Patents by Inventor Joseph D. Stafford

Joseph D. Stafford 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: 5625293
    Abstract: The watercut of fluid in a mulitphase flow is measured. Microwave energy in the 10 Ghz range is transmitted through a test call having flow passing therein through a known geometry. Attenuation and phase shift of the microwave energy is measured and used to derive the wave number of the microwaves in the unknown fluid. The water fraction of the unknown fluid is then determined from the wave number and the known geometry of the test all using Hannai's equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventors: John D. Marrelli, Joseph D. Stafford, David A. Helms, Michael G. Durrett, Gregory J. Hatton
  • Patent number: 5473256
    Abstract: A waveguide and pressure barrier for use with devices for measuring fluid parameters of fluids passing in a pipe under high temperature and pressure conditions and utilizing microwave energy for making the measurements, the device including a pair of substantially identical members adapted to be mounted in spaced opposition on the pipe. Each member has an axial bore with a transverse bore for receiving a microwave antenna. The axial bore is substantially filled with a ceramic glass material providing the pressure and temperature barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Stafford, Gregory J. Hatton, David A. Helms
  • Patent number: 5386719
    Abstract: In a three phase fluid stream microwave monitor, an improved test cell having a fluid stream flowing through it with spaced, aligned first and second antenna located within the test cell to receive microwave energy, irradiate the fluid stream, and receive the microwave energy which has passed through the fluid stream. The test cell has a rotatable cage mounted to form a cylinder enclosing the antennas for reducing an amount of debris in a portion of the petroleum stream flowing therebetween. The cage includes vanes which cause it to rotate, under the influence of the flowing stream to thereby be self-cleaning. The cage also carries a block which lies between the antenna and perpendicular to the axis thereof. Rotation of the cage causes rotation of this block to modulate the microwave transmission in a manner indicative of the fluid velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Marrelli, Joseph D. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5383353
    Abstract: The means and method of the present invention includes a source of microwave energy and associated elements which provide microwave energy to a petroleum stream. Other circuitry include elements which receive microwave energy from the petroleum stream. Electronic apparatus provides at least two outputs utilizing the provided microwave energy, the received microwave energy and known values for 100 percent oil, 100 percent solids of one specie and 100 percent water, corresponding to different ratios of ratios involving oil and water, oil and solids, and water and solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Marrelli, Dale F. Brost, Farhan Siddiqui, Lisa L. Pepin, Joseph D. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5107219
    Abstract: The conductance meter includes source means which irradiates a fluid with microwave energy. A receiver receives microwave energy that has passed through the fluid and provides the received microwave energy as test microwave energy. Electronic apparatus determines the conductance of the fluid in accordance with the amplitude of the test microwave energy and the phase difference between the microwave energy from the source and the test microwave energy from the receiver where only 1 microwave frequency is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Marrelli, Lisa L. Pepin, Gregory J. Hatton, Farhan Siddiqui, Joseph D. Stafford
  • Patent number: 4977377
    Abstract: A petroleum stream microwave water cut monitor includes test cell means which contains a reference petroleum multiphase fluid sample and which has a sample stream of a petroleum stream passing through it. The test cell is maintained at a predetermined temperature. A source provides microwave energy to one of a first pair of antennae which provides the petroleum stream flowing in the test cell or the reference sample in the test cell with microwave energy. One of a second pair of antennae receives the microwave energy that has passed through either the petroleum stream or the reference sample. A detector detects the received microwave energy and provides a signal corresponding thereto. An indicator provides an indication of the water cut of the petroleum stream in accordance with the received signal power and a phase difference between the source provided microwave energy and the received microwave energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Durrett, David A. Helms, Gregory J. Hatton, Earl L. Dowty, John D. Marrelli, Joseph D. Stafford, David J. Stavish
  • Patent number: 4947128
    Abstract: A co-variance microwave water cut monitor includes a test cell having a petroleum stress flowing through it while permitting the microwave energy to enter the test cell. A microwave source provides microwave energy to a circulator which in turn provides the microwave energy to an antenna. The antenna provides the petroleum stream in the test cell with the microwave energy and receives reflected microwave energy back from the stream. The reflected microwave energy is provided by the antenna to the circulator which in turn provides the reflected microwave energy as test microwave energy. A detector assembly connected to the circulator detects the intensity of the test microwave energy and provides a corresponding intensity signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco IJN Inc
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hatton, David A. Helms, Michael G. Durrett, John D. Marrelli, Joseph D. Stafford
  • Patent number: 4184143
    Abstract: In a conductor cable for seismic exploration, where the cable will have very high resistance transducers connected to it for transmitting signals from one or more transducer stations to a recording station, there is a controllably conductive path connected across the transducers. The path is only conductive at a voltage greater than the maximum of the signals. And, a constant current source is applied at the recording station. Also, a voltmeter is employed to measure the continuity of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph D. Stafford