Patents by Inventor Kirk B. Ross

Kirk B. Ross 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).

  • Method of conducting plunger lift operations using a sphere and sleeve plunger combination
    Patent number: 11208875
    Abstract: A method of lifting liquids from a formation using a plunger lift assembly. The method includes dropping a multi-component plunger lift assembly from a wellhead and into a wellbore. This is done in response to a release signal or in response to a wellhead being shut in. The wellbore has a deviated section which may extend to horizontal. The multi-component plunger lift assembly includes a cylindrical plunger and a sphere. These components are released into the wellbore simultaneously. In response to reservoir formation gases passing into the wellbore, the method also includes allowing the plunger lift assembly to move up the wellbore and to the wellhead, thereby pushing liquids upwardly towards the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Jason T. Sodowsky, Harold Douglas Selby, Kirk B. Ross
  • Method of Conducting Plunger Lift Operations Using a Sphere and Sleeve Plunger Combination
    Publication number: 20200217178
    Abstract: A method of lifting liquids from a formation using a plunger lift assembly. The method includes dropping a multi-component plunger lift assembly from a wellhead and into a wellbore. This is done in response to a release signal or in response to a wellhead being shut in. The wellbore has a deviated section which may extend to horizontal. The multi-component plunger lift assembly includes a cylindrical plunger and a sphere. These components are released into the wellbore simultaneously. In response to reservoir formation gases passing into the wellbore, the method also includes allowing the plunger lift assembly to move up the wellbore and to the wellhead, thereby pushing liquids upwardly towards the wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jason T. Sodowsky, Harold Douglas Selby, Kirk B. Ross