Patents by Inventor Hugh MacKenzie

Hugh MacKenzie 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: 11872607
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation is described. The apparatus comprises a flexible hose comprising a bore and at least one outlet; a pressure control device; a coupling for an opening of a fluid conduit system; at least one feeding module for engaging the flexible hose and imparting a pushing and/or pulling force on the flexible hose to introduce it through the pressure control device and into or out of the fluid conduit system; and a pump configured to pump a cleaning fluid into the bore of the flexible hose and expel the cleaning fluid into the conduit through the at least one outlet in the flexible hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Hugh Mackenzie, Robert Bain
  • Publication number: 20230381565
    Abstract: A method for testing a tunnel fire suppression system in the form of a water deluge system having a wet side and a dry side separated by a valve, includes the step of providing a nozzle arrangement comprising a plurality of nozzles, with each nozzle disposed in or coupled to an outlet of the water deluge system. The nozzle arrangement comprises, is coupled to or operatively associated with a sensor arrangement configured to measure the pressure of air at each of the plurality of outlets of the water deluge system and output one or more output signals indicative of the pressure of the air at the one or more outlets. The method includes providing a supply of pressurised air through the water deluge system using a blower coupled to the water deluge system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Paradigm Flow Services Limited
    Inventors: Hugh MACKENZIE, Ashley THOMSON, Angus MACAULAY
  • Publication number: 20230338767
    Abstract: An apparatusfor testing a water deluge systemhaving a wet sideand a dry side separated by a valve comprises a blower configured for coupling to an inlet of the water deluge system The blower provides a supply of pressurised air through the water deluge systemfrom the inlet to one or more outlets of the water deluge system. A sensor arrangement is associated with one or more of the outlets and configured to measure the pressure of the air at the one or more outlets and then output one or more output signals indicative of the pressure of the air at the one or more outlets. A communication arrangement conveys the one or more output signals from the sensor arrangementto a processing system configured to determine from said one or more output signals the flow rate of the air supply at the one or more outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Paradigm Flow Services Limited
    Inventors: Hugh MacKenzie, Ashley Thomson
  • Patent number: 11686165
    Abstract: A coiled tubing system (10) for use in deploying a tubing string (12) into a conduit (14) comprises the tubing string (12) and a fluid discharge apparatus (26) disposed at a distal end of the tubing string (12). The tubing string (12) includes a first tubing portion (28) comprising composite coiled tubing and a second tubing portion (30) comprising metallic coiled tubing. The system (10) is configured to deploy the tubing string (12) and the fluid discharge apparatus (26) into the conduit (14), the fluid discharge apparatus (26) operable to generate pressure pulses which facilitate transport of the tubing string (12) further along the conduit 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Bain, Hugh MacKenzie
  • Publication number: 20210339298
    Abstract: A communicator (1) for monitoring a worker in a work environment when carried or worn by said worker, the communicator (1) comprises: a transmitter (7) for communicating with abase station remote from the communicator (1); a location monitoring means (3) for monitoring the location of the communicator (1) and for continuously or intermittently sending to the base station worker location data associated with the respective communicator (1) and/or the worker wearing or carrying the communicator (1); a fall detection device (4) configured to detect a fall event of a worker carrying or wearing the communicator (1); an input means (5) operable by the worker carrying or wearing the communicator (1); and an alarm (8; 9) configured to activate if a fall of the worker has been detected by the fall detection device (4), where the communicator (1) is configured to transmit a fall warning to the base station using the transmitter (7) when the fall detection device (4) detects a fall event of a person carrying or wearing
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Paradigm Flow Services Limited
    Inventors: Hugh MacKenzie, Ashley Thomson
  • Publication number: 20210213490
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation is described. The method comprises introducing a flexible hose into a fluid conduit system through a pressure control device, and running the flexible hose into a conduit to be cleaned while a fluid stream flows in the conduit. At least one substance is cleaned from the conduit by pumping a cleaning fluid into a bore of the flexible hose and expelling the cleaning fluid from the flexible hose into the conduit through at least one outlet in the flexible hose. The substance is carried the at least one substance in the fluid stream to a conduit outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Hugh Mackenzie, Robert Bain
  • Publication number: 20210190234
