Patents by Inventor Guy Vachon
Guy 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).
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Patent number: 10633956Abstract: Inflow control devices that can be used for both viscous and less viscous hydrocarbons. Optimized configurations for passive inflow control devices or ICDs having two types of fluidic pathways are combined in the same device or well in series or in parallel. Also provided, are well configurations that can be used for e.g., steam assisted oil recovery methods, wherein steam flashing is prevented by included dual type passive inflow control devices in the completion.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventor: Guy Vachon
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Patent number: 10526872Abstract: A method of optimization ICD design that includes consideration of reservoir characteristics, well configuration and type of enhanced oil recovery technique, as well as needed performance characteristics. Thus, the ICD is optimized for particular wells, reservoirs and/or enhanced oil recovery uses.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventor: Guy Vachon
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Patent number: 10488552Abstract: Methods and systems simulate hydrocarbon production from a reservoir and predict impact of flow control devices on production for such reservoir simulation. The methods may transform equations capturing properties that describe flow of fluids through the flow control devices into input parameters desired for use with reservoir simulators. The equations may be determined based on physical properties of the flow control devices or fitted to match experimental or computational fluid dynamics data.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventor: Guy Vachon
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Patent number: 10378317Abstract: The present disclosure relates to passive flow control devices or FCDs and modeling methods applicable to same. In particular, a new method to extrapolate the value of a reference FRR tool to other tools with the same architecture, but different ratings. Instead of scaling the output of the model, the data of the available characterizations is used to extrapolate what the characterization results would be to the different FRR. This estimated data set is then used to fit a new model for the uncharacterized FRR tool.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventor: Guy Vachon
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Publication number: 20170314367Abstract: A method of optimization ICD design that includes consideration of reservoir characteristics, well configuration and type of enhanced oil recovery technique, as well as needed performance characteristics. Thus, the ICD is optimized for particular wells, reservoirs and/or enhanced oil recovery uses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2016Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventor: Guy VACHON
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Publication number: 20160376873Abstract: The present disclosure relates to passive flow control devices or FCDs and modeling methods applicable to same. In particular, a new method to extrapolate the value of a reference FRR tool to other tools with the same architecture, but different ratings. Instead of scaling the output of the model, the data of the available characterizations is used to extrapolate what the characterization results would be to the different FRR. This estimated data set is then used to fit a new model for the uncharacterized FRR tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventor: Guy VACHON
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Publication number: 20160369591Abstract: The present disclosure relates to passive inflow control devices or ICDs having two types of fluidic pathways combined in the same device or well in series or in parallel. Also provided, are well configurations that can be used for e.g., steam assisted oil recovery methods, wherein steam flashing is prevented by included dual type passive inflow control devices in the completion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventor: Guy VACHON
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Publication number: 20160024868Abstract: Methods and systems relate to completing a subsea well having a wellhead with required pressure integrity. An electrical coupling delivers power and communication across the wellhead to completion equipment in the well. The electrical coupling may couple with a single conductive line through which power and communications are multiplexed. Multiple flow controlling tools disposed in the well couple to the conductive line with at least one energy storage device charged by the power from the conductive line for powering actuation of the tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Guy VACHON, Shauna G. NOONAN
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Publication number: 20160024869Abstract: Methods and systems relate to completing a subsea well having a wellhead with required pressure integrity. An electrical coupling delivers power and communication across the wellhead to completion equipment in the well. The electrical coupling may couple with a single conductive line through which power and communications are multiplexed. Multiple flow controlling tools disposed in the well couple to the conductive line with at least one energy storage device charged by the power from the conductive line for powering actuation of the tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Guy VACHON, Shauna G. NOONAN
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Publication number: 20150161304Abstract: Methods and systems simulate hydrocarbon production from a reservoir and predict impact of flow control devices on production for such reservoir simulation. The methods may transform equations capturing properties that describe flow of fluids through the flow control devices into input parameters desired for use with reservoir simulators. The equations may be determined based on physical properties of the flow control devices or fitted to match experimental or computational fluid dynamics data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventor: Guy VACHON
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Patent number: 7367393Abstract: A flow control device for use in a wellbore to allow flow of formation fluid into the wellbore comprises a valve member adapted to move when disposed in the wellbore. A fluid line supplies a working fluid under pressure to move the valve member to allow the fluid to flow into the wellbore. A sensor in the wellbore, and associated with the fluid line, provides an indication of a position of the valve member. A method of determining a state of a flow control tool within a wellbore comprises supplying fluid under pressure to the flow control tool to move a flow control member of the tool into the state. Pressure of the supplied fluid is detected downhole. The state of the flow control device is determined from the detected pressure of the supplied fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Guy Vachon
