Patents by Inventor Guy P. Vachon

Guy P. Vachon 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: 8682589
    Abstract: A system and method for supplying an additive into a well is disclosed that includes estimating injection rates for the additives and setting of one or more fluid flow control devices in the well based on a computer model. It is emphasized that 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. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, C. Mitch Means, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Patent number: 8602111
    Abstract: A system for controlling flow in a wellbore uses a downhole flow control device positioned at a downhole location in the wellbore. The flow control device has a movable element for controlling a downhole fluid flow. In response to an applied pressure pulse, the movable element moves in finite increments from one position to another. In one embodiment, a hydraulic source generates a transmitted pressure pulse to the flow control device wherein the maximum pressure of a received pressure pulse downhole is sufficient to overcome a static friction force associated with the movable element, and wherein a minimum pressure of the received pressure pulse downhole is insufficient to overcome a dynamic friction force associated with the movable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Guy P. Vachon
  • Patent number: 7805248
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for estimating an occurrence of a water breakthrough in a production well that includes estimating, at least periodically, a measure of water in the fluid produced from one or more production zones and estimating the occurrence of the water breakthrough utilizing at least in part a trend of the estimated measures of the produced fluid. A controller determines one or more actions to be taken to mitigate an effect of the water breakthrough and may automatically initiate one or more such actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Patent number: 7711486
    Abstract: A system and method for producing fluid from a completed well is provided wherein the method in one aspect includes determining a first setting of at least one first device under use for producing the fluid from the well; selecting a first set of input parameters that includes at least one parameter relating to health of at least one second device and a plurality of parameters selected from a group consisting of information relating to flow rate, pressure, temperature, presence of a selected chemical, water content, sand content, and chemical injection rate; and using the selected first set of parameters as an input to a computer model, determining a second setting for the at least one first device that will provide at least one of an increased life of at least one second device and enhanced flow rate for the fluid from the completed well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Publication number: 20080257544
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a production from a wellbore that includes taking measurements relating to one or more selected parameters for each of the production zones over a time period and determining the occurrence of the cross flow in the wellbore using a trend of the one or more of the measurements. The system includes a processor that receives information relating to the measurements made over time relating to the selected parameters, wherein the processor determines or predicts the occurrence of the cross flow from a trend of at least one of the measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Publication number: 20080262736
    Abstract: A system and method for producing fluid from a completed well is provided wherein the method in one aspect includes determining a first setting of at least one first device under use for producing the fluid from the well; selecting a first set of input parameters that includes at least one parameter relating to health of at least one second device and a plurality of parameters selected from a group consisting of information relating to flow rate, pressure, temperature, presence of a selected chemical, water content, sand content, and chemical injection rate; and using the selected first set of parameters as an input to a computer model, determining a second setting for the at least one first device that will provide at least one of an increased life of at least one second device and enhanced flow rate for the fluid from the completed well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Publication number: 20080262737
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining enhanced production from a well is provided. The system includes a processor that processes instructions contained in a computer program, which includes instructions to monitor actual flow rate of the fluid from each production zone of a well over a time period corresponding to a first setting of the flow control devices and to employ a nodal analysis on a plurality of inputs from downhole sensor measurements, surface sensor measurements, one or more current positions of the devices to determine one or more new settings that will provide enhanced production from the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Publication number: 20080262735
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating an occurrence of a water breakthrough in a production well is provided that includes estimating, at least periodically, a measure of water in the fluid produced from one or more production zones and estimating the occurrence of the water breakthrough utilizing at least in part a trend of the estimated measures of the produced fluid. A controller determines one or more actions to be taken to mitigate an effect of the water breakthrough and may automatically initiate one or more such actions. It is emphasized that 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. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Brian L. Thigpen, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
  • Publication number: 20070187091
    Abstract: A system for controlling flow in a wellbore uses a downhole flow control device positioned at a downhole location in the wellbore. The flow control device has a movable element for controlling a downhole fluid flow. In response to an applied pressure pulse, the movable element moves in finite increments from one position to another. In one embodiment, a hydraulic source generates a transmitted pressure pulse to the flow control device wherein the maximum pressure of a received pressure pulse downhole is sufficient to overcome a static friction force associated with the movable element, and wherein a minimum pressure of the received pressure pulse downhole is insufficient to overcome a dynamic friction force associated with the movable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Guy P. Vachon
  • Patent number: 5287122
    Abstract: A method of reproduction in a discrete reproduction system where the available colors are arranged in equally perceptible steps. Because in a discrete reproduction system only a limited set of points can be produced from the gamut of colors, the present method selects the color variables describing the set of points such that the difference between colors is equiperceptible. Preferably, a numerical approximation to the Munsell book of color is used to determine the hue, saturation, and luminance of the colors used in the reproduction system.The preferred embodiment is a gray scale printer where the preceived contrast between levels of gray is uniform--i.e. equiperceptible. To achieve equiperceptible gray scale requires that the increments in print density be nonuniform. To determine the desired print density to achieve an equiperceptible gray scale, the print density is determined using a numerical approximation of the Munsell value coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Guy P. Vachon