    Abstract: A coiled tubing system (10) for use in deploying a tubing string (12) into a conduit (14) comprises the tubing string (12) and a fluid discharge apparatus (26) disposed at a distal end of the tubing string (12). The tubing string (12) includes a first tubing portion (28) comprising composite coiled tubing and a second tubing portion (30) comprising metallic coiled tubing. The system (10) is configured to deploy the tubing string (12) and the fluid discharge apparatus (26) into the conduit (14), the fluid discharge apparatus (26) operable to generate pressure pulses which facilitate transport of the tubing string (12) further along the conduit 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Bain, Hugh MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 11041368
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation. The method comprises providing a composite pipe having a cleaning head coupled to a first end, and introducing the first end of the composite pipe and the cleaning head into a fluid conduit to be cleaned. Fluid is circulated between an annulus between an interior wall of the fluid conduit and the composite pipe, through a fluid circulation path defined by the cleaning head. The method comprises running the first end of the composite pipe and the cleaning head into the fluid conduit and cleaning at least one substance from the fluid conduit. An aspect of the invention relates to methods comprising circulating a heavy fluid through the fluid circulation path to reduce the effective weight of the pipe in the fluid conduit, and another aspect relates to a method comprising generating at least one pressure pulse in fluid in the fluid circulation path while imparting a pulling force or a pushing force on the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Hugh Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 10981201
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation is described. The method comprises introducing a flexible hose into a fluid conduit system through a pressure control device, and running the flexible hose into a conduit to be cleaned while a fluid stream flows in the conduit. At least one substance is cleaned from the conduit by pumping a cleaning fluid into a bore of the flexible hose and expelling the cleaning fluid from the flexible hose into the conduit through at least one outlet in the flexible hose. The at least one substance is carried in the fluid stream to a conduit outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Hugh Mackenzie, Robert Bain
  • Patent number: 10451457
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for of performing a test on a deluge system. The method comprises providing a gas source in fluid communication with a deluge system. A plurality of fluid sensors is installed at a plurality of locations (e.g. nozzles) in the deluge system. The gas source is activated to cause gas to flow through the deluge system during a gas test period, and using the plurality of sensors, at least one fluid parameter during the gas test period is measured to provide a gas test data set. The first gas test data set is stored, transmitted and/or processed to derive information about the condition of the deluge system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Hugh Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20180183917
    Abstract: A telecommunications user device 10 comprises a native telecommunications function 11 operable to conduct telecommunications with a telecommunications function 31 of a telecommunications device 30 via a telecommunications function 21 of telecommunications network equipment 20. The telecommunications user device 10 also comprises a data processing function 12 operable to cause, in response to a trigger event, data based on content received by the telecommunications user device 10 to be displayed on the telecommunications user device 10, and to perform an action based on user input received by the telecommunications user device 10 in response to displaying the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: David William Maxwell REEKIE, Diarmid Hugh MACKENZIE, Mark Edward BERRY, Nicholas David BUTCHER
  • Patent number: 9993854
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting fluid during flushing of a subsea fluid conduit such as a subsea umbilical. The apparatus comprises a vessel configured to receive fluid from the subsea fluid conduit, and a first connector for fluidly coupling the vessel to the subsea flowline. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a second connector for fluidly coupling the apparatus to a subsea production system and a flow control system. The flow control system is configured to operate in a first mode in which flushing fluid is directed from the subsea fluid conduit into the vessel, and is configured to operate in a second mode of operation in which the fluid is diverted from the subsea flowline to the subsea production system. In another aspect, the apparatus is configured to provide a detectable signal to surface when a pre-determined volume of flushing fluid has been received in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Angus Macaulay, Hugh Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20180043401
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation is described. The method comprises introducing a flexible hose into a fluid conduit system through a pressure control device, and running the flexible hose into a conduit to be cleaned while a fluid stream flows in the conduit. At least one substance is cleaned from the conduit by pumping a cleaning fluid into a bore of the flexible hose and expelling the cleaning fluid from the flexible hose into the conduit through at least one outlet in the flexible hose. The substance is carried the at least one substance in the fluid stream to a conduit outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Hugh MACKENZIE, Robert BAIN
  • Publication number: 20180030814
