Patents by Inventor Jeffrey G. Renfro

Jeffrey G. Renfro 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: 8924029
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a model associated with production of natural gas from a well, where the well has a choke valve that controls flow of material including natural gas from the well. The method also includes identifying, using the model, a solution that increases an amount of natural gas obtained from the well over a specified time horizon. In addition, the method includes adjusting operation of the choke valve based on the identified solution. The model could be generated using geological data associated with the well and/or historical data associated with natural gas production from the well. A natural gas reservoir can be modeled as a continuous stirred bed with a rock or shale void fraction using mass or volumetric unit balances. Gas content versus pressure for the well can be plotted, and Langmuir adsorption parameters for the well can be identified using the plotted gas content versus pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Nath, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Jeffrey G. Renfro, Betty Jean Stanek
  • Publication number: 20120215365
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a model associated with production of natural gas from a well, where the well has a choke valve that controls flow of material including natural gas from the well. The method also includes identifying, using the model, a solution that increases an amount of natural gas obtained from the well over a specified time horizon. In addition, the method includes adjusting operation of the choke valve based on the identified solution. The model could be generated using geological data associated with the well and/or historical data associated with natural gas production from the well. A natural gas reservoir can be modeled as a continuous stirred bed with a rock or shale void fraction using mass or volumetric unit balances. Gas content versus pressure for the well can be plotted, and Langmuir adsorption parameters for the well can be identified using the plotted gas content versus pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Nath, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Jeffrey G. Renfro, Jerome J. Stanek, Betty Jean Stanek
  • Patent number: 8046089
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a nonlinear process model modeling a nonlinear process to be controlled. The method also includes obtaining an objective function defining how the process is controlled. The method further includes obtaining a control model defining a dynamic feasible region associated with a controlled variable, where the controlled variable is associated with the process. In addition, the method includes controlling the nonlinear process by solving a control problem that includes the process model, control model, and objective function. The dynamic feasible region defined by the control model could represent a funnel region. The objective function could include terms for minimizing and optimizing adjustments to one or more manipulated variables associated with the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Renfro, Joseph Z. Lu
  • Publication number: 20090319059
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a nonlinear process model modeling a nonlinear process to be controlled. The method also includes obtaining an objective function defining how the process is controlled. The method further includes obtaining a control model defining a dynamic feasible region associated with a controlled variable, where the controlled variable is associated with the process. In addition, the method includes controlling the nonlinear process by solving a control problem that includes the process model, control model, and objective function. The dynamic feasible region defined by the control model could represent a funnel region. The objective function could include terms for minimizing and optimizing adjustments to one or more manipulated variables associated with the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Renfro, Joseph Z. Lu