Patents by Inventor John Vicic

John Vicic 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: 7070001
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having one or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activation by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective layer during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Whanger, John Vicic, Christopher Cuffe, Clayton Plucheck, Patrick G. Maguire
  • Publication number: 20050279504
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly for use on a well with a blowout preventer stack having a bore therethrough that utilizes an intervention spool sealingly secured between a horizontal tree and the blowout preventer stack to allow the use of a removable valve package positioned in the intervention spool with valve actuators mounted on the exterior of the intervention spool is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Danny Wolff, John Vicic, William Taylor, Mark Carter
  • Publication number: 20050269108
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having one or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activation by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective layer during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventors: Ken Whanger, John Vicic, Christopher Cuffe, Clayton Plucheck, Patrick Maguire
  • Patent number: 6907937
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having one or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activation by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective layer during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Whanger, John Vicic, Christopher Cuffe, Clayton Plucheck, Patrick G. Maguire
  • Publication number: 20050062235
    Abstract: A seal assembly capable of low temperature service is disclosed. It features upper and lower metallic backup rings that are specially shaped to act as a spring to keep the sidewalls of such rings in contact with the inside and outside surfaces to be sealed to prevent extrusion of the seal material even in low temperature situations. Inner and outer grooves are provided. O-ring seals, used for the ID of the seal, are manufactured to have a slightly greater diameter than the groove into which they will be installed. The greater length provides stored energy to promote sealing functionality in cold temperature situations. The O-rings used for the OD of the seal are manufactured to have a slightly smaller diameter than the groove into which they will be installed. The shorter length provides stored energy to promote sealing functionality in cold temperature situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Kendall Keene, John Vicic
  • Publication number: 20040118572
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having one or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activation by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective layer during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Ken Whanger, John Vicic, Christopher Cuffe, Clayton Plucheck, Patrick G. Maguire