Patents by Inventor Khanh Anh Duong
Khanh Anh Duong 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).
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Patent number: 10594068Abstract: A wet connect apparatus operable in a down-hole environment includes an annular electrical contact, which includes a resilient outer member constructed of coiled spring having its ends fused together, and also includes an inner retention member constructed of a gift ring embedded or installed within the resilient outer member. The inner retention member provides a radial bias to retain the annular electrical contact within an electrically conductive groove during installation and assembly of the wet connect apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: PRIME DOWNHOLE MANUFACTURING LLCInventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Patent number: 10113383Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing with a bore and an annular lock groove on an inner diameter surface of the bore. A wellbore member is concentrically located within the bore of the wellhead housing, defining an annulus between the wellbore member and the wellhead housing. An annular lock ring is positioned in the annulus. The annular lock ring has an outer diameter profile for engaging the lock groove and is radially expandable from an unset position to a set position. An energizing ring is positioned in the annulus to push the lock ring outward to the set position as the energizing ring moves downward. A retainer selectively engages the energizing ring and limits axial upward movement of the energizing ring relative to the wellbore member, retains the annular lock in the set position, and prevents axial upward movement of the wellbore member relative to the wellhead housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLCInventors: Khanh Anh Duong, Rick C. Hunter
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Publication number: 20160359252Abstract: A wet connect apparatus operable in a down-hole environment includes an annular electrical contact, which includes a resilient outer member constructed of coiled spring having its ends fused together, and also includes an inner retention member constructed of a gift ring embedded or installed within the resilient outer member. The inner retention member provides a radial bias to retain the annular electrical contact within an electrically conductive groove during installation and assembly of the wet connect apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventor: Khanh Anh DUONG
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Publication number: 20160326869Abstract: A measurement while drilling (MWD) tool includes a sensor, an encoder operably connected to the sensor and a pulser operably connected to the encoder. The pulser includes a linearly acting bidirectional piston that operates a poppet valve. The poppet valve is designed to completely or partially interrupt the flow of fluid through the MWD tool. The selective operation of the piston-driven poppet valve creates pressure signals that are carried through the fluid. The piston assembly that drives the poppet valves includes wear rings that improve the performance and durability of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: GE Energy Oilfield Technology, Inc.Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Patent number: 9163739Abstract: A coating for use in protecting surfaces susceptible to environmental degradation. The coating may be applied to metallic surfaces for providing a barrier against elements and/or ambient conditions that would otherwise degrade the surface material. The coating includes multiple layers, where a thermoplastic polymer is included, wholly or partly, within one or more of the layers. Example applications of the coating are for protecting valve seat seals and valve stem seals of a valve assembly used in conjunction with handling of fluids produced from a subterranean formation.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Khanh Anh Duong
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Publication number: 20150267819Abstract: A gate valve for use in oil field applications having a seal assembly made up of an elastomeric case and a spring in the case having a V-shaped cross section. The spring has legs that depend from one another, and free ends of the legs that are contoured towards one another to define a rounded surface on outer surfaces of the legs. The rounded surface reduces stress contact between the spring and the case, thereby prolonging seal assembly life. The seal assembly can be placed between a stem in the valve and a gland packing. Other seal assembly locations include between a seat ring and counterbore in the valve body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Publication number: 20150068725Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing with a bore and an annular lock groove on an inner diameter surface of the bore. A wellbore member is concentrically located within the bore of the wellhead housing, defining an annulus between the wellbore member and the wellhead housing. An annular lock ring is positioned in the annulus. The annular lock ring has an outer diameter profile for engaging the lock groove and is radially expandable from an unset position to a set position. An energizing ring is positioned in the annulus to push the lock ring outward to the set position as the energizing ring moves downward. A retainer selectively engages the energizing ring and limits axial upward movement of the energizing ring relative to the wellbore member, retains the annular lock in the set position, and prevents axial upward movement of the wellbore member relative to the wellhead housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Khanh Anh Duong, Rick C. Hunter
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Patent number: 8870186Abstract: A seal assembly for use with a casing hanger that includes a pair of split rings held together by a threaded fastener. Torqueing the fastener axially compresses one of the rings so that it expands radially inward into sealing engagement with a wall of wellbore casing, and radially outward against an inner wall of a wellhead housing. Support grommets are provided where the fastener enters and exits the compressible ring. Protrusions on a side of the support grommets project into the compressible ring and create a sealing interface between each support grommet and compressible ring. O-rings line inner circumferences of the support grommets to seal between the support grommets and fasteners. A threaded end on a lower end of the fastener has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the O-rings to prevent damaging the O-rings during assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Chau Hoang, Khanh Anh Duong, William Ryan Moore, Karl A. Parfrey, Clayton Griffin