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation. The method comprises providing a composite pipe having a cleaning head coupled to a first end, and introducing the first end of the composite pipe and the cleaning head into a fluid conduit to be cleaned. Fluid is circulated between an annulus between an interior wall of the fluid conduit and the composite pipe, through a fluid circulation path defined by the cleaning head. The method comprises running the first end of the composite pipe and the cleaning head into the fluid conduit and cleaning at least one substance from the fluid conduit. An aspect of the invention relates to methods comprising circulating a heavy fluid through the fluid circulation path to reduce the effective weight of the pipe in the fluid conduit, and another aspect relates to a method comprising generating at least one pressure pulse in fluid in the fluid circulation path while imparting a pulling force or a pushing force on the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Hugh Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20170120309
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting fluid during flushing of a subsea fluid conduit such as a subsea umbilical. The apparatus comprises a vessel configured to receive fluid from the subsea fluid conduit, and a first connector for fluidly coupling the vessel to the subsea flowline. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a second connector for fluidly coupling the apparatus to a subsea production system and a flow control system. The flow control system is configured to operate in a first mode in which flushing fluid is directed from the subsea fluid conduit into the vessel, and is configured to operate in a second mode of operation in which the fluid is diverted from the subsea flowline to the subsea production system. In another aspect, the apparatus is configured to provide a detectable signal to surface when a pre-determined volume of flushing fluid has been received in the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Angus Macaulay, Hugh Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20160054158
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for of performing a test on a deluge system. The method comprises providing a gas source in fluid communication with a deluge system. A plurality of fluid sensors is installed at a plurality of locations (e.g. nozzles) in the deluge system. The gas source is activated to cause gas to flow through the deluge system during a gas test period, and using the plurality of sensors, at least one fluid parameter during the gas test period is measured to provide a gas test data set. The first gas test data set is stored, transmitted and/or processed to derive information about the condition of the deluge system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Hugh MACKENZIE
  • Publication number: 20150369033
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for performing an operation in a fluid conduit of a hydrocarbon exploration or production installation and methods of use. The apparatus comprises a body configured to be received in a fluid conduit, which is coupled to a tool fluid conduit defining a flow bore. An imaging device is carried by the body and a flow direction arrangement provides a fluid circulation path between an annulus located between an interior wall of the fluid conduit and the body and the flow bore in use. The flow direction arrangement is configured to provide a deployment thrust on the body when fluid is circulated between the annulus and the flow bore through the fluid circulation path. Applications to the inspection of flexible risers and applications to the placement of a fluid or material a treatment operation are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: Hugh MACKENZIE
  • Publication number: 20150143920
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for assessing the condition of a fluid conduit. The method comprises providing a measurement apparatus comprising a measurement region in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. The measurement apparatus is operable to measure at least one of pressure and flowrate in the measurement region. A pressure surge is effected or generated to propagate in the fluid conduit, and at least one of a pressure response or a flowrate response from the fluid conduit is measured. From a pressure data set and a flowrate data set, a data set representative of the cross sectional area along the fluid conduit is determined. This enables average or over all area profiles along long fluid pipelines to be deduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Hugh Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 8999070
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for removing a blockage from a fluid conduit. An apparatus comprises a first portion containing a fluid volume separated from the fluid conduit via a controllable valve. The valve is cyclically opened and closed such that a pressure differential between the first portion and the fluid conduit causes a series of pressure pulses in the fluid conduit. The pressure differential is regulated to control the amplitude of the pressure pulses of the series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Paradigm Flow Services Services Limited
    Inventor: Hugh MacKenzie
  • Publication number: 20140345651
    Abstract: A water deluge system cleaning apparatus and method of cleaning a water deluge system which does not require the water deluge system to be offline while it is being cleaned. This is achieved by a packing device that provides an annular seal within the water deluge system, and a cleaning device for cleaning the water deluge system that extends through the packing device. Arrangements of inlets and/or outlets comprising safety valves also provide for additional functionality such as debris extraction or fluid flushing while still allowing the water deluge system to remain online.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: PARADIGM FLOW SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Hugh MacKenzie