Patents by Inventor Howard J. Hartley

Howard J. Hartley 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: 10605056
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for installing an ESP on a well. In one example the system comprises a production tree (12, 50) that is operatively coupled to a well (14), an ESP spool (16) that is operatively coupled to the production tree and production tubing (60) that extends into the well. The system also comprises an ESP (22) positioned within an inside diameter of the production tubing (60), wherein the ESP (22) comprises an electric motor (22M) and a pump (22P), the electric motor (22M) being positioned above the pump (22P), and wherein the pump (22P) comprises a fluid inlet (22X) and a fluid outlet (22Y). The system is installed above the existing down hole safety valve, and requires no modification to the existing well's completion equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard J. Hartley
  • Publication number: 20190203571
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for installing an ESP on a well. In one example the system comprises a production tree (12, 50) that is operatively coupled to a well (14), an ESP spool (16) that is operatively coupled to the production tree and production tubing (60) that extends into the well. The system also comprises an ESP (22) positioned within an inside diameter of the production tubing (60), wherein the ESP (22) comprises an electric motor (22M) and a pump (22P), the electric motor(22M) being positioned above the pump (22P), and wherein the pump (22P) comprises a fluid inlet (22X) and a fluid outlet (22Y). The system is installed above the existing down hole safety valve, and requires no modification to the existing well's completion equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard J. Hartley
  • Patent number: 9556713
    Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to systems that may be used to facilitate the retrieval and/or replacement of production and/or processing equipment that may be used for subsea oil and gas operations. In one illustrative embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, among other things, removing at least a portion of trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) from subsea equipment (100) while the subsea equipment (100) is connected to a subsea equipment installation (185) in a subsea environment (180), and storing at least the removed portion of the trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) in a subsea containment structure (120, 120a, 120b, 132) that is positioned in the subsea environment (180). Additionally, the disclosed method also includes disconnecting the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea equipment installation (185) and retrieving the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea environment (180).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Williams, Thomas L. Hergarden, Howard J. Hartley, Andrei Strikovski, Eric Randall Smedstad, Harold Brian Skeels, John D. Dafler, Jr., Jimmy D. Andrews
  • Patent number: 9441461
    Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to systems that may be used to facilitate the retrieval and/or replacement of production and/or processing equipment that may be used for subsea oil and gas operations. In one illustrative embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, among other things, removing at least a portion of trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) from subsea equipment (100) while the subsea equipment (100) is connected to a subsea equipment installation (185) in a subsea environment (180), and storing at least the removed portion of the trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) in a subsea containment structure (120, 120a, 120b, 132) that is positioned in the subsea environment (180). Additionally, the disclosed method also includes disconnecting the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea equipment installation (185) and retrieving the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea environment (180).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Williams, Thomas L. Hergarden, Howard J. Hartley, Andrei Strikovski, Eric Randall Smedstad, Harold Brian Skeels, John D. Dafler, Jr., Jimmy D. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20150361769
    Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to systems that may be used to facilitate the retrieval and/or replacement of production and/or processing equipment that may be used for subsea oil and gas operations. In one illustrative embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, among other things, removing at least a portion of trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) from subsea equipment (100) while the subsea equipment (100) is connected to a subsea equipment installation (185) in a subsea environment (180), and storing at least the removed portion of the trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) in a subsea containment structure (120, 120a, 120b, 132) that is positioned in the subsea environment (180). Additionally, the disclosed method also includes disconnecting the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea equipment installation (185) and retrieving the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea environment (180).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. WILLIAMS, Thomas L. HERGARDEN, Howard J. HARTLEY, Andrei STRIKOVSKI, Eric Randall SMEDSTAD, Harold Brian SKEELS, John D. DAFLER, JR., Jimmy D. ANDREWS
  • Publication number: 20150315879
    Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to systems that may be used to facilitate the retrieval and/or replacement of production and/or processing equipment that may be used for subsea oil and gas operations. In one illustrative embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, among other things, removing at least a portion of trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) from subsea equipment (100) while the subsea equipment (100) is connected to a subsea equipment installation (185) in a subsea environment (180), and storing at least the removed portion of the trapped production fluid (101a, 101b) in a subsea containment structure (120, 120a, 120b, 132) that is positioned in the subsea environment (180). Additionally, the disclosed method also includes disconnecting the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea equipment installation (185) and retrieving the subsea equipment (100) from the subsea environment (180).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. WILLIAMS, Thomas L. HERGARDEN, Howard J. HARTLEY, Andrei STRIKOVSKI, Eric Randall SMEDSTAD, Harold Brian SKEELS, John D. DAFLER, JR., Jimmy D. ANDREWS
  • Publication number: 20150226208
    Abstract: A system located in a subsea environment is disclosed comprising a submersible pump positioned in a well, a hydraulic motor that is operatively coupled to the submersible pump and a pressurized fluid supply pump that is positioned on or near a floor of the subsea environment and in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher K. Shaw, Howard J. Hartley, Wensen Wang, Eric R. Smedstad