Patents by Inventor Jack Couch

Jack Couch 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: 11927078
    Abstract: An improved underwater oil, gas and water separator used as party of a hydrocarbon containment system for recovery of oil and/or gas subsea, especially from downed structures with leaking production wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: Walter Jack Couch, Kevin J. Kennelley, Timothy Couvillion, Scott Schexnayder
  • Patent number: 10815736
    Abstract: An underwater steel catenary pipeline riser (SCR) lifting frame comprises a lift frame foundation and an SCR lifting frame comprising a lift frame interface adapted to be connected to the lift frame foundation; a foundation interface; a lift guide configured to accept the lift frame foundation; and a lift slidably disposed about the lift guide, the lift comprising an SCR pull head interface configured to be connected to an SCR pull head. The underwater steel catenary pipeline riser (SCR) lifting frame and systems using it allow for flex joint repair/replacement subsea which do not require large winches, deck re-enforcements, steering winches, and heavy crane lifts required by facility mounted winches above water and also reduces required heavy lifting and overall complexity of flex joint replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Jack Couch
  • Publication number: 20190323297
    Abstract: An underwater steel catenary pipeline riser (SCR) lifting frame comprises a lift frame foundation and an SCR lifting frame comprising a lift frame interface adapted to be connected to the lift frame foundation; a foundation interface; a lift guide configured to accept the lift frame foundation; and a lift slidably disposed about the lift guide, the lift comprising an SCR pull head interface configured to be connected to an SCR pull head. The underwater steel catenary pipeline riser (SCR) lifting frame and systems using it allow for flex joint repair/replacement subsea which do not require large winches, deck re-enforcements, steering winches, and heavy crane lifts required by facility mounted winches above water and also reduces required heavy lifting and overall complexity of flex joint replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Jack Couch
  • Patent number: 10267002
    Abstract: In its various embodiments the claimed water current shield may be used to improve safety for a diver and/or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by lowering the water current shield with a crane with the louvers initially in a first position to allow water current to flow through the louvers, positioning the water current shield with hold-back rigging from an up-current side of the subsea work site, adjusting an open or closed characteristic of the louvers if drag from the water current needs to be reduced around the subsea work site, and closing the louvers to protect an object proximate the water current shield from the water current, thereby shielding divers and/or ROVs from water currents at an underwater work site. The water current shield generally comprises a frame; a predetermined set of louver assemblies operatively connected to the frame, where each louver assembly comprises one or more selectably movable louvers; and a louver mover operatively connected to each selectably movable louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Couch, Matthew James Caston, Kyle William Gebhardt, Scott Edward Hermann
  • Publication number: 20170130413
    Abstract: In its various embodiments the water current shield may be used to improve safety for a diver and/or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by shielding them from water currents at an underwater work site, thereby allowing them to avoid excess fatigue from the water currents at the underwater work site. It may also extend an environmental range in which projects can proceed without facing the need to go on weather standby or off hire. The water current shield generally comprises a frame; a predetermined set of louver assemblies operatively connected to the frame, where each louver assembly comprises one or more selectably movable louvers; and a louver mover operatively connected to each selectably movable louver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Couch, Matthew James Caston, Kyle William Gebhardt, Scott Edward Hermann
  • Patent number: 8197577
    Abstract: A passive hydrocarbon containment system for containing hydrocarbons in a fluid comprises a subsea separator dome, an oil pathway in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon collector disposed within the collection dome, and a gas outlet pipe having a discharge height dimensioned and adapted in relation to the height of the oil pathway sufficient to keep a portion of the oil pathway submerged into a fluid such as seawater present in the collection dome interior void. The hydrocarbon containment system can be moored subsea and used to collect oil and gas coming out of the ocean floor. One advantage of the hydrocarbon containment system is that there are no moving parts. A further advantage is that the hydrocarbon containment system requires limited maintenance to pump out the collected oil as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Jack Couch
  • Publication number: 20100038324
    Abstract: A passive hydrocarbon containment system for containing hydrocarbons in a fluid comprises a subsea separator dome, an oil pathway in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon collector disposed within the collection dome, and a gas outlet pipe having a discharge height dimensioned and adapted in relation to the height of the oil pathway sufficient to keep a portion of the oil pathway submerged into a fluid such as seawater present in the collection dome interior void. The hydrocarbon containment system can be moored subsea and used to collect oil and gas coming out of the ocean floor. One advantage of the hydrocarbon containment system is that there are no moving parts. A further advantage is that the hydrocarbon containment system requires limited maintenance to pump out the collected oil as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: W. Jack Couch