Patents by Inventor Melvin F. Whitby

Melvin F. Whitby 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).

  • Publication number: 20170145774
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system for injecting a fluid into a subsea hydrocarbon extraction component. The system comprises a pressure variance device including an ambient chamber and a variance chamber, the ambient chamber exposed to an external subsea environment and configured to transfer the pressure to the variance chamber via a pressure variance device piston. The system further comprises an accumulator including a fluid delivery chamber and a pressure chamber, the pressure chamber configured to receive the pressure from the variance chamber and transfer the pressure to the fluid delivery chamber via an accumulator piston. The system also comprises a control system configured to regulate injection of the fluid from the fluid delivery chamber into the hydrocarbon extraction component. In this way, the system can intensify or deintensify a hydrostatic pressure in the subsea environment to inject chemicals in the hydrocarbon extraction component at a desired pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicants: Shell Oil Company, Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvin F. Whitby
  • Publication number: 20170144732
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for installing a tubular element, such as a suction pile, in a bottom of a body of water. The system comprises a tubular element and a deintensifier in fluid communication with the tubular element. The deintensifier is configured to be exposed to an ambient pressure external to the tubular element and reduce pressure within the tubular element. The method comprises lowering the tubular element to the bottom of the body of water, filling the tubular element with water at ambient pressure, and exposing the water within the tubular element to a deintensified external ambient pressure so as to withdraw the water out of the tubular element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicants: Shell Oil Company, Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvin F. Whitby