Patents by Inventor John Viega

John Viega 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: 11269361
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for recovering hydrocarbon fluids in a process flow, including recovering bitumen from a coarse tailings line. The apparatus includes a signal processor that responds to signaling containing information about the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid in a process flow; and determines corresponding signaling to control the diversion of the hydrocarbon fluid from the process flow remaining based on the signaling received. The hydrocarbon fluid may be bitumen, including bitumen flowing in a course tailings line. The signal processor receives the signaling from a velocity profile meter having sensors arranged around a circumference of a process pipe containing information about a fluid flow velocity at various levels or heights within the process pipe, including a wrap-around velocity profile meter having multiple sensing arrays located radially at a top position of 0°, a bottom position of 180°, and intermediate positions 45°, 90° and 135°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES INC., SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: John Viega, Perry W. McKechnie, Marek J. Dominski
  • Publication number: 20210382505
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for recovering hydrocarbon fluids in a process flow, including recovering bitumen from a coarse tailings line. The apparatus includes a signal processor that responds to signaling containing information about the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid in a process flow; and determines corresponding signaling to control the diversion of the hydrocarbon fluid from the process flow remaining based on the signaling received. The hydrocarbon fluid may be bitumen, including bitumen flowing in a course tailings line. The signal processor receives the signaling from a velocity profile meter having sensors arranged around a circumference of a process pipe containing information about a fluid flow velocity at various levels or heights within the process pipe, including a wrap-around velocity profile meter having multiple sensing arrays located radially at a top position of 0°, a bottom position of 180°, and intermediate positions 45°, 90° and 135°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: John VIEGA, Perry W. McKechnie, Marek J. Dominski
  • Publication number: 20200264638
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for recovering hydrocarbon fluids in a process flow, including recovering bitumen from a coarse tailings line. The apparatus includes a signal processor that responds to signaling containing information about the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid in a process flow; and determines corresponding signaling to control the diversion of the hydrocarbon fluid from the process flow remaining based on the signaling received. The hydrocarbon fluid may be bitumen, including bitumen flowing in a course tailings line. The signal processor receives the signaling from a velocity profile meter having sensors arranged around a circumference of a process pipe containing information about a fluid flow velocity at various levels or heights within the process pipe, including a wrap-around velocity profile meter having multiple sensing arrays located radially at a top position of 0°, a bottom position of 180°, and intermediate positions 45°, 90° and 135°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: John VIEGA, Perry W. McKechnie, Marek J. Dominski
  • Patent number: 10228706
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for recovering hydrocarbon fluids in a process flow, including recovering bitumen from a coarse tailings line. The apparatus includes a signal processor that responds to signaling containing information about the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid in a process flow; and determines corresponding signaling to control the diversion of the hydrocarbon fluid from the process flow remaining based on the signaling received. The hydrocarbon fluid may be bitumen, including bitumen flowing in a course tailings line. The signal processor receives the signaling from a velocity profile meter having sensors arranged around a circumference of a process pipe containing information about a fluid flow velocity at various levels or heights within the process pipe, including a wrap-around velocity profile meter having multiple sensing arrays located radially at a top position of 0° , a bottom position of 180°, and intermediate positions 45°, 90° and 135°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignees: CiDRA Corporate Services Inc., SUNCOR Energy Inc.
