Patents by Inventor James A. Michaud

James A. Michaud 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).

  • Publication number: 20240410247
    Abstract: A powered clamp assembly for use on managed pressure drilling rig comprising: a first jaw and a second jaw, each one of said jaws comprising a pivot extremity and a locking extremity, each one of said pivot extremity comprising a structural member jutting outwardly from its respective jaw and pivotally connected to a bridging means; each one of the locking extremities is connected to one another through a closure means; wherein the movement of said first jaw and said second jaw allows movement of said jaws between a proximal position in relation to each other and a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: BEYOND ENERGY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: George James MICHAUD, Stewart George WILSON, Charles Erle NORVILA, Wayne Mervyn Edwin HASSEL
  • Publication number: 20240287865
    Abstract: A powered clamp assembly for use on a rotating control device on a managed pressure drilling rig may comprise a first jaw and a second jaw. Each one of the jaws may include a pivot extremity and a locking extremity. Each pivot extremity may include a structural member jutting outwardly from its respective jaw and pivotally connected to a bridging means. The pivot extremity of each of the first and second jaws may be set opposite one another. Each of the locking extremities may be connected to a closure means. The locking extremities of the first and second jaws may be set opposite one another. The movement of the first jaw and the second jaw may allow movement of the jaws between a proximal position in relation to each other and a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Charles Erle Norvila, Stewart George Wilson, Scott Rypstra, George James Michaud
  • Publication number: 20240271495
    Abstract: A running-retrieving tool for use in oilfield operations comprises a first section having a bonnet and a split retainer, the first section having a cavity with an inner diameter adapted to allow the insertion therethrough of a second section and wherein the first section is adapted to be secured to a tool. The second section has an elongated body with an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the first section. The second section has a track, an entry channel, and a release channel. The second section is adapted to be mounted onto a drillstring and is releasably inserted inside the cavity of the first section through the insertion of J-pins inside the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: George James MICHAUD, Stewart George WILSON, Charles Erle NORVILA, Colin Walter BROCK, Jeff SKANDS
  • Publication number: 20230110604
    Abstract: A powered clamp assembly for use on managed pressure drilling rig comprising: a first jaw and a second jaw, each one of said jaws comprising a pivot extremity and a locking extremity, each one of said pivot extremity comprising a structural member jutting outwardly from its respective jaw and pivotally connected to a bridging means; each one of the locking extremities is connected to one another through a closure means; wherein the movement of said first jaw and said second jaw allows movement of said jaws between a proximal position in relation to each other and a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: George James MICHAUD, Stewart George WILSON, Charles Erle NORVILA, Wayne Mervyn Edwin HASSEL
  • Patent number: 11619107
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Grant Prideco, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Patent number: 11339619
    Abstract: A seal and bearing includes a seal and bearing housing, a rotatable mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the seal and bearing housing, an upper seal carrier attached to a top side of the seal and bearing housing having a dynamic sealing element that contacts the rotatable mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings to facilitate rotation of the rotatable mandrel including top tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a positive offset angle from a perpendicular line to a longitudinal axis of the rotating control device and bottom tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a negative offset angle from the perpendicular line to the longitudinal axis of the rotating control device, a preload spacer disposed between the top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to a bottom side of the seal and bearing housing having a plurality of removable seal carrier trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Publication number: 20220120156
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Patent number: 11306551
    Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, Jr., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
  • Patent number: 11306550
    Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, Jr., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
  • Patent number: 11248434
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Publication number: 20210246754
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Publication number: 20210207447
    Abstract: A seal and bearing includes a seal and bearing housing, a rotatable mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the seal and bearing housing, an upper seal carrier attached to a top side of the seal and bearing housing having a dynamic sealing element that contacts the rotatable mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings to facilitate rotation of the rotatable mandrel including top tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a positive offset angle from a perpendicular line to a longitudinal axis of the rotating control device and bottom tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a negative offset angle from the perpendicular line to the longitudinal axis of the rotating control device, a preload spacer disposed between the top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to a bottom side of the seal and bearing housing having a plurality of removable seal carrier trays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Patent number: 11008825
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Patent number: 10995573
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Publication number: 20200362659
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Publication number: 20200362651
    Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
  • Publication number: 20200300052
    Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, JR., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
  • Publication number: 20200300051
    Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, JR., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
  • Patent number: 9856713
    Abstract: A rotating flow head (RFH) has a housing having an internal bore with diameter substantially equal to that of a riser and at least one flow port proximate one longitudinal end thereof. First and second arrays of radially extensible and retractable locking elements are disposed circumferentially around the RFH housing. The RFH has a bearing assembly (BA) housing having an exterior diameter selected to fit within the internal bore of the RFH housing so as to provide an annular space therein. The BA housing engages one of the arrays of locking elements when extended. A mandrel is rotatably, sealingly supported within the BA housing. Another end of the BA housing and the other array of locking elements provide longitudinal force on the BA housing when the other array is extended. A seal element disposed in the annular space is energized by the longitudinal force applied to the BA housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Zaurayze Tarique, George James Michaud
  • Patent number: 9694536
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing a molded fiber article capable of having detailed indicia embossed thereon is provided. A molded fiber article having a smooth surface with detailed indicia is also provided. The system includes using a wire mesh structure coupled with an embossing plate such that the embossing plate imparts a smooth surface with indicia onto the molded fiber article during formation. The smooth surface if the embossing plate allows for greater detail than that of the textured surface created by the wire mesh structure. The system may also include a forming die that generally conforms to the wire mesh structure to facilitate formation of the molded fiber article. The wire mesh structure may include a recessed area for housing the embossing plate, which may be attached to the wire mesh structure using fasteners and a backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HUHTAMAKI, INC.
    Inventors: Keegan Y. Yang, Donald V. Breton, James Michaud