Patents by Inventor Jim E. Layton

Jim E. Layton 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: 8314583
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system can include a pump located in a wellbore, a motor attached to the pump, a power source located at the surface, a cable electrically coupling the power source and the motor, and a current sensor. The ESP system can also include a controller communicating with the current sensor to calculate a voltage drop associated with the cable responsive to an impedance of the cable. The controller can also control a power source output voltage responsive to the calculated voltage drop. For example, the controller can adjust the power source output voltage to minimize a cable current while maintaining a minimum motor voltage. The controller can also control a motor shaft speed by changing a power source output voltage frequency to compensate for changing slip and adjust the power source output voltage to minimize the cable current while maintaining a minimum motor voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom G. Yohanan, Dick L. Knox, John M. Leuthen, Jim E. Layton, Howard G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8125177
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing electrical power and to downhole oil production equipment such as electrical submersible pumps, wherein the outputs of multiple power modules are individually filtered before being added together to obtain a high voltage output that is provided to the downhole equipment. In one embodiment, an electrical drive system includes multiple power modules and corresponding filters. Each of the power modules is configured to receive an input power signal and to provide a corresponding pulse width modulated or stepped intermediate signal. The signal output by each power module is individually filtered to remove at least a portion of high-frequency components in the signal. The power modules and filters are coupled together in a configuration in which the filtered signals of the power modules are added to produce an output drive signal that is used to drive equipment such as an electrical submersible pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerald R. Rider, John M. Leuthen, Jim E. Layton, Dick L. Knox
  • Publication number: 20090309524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing electrical power and to downhole oil production equipment such as electrical submersible pumps, wherein the outputs of multiple power modules are individually filtered before being added together to obtain a high voltage output that is provided to the downhole equipment. In one embodiment, an electrical drive system includes multiple power modules and corresponding filters. Each of the power modules is configured to receive an input power signal and to provide a corresponding pulse width modulated or stepped intermediate signal. The signal output by each power module is individually filtered to remove at least a portion of high-frequency components in the signal. The power modules and filters are coupled together in a configuration in which the filtered signals of the power modules are added to produce an output drive signal that is used to drive equipment such as an electrical submersible pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Jerald R. Rider, John M. Leuthen, Jim E. Layton, Dick L. Knox
  • Publication number: 20090256519
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pumping (ESP) system can include a pump located in a wellbore, a motor attached to the pump, a power source located at the surface, a cable electrically coupling the power source and the motor, and a current sensor. The ESP system can also include a controller communicating with the current sensor to calculate a voltage drop associated with the cable responsive to an impedance of the cable. The controller can also control a power source output voltage responsive to the calculated voltage drop. For example, the controller can adjust the power source output voltage to minimize a cable current while maintaining a minimum motor voltage. The controller can also control a motor shaft speed by changing a power source output voltage frequency to compensate for changing slip and adjust the power source output voltage to minimize the cable current while maintaining a minimum motor voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom G. Yohanan, Dick L. Knox, John M. Leuthen, Jim E. Layton, Howard G. Thompson