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Patent number: 8851185Abstract: A wellhead seal assembly has a primary seal and a secondary seal, each seal forming a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A primary metal seal ring has inner and outer walls separated by a slot. A secondary metal seal is located below the seal ring and has a bottom portion that contacts an upward facing shoulder of a hanger. A primary energizing exerts downward force on the primary seal, causing a secondary energizing ring, located below the primary energizing ring, to energize the secondary seal. Once the secondary seal is energized, thus stopping downward movement of the (primary seal and secondary energizing ring, the primary energizing ring energizes the primary seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Patent number: 8720586Abstract: A casing hanger seal assembly is lowered into a pocket between a casing hanger and a wellhead housing while in a run-in position. The seal assembly has a metal-to-metal upper seal ring and an elastomeric and metal lower seal ring carried by and below the upper seal ring. The upper and lower seal rings are movable from a run-in position to a set position sealing between the sidewalls of the casing hanger and the wellhead housing by applying a downward force. The downward force required to move the lower seal ring to the set position is less than the downward force required to move the upper seal ring to the set position. A downward force applied to the upper seal ring after the lower seal ring has landed in the pocket transfers to the lower seal ring to cause the lower seal ring to move to the set position before the upper seal ring moves to the set position.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Publication number: 20140062025Abstract: A seal assembly for use with a casing hanger that includes a pair of split rings held together by a threaded fastener. Torqueing the fastener axially compresses one of the rings so that it expands radially inward into sealing engagement with a wall of wellbore casing, and radially outward against an inner wall of a wellhead housing. Support grommets are provided where the fastener enters and exits the compressible ring. Protrusions on a side of the support grommets project into the compressible ring and create a sealing interface between each support grommet and compressible ring. O-rings line inner circumferences of the support grommets to seal between the support grommets and fasteners. A threaded end on a lower end of the fastener has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the O-rings to prevent damaging the O-rings during assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Chau Hoang, Khanh Anh Duong, William Ryan Moore, Karl A. Parfrey, Clayton Griffin
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Publication number: 20130299193Abstract: An apparatus and method can be used to positively retain a lockdown ring to axially secure a wellbore member in a wellhead housing. In embodiments, the wellbore member, such as a tubing hanger, can be secured by a lockdown ring having a cylindrical surface below a tapered surface. An energizing ring having a cylindrical surface above a tapered surface can be used to move the lockdown ring from an unset position to a set position, thus energizing the lockdown ring. After being energized, the two cylindrical surfaces can engage each other so that axial movement of the energizing ring, of up to a predetermined distance, does not cause the lockdown ring to move from a set position to an unset position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Publication number: 20130020522Abstract: A coating for use in protecting surfaces susceptible to environmental degradation. The coating may be applied to metallic surfaces for providing a barrier against elements and/or ambient conditions that would otherwise degrade the surface material. The coating includes multiple layers, where a thermoplastic polymer is included, wholly or partly, within one or more of the layers. Example applications of the coating are for protecting valve seat seals and valve stem seals of a valve assembly used in conjunction with handling of fluids produced from a subterranean formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Khanh Anh Duong
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Publication number: 20130000920Abstract: A casing hanger seal assembly is lowered into a pocket between a casing hanger and a wellhead housing while in a run-in position. The seal assembly has a metal-to-metal upper seal ring and an elastomeric and metal lower seal ring carried by and below the upper seal ring. The upper and lower seal rings are movable from a run-in position to a set position sealing between the sidewalls of the casing hanger and the wellhead housing by applying a downward force. The downward force required to move the lower seal ring to the set position is less than the downward force required to move the upper seal ring to the set position. A downward force applied to the upper seal ring after the lower seal ring has landed in the pocket transfers to the lower seal ring to cause the lower seal ring to move to the set position before the upper seal ring moves to the set position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong
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Publication number: 20120118585Abstract: A wellhead seal assembly has a primary seal and a secondary seal, each seal forming a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A primary metal seal ring has inner and outer walls separated by a slot. A secondary metal seal is located below the seal ring and has a bottom portion that contacts an upward facing shoulder of a hanger. A primary energizing exerts downward force on the primary seal, causing a secondary energizing ring, located below the primary energizing ring, to energize the secondary seal. Once the secondary seal is energized, thus stopping downward movement of the (primary seal and secondary energizing ring, the primary energizing ring energizes the primary seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventor: Khanh Anh Duong