Patents by Inventor Marc Minassian
Marc Minassian 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: 8701786Abstract: Wellhead assemblies, seal assemblies, and methods of locking down an annulus seal disposed within an annulus between outer and inner wellhead members, are provided. A seal assembly is positioned in an annulus. An energizing member is axially translated downward to energize an annulus seal element and outwardly radially compress a high-strength lockdown member into contact with an inner diameter surface of a wellhead member. The wellhead member can include a set of wickers. During compression, the outer diameter surface of the lockdown member is plastically deformed onto the set of wickers.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Gary Galle, Marc Minassian
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Patent number: 8689891Abstract: A universal dart launcher launches a dart by moving a dart from a first position to a second position. The universal dart launcher has a launcher body defining a central bore having an axis and lower and upper ends configured to attach to a string of pipe. A cartridge housed within the launcher body may move perpendicular to the axis from a first position to a second position. A drop member is positioned within the cartridge so that it will not be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the first position, and will be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the second position. An actuator assembly couples to the launcher body to move the cartridge from the first position to the second position when actuated.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Peter Gette, Marc Minassian, James Christopher Clingman
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Publication number: 20120273198Abstract: A universal dart launcher launches a dart by moving a dart from a first position to a second position. The universal dart launcher has a launcher body defining a central bore having an axis and lower and upper ends configured to attach to a string of pipe. A cartridge housed within the launcher body may move perpendicular to the axis from a first position to a second position. A drop member is positioned within the cartridge so that it will not be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the first position, and will be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the second position. An actuator assembly couples to the launcher body to move the cartridge from the first position to the second position when actuated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Nicholas Peter Gette, Marc Minassian, James Christopher Clingman
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Publication number: 20120241175Abstract: Wellhead assemblies, seal assemblies, and methods of locking down an annulus seal disposed within an annulus between outer and inner wellhead members, are provided. A seal assembly is positioned in an annulus. An energizing member is axially translated downward to energize an annulus seal element and outwardly radially compress a high-strength lockdown member into contact with an inner diameter surface of a wellhead member. The wellhead member can include a set of wickers. During compression, the outer diameter surface of the lockdown member is plastically deformed onto the set of wickers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Gary Galle, Marc Minassian
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Patent number: 8074724Abstract: A drilling system employs a set of bushings that protect seats used for casing hangers. The system includes one or more seat protectors that attach to a running tool. The running tool is lowered down the wellbore with the seat protectors attached and deposits a bushing at each surface to be protected. The running tool may retrieve the bushings as the running tool is withdrawn from the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Marc Minassian, Guilherme Eppinghaus, David L. Ford
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Patent number: 8066064Abstract: A wellhead system comprising a high pressure housing having a retractable ring and a casing hanger having an activation ring configured to be engaged by the retractable ring when the casing hanger is lowered into the high pressure housing. An expandable load member is carried by the casing hanger into the high pressure housing. When the activation ring is engaged by the retractable ring, the activation ring is blocked from further downward motion. The activation ring and the body of the casing hanger cooperate with the load member to expand the load member outward into engagement with the high pressure housing as the casing hanger is lowered further into the high pressure housing. The outer surface of the load member and the inner surface of the high pressure housing are configured so that the high pressure housing supports the casing hanger when the load member is expanded into engagement with the high pressure housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Marc Minassian, David L. Ford
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Publication number: 20100243271Abstract: A drilling system employs a set of bushings that protect seats used for casing hangers. The system includes one or more seat protectors that attach to a running tool. The running tool is lowered down the wellbore with the seat protectors attached and deposits a bushing at each surface to be protected. The running tool may retrieve the bushings as the running tool is withdrawn from the wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Marc Minassian, Guilherme Eppinghaus, David L. Ford
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Publication number: 20100116486Abstract: A wellhead system comprising a high pressure housing having a retractable ring and a casing hanger having an activation ring configured to be engaged by the retractable ring when the casing hanger is lowered into the high pressure housing. An expandable load member is carried by the casing hanger into the high pressure housing. When the activation ring is engaged by the retractable ring, the activation ring is blocked from further downward motion. The activation ring and the body of the casing hanger cooperate with the load member to expand the load member outward into engagement with the high pressure housing as the casing hanger is lowered further into the high pressure housing. The outer surface of the load member and the inner surface of the high pressure housing are configured so that the high pressure housing supports the casing hanger when the load member is expanded into engagement with the high pressure housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Marc Minassian, David L. Ford
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Patent number: 7647973Abstract: A tool is employed with a subsea wellhead assembly for preventing the collapse of a wear bushing located in a drill-through tubular member due to external test forces being applied to it. The tool has a connector that connects to the drill-through tubular member. A stem extends downward from the connector and has a reacting member at its lower end. The reacting member engages an inner diameter of the wear bushing to resist inwardly directed forces due to fluid pressure on the exterior of the wear bushing. The tool can be incorporated with a running tool or with a blowout preventer isolation test tool.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Marc Minassian, Robert K. Voss, Kevin G. Buckle, Steven P. Fenton
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Publication number: 20080017383Abstract: A tool is employed with a subsea wellhead assembly for preventing the collapse of a wear bushing located in a drill-through tubular member due to external test forces being applied to it. The tool has a connector that connects to the drill-through tubular member. A stem extends downward from the connector and has a reacting member at its lower end. The reacting member engages an inner diameter of the wear bushing to resist inwardly directed forces due to fluid pressure on the exterior of the wear bushing. The tool can be incorporated with a running tool or with a blowout preventer isolation test tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2006Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventors: Marc Minassian, Robert K. Voss, Kevin G. Buckle, Steven P. Fenton
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Patent number: 6598673Abstract: A wellhead load ring constructed in the shape of a C-ring is pre-installed in a wellhead in a storage position that maintains full bore of the wellhead. The load ring is secured in this position by shear pins. The shear pins are sheared by a tool that pushes the load ring into an operational position where it rests on a landing shoulder of a support ring. The load ring is further secured in this position by one of several latching methods.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Stanley Hosie, Marc Minassian, Norman Brammer