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Publication number: 20070289740Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Brian Thigpen, C. Means, Guy Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
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Patent number: 7191184Abstract: A system and method for storing measurements. Each measurement may include bulk data and attribute data. The bulk data and the attribute data may be stored using different storage mechanisms. In one embodiment, relational database technology may be used to store the attribute data. Relational database technology may facilitate querying or searching on the attribute data. The bulk data may be stored in a database specialized for storing bulk data.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2002Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: National Instruments CorporationInventors: Guy Vachon Laborde, David Mark Pierce, Andreas Peter Haub, Stefan Romainczyk, Helmut J. Helpenstein
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Publication number: 20050263279Abstract: A flow control device for use in a wellbore to allow flow of formation fluid into the wellbore comprises a valve member adapted to move when disposed in the wellbore. A fluid line supplies a working fluid under pressure to move the valve member to allow the fluid to flow into the wellbore. A sensor in the wellbore, and associated with the fluid line, provides an indication of a position of the valve member. A method of determining a state of a flow control tool within a wellbore comprises supplying fluid under pressure to the flow control tool to move a flow control member of the tool into the state. Pressure of the supplied fluid is detected downhole. The state of the flow control device is determined from the detected pressure of the supplied fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2005Publication date: December 1, 2005Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Guy Vachon
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Patent number: 6816082Abstract: A system for use in a well having completion zones includes a surface node and a plurality of downhole nodes positioned in the completion zones. A communications link extends into the well and is coupled to the surface node and downhole nodes. The communications link includes channels coupling successive nodes, and the surface node and downhole nodes are coupled in a loop by the channels.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1998Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Guy Vachon Laborde
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Patent number: 6615916Abstract: In order to ensure that at least some of the tools (12-1) to 12-4) in a string of tools that is permanently installed in an oil well (10) are kept in operation even in the event of a localized fault, the link (18) interconnecting the tools and a surface installation (16) is subdivided into segments by switch members (20). More precisely, a switch member is associated with each tool. In addition, the link (18) forms a loop with both ends thereof being connected to the surface installation (16).Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Guy Vachon
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Publication number: 20030154192Abstract: A system and method for storing measurements. Each measurement may include bulk data and attribute data. The bulk data and the attribute data may be stored using different storage mechanisms. In one embodiment, relational database technology may be used to store the attribute data. Relational database technology may facilitate querying or searching on the attribute data. The bulk data may be stored in a database specialized for storing bulk data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventors: Guy Vachon Laborde, David Mark Pierce, Andreas Peter Haub, Stefan Romainczyk, Helmut J. Helpenstein
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Publication number: 20030105811Abstract: A system and method for making technical data available across an enterprise which may contain multiple data stores distributed across networked servers. These distributed data stores create the impression that they are actually part of one central storage, referred to as a networked DataCache. The user may thus be able to find various kinds of technical data without knowing where they were from the start. The data may also be adequately self describing via meta-data so that a user or application is able to find it and use it without implicit knowledge of the data, its meaning, or its structure. The networked DataCache allows a user of measurements to know where a measurement is and what it means.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Guy Vachon Laborde, David Mark Pierce, Andreas Peter Haub, Stefan Romainczyk, Helmut J. Helpenstein
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Publication number: 20030061195Abstract: A Technical Data Management framework (TDM framework) including various components for managing the storage and retrieval of technical data, such as measurement data. One or more of these components may be usable by client application programs, simplifying the task of managing technical data that is stored and used by multiple applications. The TDM framework described herein may simplify technical data management tasks by utilizing data models and providing a common data retrieval and storage interface for applications to use to manage technical data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: Guy Vachon Laborde, Andreas Peter Haub, Stefan Romainczyk, Helmut J. Helpenstein
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Patent number: 6360820Abstract: A system for use in a well such as an intelligent completion system, includes an electrical cable and a plurality of communication modules positioned in the well. At least a first one of the communication modules is connected to the electrical cable. At least a second one of the communication modules is positioned in a remote location in the well past separately installed downhole equipment. A communications link mechanism that includes an inductive coupler mechanism provides communication between the first and second ones of the communication modules.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Guy Vachon Laborde, Sandeep Sharma