Patents by Inventor Melvin Clark Thompson
Melvin Clark Thompson 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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Publication number: 20190112912Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting structural integrity of a well casing. The system may detect casing structural integrity events. The casing structural integrity events may include structural failures of the casing and/or potential structural failures of the casing. The well casing may be drilled and/or otherwise embedded into a geologic structure. The well casing may be subject to geologic forces generated by the geologic structure. Unplanned and/or unexpected forces and/or movement may pose a risk to the structural integrity of the casing. Forces and/or movement of sufficient magnitude may result in damage to and/or destruction of the casing. Damage to and/or destruction of the casing may cause a loss of the natural resources being extracted via the well associated with the well casing, contamination of areas surrounding the well, undesirable surface expression, and/or other negative effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Melvin Clark THOMPSON, James Daniel MONTOYA, Jacobo Rogelio ARCHULETA
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Patent number: 10072494Abstract: A system for determining a characteristic of an oil well includes a signal source to generate an excitation signal during a first time duration and to generate a local oscillator signal during a second time duration. The system further includes a directional coupler, and a resonator disposed in an annulus of an oil well to receive the excitation signal through the directional coupler. The system also includes a mixer to receive a resonator signal from the resonator through the directional coupler, to receive the local oscillator signal, and to generate a mixer output signal based on the resonator signal and the local oscillator signal. The system further includes a filter to filter the mixer output signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal having an intermediate frequency, and a processor to determine a pressure or a temperature experienced by the resonator based on the intermediate frequency signal and the excitation signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Patent number: 10047595Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Publication number: 20180179881Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting structural integrity of a well casing. The system may detect casing structural integrity events. The casing structural integrity events may include structural failures of the casing and/or potential structural failures of the casing. The well casing may be drilled and/or otherwise embedded into a geologic structure. The well casing may be subject to geologic forces generated by the geologic structure. Unplanned and/or unexpected forces and/or movement may pose a risk to the structural integrity of the casing. Forces and/or movement of sufficient magnitude may result in damage to and/or destruction of the casing. Damage to and/or destruction of the casing may cause a loss of the natural resources being extracted via the well associated with the well casing, contamination of areas surrounding the well, undesirable surface expression, and/or other negative effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Melvin Clark THOMPSON, James Daniel MONTOYA, Jacobo Rogelio ARCHULETA
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Patent number: 9874091Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a tubing string having a number of tubing pipe disposed within an annulus formed by a casing string disposed within a wellbore, where the tubing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the tubing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the tubing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first electromagnetic directional traveling wave received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventor: Melvin Clark Thompson
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Publication number: 20170356274Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to provide power and monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power wirelessly to isolated zones defined between packer elements. Data signals are similarly transmitted. The packer elements include magnetic toroidal cores for power and signal transmission via inductively coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Publication number: 20170314390Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a tubing string having a number of tubing pipe disposed within an annulus formed by a casing string disposed within a wellbore, where the tubing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the tubing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the tubing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first electromagnetic directional traveling wave received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventor: Melvin Clark Thompson
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Publication number: 20170211368Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Patent number: 9670739Abstract: A gas lift valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source, where the delivery system delivers the power generated by the power source. The system can also include at least one gas lift valve assembly disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one gas lift valve assembly receives the power from the delivery system, where at least one valve, when in a position other than a fully closed position, allows a control medium to flow from an inlet channel to an outlet channel, where the outlet channel empties into the cavity of the delivery system.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi, Melvin Clark Thompson, Heath Evan Lynch
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Publication number: 20170145812Abstract: A system for determining a characteristic of an oil well includes a signal source to generate an excitation signal during a first time duration and to generate a local oscillator signal during a second time duration. The system further includes a directional coupler, and a resonator disposed in an annulus of an oil well to receive the excitation signal through the directional coupler. The system also includes a mixer to receive a resonator signal from the resonator through the directional coupler, to receive the local oscillator signal, and to generate a mixer output signal based on the resonator signal and the local oscillator signal. The system further includes a filter to filter the mixer output signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal having an intermediate frequency, and a processor to determine a pressure or a temperature experienced by the resonator based on the intermediate frequency signal and the excitation signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Patent number: 9540923Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Publication number: 20160160636Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Melvin Clark Thompson, David William Beck
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Publication number: 20160115766Abstract: A gas lift valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source, where the delivery system delivers the power generated by the power source. The system can also include at least one gas lift valve assembly disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one gas lift valve assembly receives the power from the delivery system, where at least one valve, when in a position other than a fully closed position, allows a control medium to flow from an inlet channel to an outlet channel, where the outlet channel empties into the cavity of the delivery system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2016Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira Tosi, Melvin Clark Thompson, Health Evan Lynch
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Patent number: 9316063Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Manuel Eduardo Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Jacobo Archuleta, Patrick Rodriguez, David William Beck, Scot Ellis, Wade Ogg
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Publication number: 20160003027Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting structural integrity of a well casing. The system may detect casing structural integrity events. The casing structural integrity events may include structural failures of the casing and/or potential structural failures of the casing. The well casing may be drilled and/or otherwise embedded into a geologic structure. The well casing may be subject to geologic forces generated by the geologic structure. Unplanned and/or unexpected forces and/or movement may pose a risk to the structural integrity of the casing. Forces and/or movement of sufficient magnitude may result in damage to and/or destruction of the casing. Damage to and/or destruction of the casing may cause a loss of the natural resources being extracted via the well associated with the well casing, contamination of areas surrounding the well, undesirable surface expression, and/or other negative effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Melvin Clark THOMPSON, David William BECK
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Patent number: 9194225Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor fluid levels in a drill pipe in borehole. The system includes an electromagnetic (EM) generator to generate a traveling wave of electromagnetic energy to propagate along a linear path through the drill pipe towards a surface of the fluid, a detector to detect a portion of the electromagnetic wave reflected from the surface of the fluid and propagated through the drill pipe towards the detector, a processor to analyze detected signals to determine a level of the surface of the fluid. In an embodiment, the system includes a pump controller to control the operation of a pump located in the wellbore or at the mudline based on the fluid surface level.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: James David Dowell, Melvin Clark Thompson
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Publication number: 20150252625Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 10, 2015Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Manuel Eduardo Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Jacobo Archuleta, Patrick Rodriguez, David William Beck, Scot Ellis, Wade Ogg
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Patent number: 9103198Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Robert Louis Williford, David William Beck
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Publication number: 20150070186Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Robert Louis Williford, David William Beck
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Patent number: 8857522Abstract: A subsurface safety valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation is described. The system can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source. The system can also include at least one safety valve disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one safety valve remains open while the at least one safety valve receives the power from the delivery system, and where the at least one safety valve closes when the at least one safety valve stops receiving power from the delivery system. The system can further include production tubing mechanically coupled to a distal end of the at least one safety valve, where the at least one safety valve shuts in a cavity within production tubing when the at least one safety valve closes.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Alvaro Jose Arrazola, Melvin Clark Thompson