    Inventors: John Viega, Perry W. McKechnie, Marek J. Dominski
  • Patent number: 10099251
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, including a pigging tool, that comprises a spraying mechanism configured to move along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and to spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, configured to cure the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Kersey, Mark R. Fernald, John Viega, Francis K. Didden
  • Patent number: 9759556
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided comprising a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about an acoustic signal swept and sensed over a frequency range in relation to a pipe; and determines information about the structure of the pipe based at least partly on two or more sub-frequency ranges that form part of the frequency range in the signaling received. The signal processor also receives the acoustic signal being transmitted to the pipe and corresponding signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges containing information about reflections of the acoustic signal back from the pipe; and determines information about the structure of the pipe based at least partly on a coherent mixing of the acoustic signal and the corresponding signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges using a coherent acoustic tomography technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Davis, Alan D. Kersey, John Viega
  • Publication number: 20170234476
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, including a pigging tool, that comprises a spraying mechanism configured to move along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and to spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, configured to cure the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Alan D. KERSEY, Mark R. FERNALD, John VIEGA, Francis K. Didden
  • Patent number: 9696190
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor configured to receive from an array of ultrasonic transponders around a tank, container or flow pipe signaling containing information about acoustic waves of energy penetrating a fluid in the tank, container or flow pipe; and determine using tomography a three-dimensional image of layers of the fluid in the tank, container or flow pipe based at least partly on the signalling received and. The signal processor provides corresponding signal containing information about the three-dimensional image of the layers of the fluid in the tank, container or flow pipe. The array is an obliquely oriented array of ultrasonic transponders arranged on an oblique plane to the axis of the tank or column; or the array is placed normal to the flow around the exterior of the flow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Kersey, John Viega
  • Publication number: 20150140228
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, including a pigging tool, that comprises a spraying mechanism configured to move along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and to spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, configured to cure the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: CiDRA CORPORATE SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Alan D. Kersey, Mark R. Fernald, John Viega, Francis K. Didden
  • Publication number: 20150047438
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor configured to receive from an array of ultrasonic transponders around a tank, container or flow pipe signaling containing information about acoustic waves of energy penetrating a fluid in the tank, container or flow pipe; and determine using tomography a three-dimensional image of layers of the fluid in the tank, container or flow pipe based at least partly on the signalling received and. The signal processor provides corresponding signal containing information about the three-dimensional image of the layers of the fluid in the tank, container or flow pipe. The array is an obliquely oriented array of ultrasonic transponders arranged on an oblique plane to the axis of the tank or column; or the array is placed normal to the flow around the exterior of the flow pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: CIDRA Corporate Servc
    Inventors: Alan D. Kersey, John Viega
  • Publication number: 20140373631
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided comprising a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about an acoustic signal swept and sensed over a frequency range in relation to a pipe; and determines information about the structure of the pipe based at least partly on two or more sub-frequency ranges that form part of the frequency range in the signaling received. The signal processor also receives the acoustic signal being transmitted to the pipe and corresponding signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges containing information about reflections of the acoustic signal back from the pipe; and determines information about the structure of the pipe based at least partly on a coherent mixing of the acoustic signal and the corresponding signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges using a coherent acoustic tomography technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Davis, Alan D. Kersey, John Viega
  • Publication number: 20140236364
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for recovering hydrocarbon fluids in a process flow, including recovering bitumen from a coarse tailings line. The apparatus includes a signal processor that responds to signaling containing information about the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid in a process flow; and determines corresponding signaling to control the diversion of the hydrocarbon fluid from the process flow remaining based on the signaling received. The hydrocarbon fluid may be bitumen, including bitumen flowing in a course tailings line. The signal processor receives the signaling from a velocity profile meter having sensors arranged around a circumference of a process pipe containing information about a fluid flow velocity at various levels or heights within the process pipe, including a wrap-around velocity profile meter having multiple sensing arrays located radially at a top position of 0° , a bottom position of 180°, and intermediate positions 45°, 90° and 135°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: John Viega, Perry W. McKechnie
  • Publication number: 20130339460
    Abstract: A protocol expander system and method operable to provide expanded capabilities for handling of electronic communications and documents including, for instance, by expanding capabilities of email-access software by incorporating an expanded email protocol layer between an email client and one or more electronic communications and/or document services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Roy Rim, John Viega, David Coffey
  • Publication number: 20060070043
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing computer code are provided. An original language of a computer code is determined. The original language can be selected from multiple computer languages. The computer code is translated to a generic computer language, which maintains the instructions of the computer code. The generic language is analyzed according to one or more pre-determined rules to determine if any incidents of interest exist within the computer code. The incidents of interest can include, for example, security-related items. If desired, a user can be notified of any incidents of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: John Viega, Matt Messier
  • Publication number: 20050246111
    Abstract: Various methods are described for measuring parameters of a stratified flow using at least one spatial array of sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe. Each of the sensors provides a signal indicative of unsteady pressure created by coherent structures convecting with the flow. In one aspect, a signal processor determines, from the signals, convection velocities of coherent structures having different length scales. The signal processor then compares the convection velocities to determine a level of stratification of the flow. The level of stratification may be used as part of a calibration procedure to determine the volumetric flow rate of the flow. In another aspect, the level of stratification of the flow is determined by comparing locally measured velocities at the top and bottom of the pipe. The ratio of the velocities near the top and bottom of the pipe correlates to the level of stratification of the flow. Additional sensor arrays may provide a velocity profile for the flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Gysling, Mark Fernald, Timothy Bailey, John Viega