Patents by Inventor Mark Ernest Blue

Mark Ernest Blue 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: 10458588
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid therethrough. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., Michael Joseph Ottomanelli, Donald S. George
  • Patent number: 10161233
    Abstract: A method for recovering a hydrocarbon resource from a subterranean formation may include applying radio frequency (RF) power to the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource to have a lowered viscosity. The method may further include producing the upgraded hydrocarbon resource from the subterranean formation to a wellhead, and, at the wellhead, adding a diluent to the upgraded hydrocarbon resource sufficient to meet a pipeline transport viscosity threshold. The method may also include supplying the diluted upgraded hydrocarbon resource to a pipeline for transportation therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Caleb Tomazinis, Scott S. Smith
  • Patent number: 9777222
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may include a first hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include a plurality of first RF power applicator stages coupled in series. Each first RF power stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade a hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough. The RF hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may also include a second hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include at least one second RF power applicator stage coupled in parallel with at least one of the first RF power applicator stages. The second RF power applicator stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., John Anton Meyer
  • Publication number: 20160040817
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid therethrough. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: MARK ERNEST BLUE, RONALD EDWARD JACKSON, JR., MICHAEL JOSEPH OTTOMANELLI, DONALD S. GEORGE
  • Patent number: 9200506
    Abstract: A device for transporting and upgrading a hydrocarbon resource may include a pair of pipeline segments configured to transport the hydrocarbon resource therethrough and a radio frequency (RF) upgrading device. The RF upgrading device may include an RF applicator comprising an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the pair of pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler. The RF upgrading device may also include an RF source coupled to the electrically conductive outer housing and having an operating frequency and power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., John Anton Meyer
  • Patent number: 9198234
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid therethrough. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., Michael Joseph Ottomanelli, Donald S. George
  • Publication number: 20150259604
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may include a first hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include a plurality of first RF power applicator stages coupled in series. Each first RF power stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade a hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough. The RF hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may also include a second hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include at least one second RF power applicator stage coupled in parallel with at least one of the first RF power applicator stages. The second RF power applicator stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, JR., John Anton Meyer
  • Patent number: 9057237
    Abstract: A method for recovering a hydrocarbon resource from a subterranean formation may include applying radio frequency (RF) power to the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource and producing the upgraded hydrocarbon resource from the subterranean formation to a wellhead. The method may also include, at the wellhead, performing an additional upgrading operation on the upgraded hydrocarbon resource using RF power. The method may further include supplying the upgraded hydrocarbon resource to a pipeline for transportation therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., John Anton Meyer
  • Patent number: 9044731
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may include a first hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include a plurality of first RF power applicator stages coupled in series. Each first RF power stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade a hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough. The RF hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may also include a second hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include at least one second RF power applicator stage coupled in parallel with at least one of the first RF power applicator stages. The second RF power applicator stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, Jr., John Anton Meyer
  • Publication number: 20140014325
    Abstract: A method for recovering a hydrocarbon resource from a subterranean formation may include applying radio frequency (RF) power to the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource and producing the upgraded hydrocarbon resource from the subterranean formation to a wellhead. The method may also include, at the wellhead, performing an additional upgrading operation on the upgraded hydrocarbon resource using RF power. The method may further include supplying the upgraded hydrocarbon resource to a pipeline for transportation therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, JR., John Anton Meyer
  • Publication number: 20140014326
    Abstract: A method for recovering a hydrocarbon resource from a subterranean formation may include applying radio frequency (RF) power to the hydrocarbon resource in the subterranean formation to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource to have a lowered viscosity. The method may further include producing the upgraded hydrocarbon resource from the subterranean formation to a wellhead, and, at the wellhead, adding a diluent to the upgraded hydrocarbon resource sufficient to meet a pipeline transport viscosity threshold. The method may also include supplying the diluted upgraded hydrocarbon resource to a pipeline for transportation therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Caleb Tomazinis, Scott S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140014316
    Abstract: A device for transporting and upgrading a hydrocarbon resource may include a pair of pipeline segments configured to transport the hydrocarbon resource therethrough and a radio frequency (RF) upgrading device. The RF upgrading device may include an RF applicator comprising an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the pair of pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler. The RF upgrading device may also include an RF source coupled to the electrically conductive outer housing and having an operating frequency and power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, JR., John Anton Meyer
  • Publication number: 20140014494
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may include a first hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include a plurality of first RF power applicator stages coupled in series. Each first RF power stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade a hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough. The RF hydrocarbon resource upgrading device may also include a second hydrocarbon resource upgrading path that may include at least one second RF power applicator stage coupled in parallel with at least one of the first RF power applicator stages. The second RF power applicator stage is configured to apply RF power to upgrade the hydrocarbon resource passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Lisa Patton Zastrow, Ryan Matthew Whitney, Ronald Edward Jackson, JR., John Anton Meyer
  • Publication number: 20130233429
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid therethrough. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ernest Blue, Ronald Edward Jackson, JR., Michael Joseph Ottomanelli, Donald S. George