a projection projecting into a recess of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Seyffert, George Alexander Burnett, Guy L. McClung, III
  • Patent number: 6988567
    Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, using a cuttings processor with a rotating annular screen to separate fluid from drilled cuttings and/or such methods including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, David Wood, Kenneth W. Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6955262
    Abstract: A support apparatus for supporting at least one screen assembly of a vibratory separator, the vibratory separator having seal apparatus for sealing an interface between a portion of the at least one screen assembly and an interior surface of the support apparatus, the seal apparatus including a seal member removably held by a seal holder within the vibratory separator, the support apparatus including container apparatus having a side wall, the side wall having an opening therethrough adjacent an end of the seal apparatus, and a cover removably connected to the side wall on an exterior surface thereof, the cover removable to provide access to the seal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Varco, I/P Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Seyffert, George Alexander Burnett, Guy L. McClung, III