Patents by Inventor Melvyn F. Whitby

Melvyn 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).

  • Patent number: 10233716
    Abstract: A ram blowout preventer (“BOP”) may be used for sealing about an object positioned in a vertical bore extending through the BOP. The ram BOP includes a body comprising a vertical bore extending through the body and a ram cavity intersecting the bore, a ram assembly movable laterally into and out of the BOP vertical bore and comprising a ram body, and an opposing ram assembly movable laterally into and out of the BOP vertical bore and comprising a ram body and a seal body coupled to the ram body, wherein the seal body comprises a seal configured to seal the entirety of the BOP vertical bore. The seal can be located on the upper and/or lower portion of the seal body to provide for bi-directional sealing across the BOP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: Cameron International Corporation, Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
  • Patent number: 9957768
    Abstract: A system for reducing pressure in a subsea operator. In one embodiment, a subsea system includes an operator and a deintensifier. The operator includes a housing and a piston. The piston is movably disposed within the operator housing and divides an inner volume of the operator housing into a closing chamber and a second chamber. The deintensifier is fluidically coupled to the operator. The deintensifier includes a housing and a piston. The piston includes a closing surface and an opening surface. The closing surface is fluidically coupled to the second chamber of the operator housing. The opening surface is fluidically coupled to ambient pressure. The area of the closing surface is greater than an area of the opening surface so as to increase the pressure differential between the closing chamber and the second chamber and assist in moving the operator piston to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Van Wijk, David J. McWhorter, Melvyn F. Whitby, Edward C. Gaude
  • Patent number: 9822604
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
  • Patent number: 9789932
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
  • Publication number: 20170191336
    Abstract: A blowout preventer includes a body including a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, and a first lateral end extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the body includes a throughbore extending between the first end and the second end, and a first passageway extending between the first lateral end and the throughbore, and a removeable insert disposed in the first passageway, and wherein the removeable insert includes a throughbore for receiving a ram block of the blowout preventer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melvyn F. WHITBY, Matthew GIVENS
  • Publication number: 20170058628
    Abstract: A ram blowout preventer (“BOP”) may be used for sealing about an object positioned in a vertical bore extending through the BOP. The ram BOP includes a body comprising a vertical bore extending through the body and a ram cavity intersecting the bore, a ram assembly movable laterally into and out of the BOP vertical bore and comprising a ram body, and an opposing ram assembly movable laterally into and out of the BOP vertical bore and comprising a ram body and a seal body coupled to the ram body, wherein the seal body comprises a seal configured to seal the entirety of the BOP vertical bore. The seal can be located on the upper and/or lower portion of the seal body to provide for bi-directional sealing across the BOP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicants: Cameron International Corporation, Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
  • Publication number: 20160298409
    Abstract: A blowout preventer includes a housing, comprising a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and a cavity intersecting the bore, and pair of opposing shear rams configured to shear a tubular located in the longitudinal bore. The opposing shear rams can be moved radially into and out of the longitudinal bore by connecting rods coupled to the shear rams. The connecting rods may be coupled to the shear rams via intermediate connecting assemblies which may include a split-flange connector comprising multiple sections. The shear rams and/or the connecting rods may be constructed of a high-strength heat treatable, low alloy steel, such as AISI 4340 steel. The shear rams are constructed of a single material having a higher hardness than that of the tubular product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Gerrit M. Kroesen, Melvyn F. Whitby, Johnny Everett Jurena
  • Publication number: 20160138358
    Abstract: A subsea system including a frame including an intensifier, the intensifier providing structural support to the frame and capable of providing pressurized delivery fluid. The intensifier includes an intensifier chamber and a delivery fluid chamber separated by a piston, the intensifier chamber capable of receiving ambient pressure to provide a pressure on the delivery fluid through the piston. Also, a regulation system regulates the amount of ambient pressure communicated to the intensifier chamber to maintain the delivery fluid pressure substantially constant as the delivery fluid is depleted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit Kroesen, Roger Boisjolie, Donald S. Coonrod, Edmund A. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20160010418
    Abstract: A system for reducing pressure in a subsea operator. In one embodiment, a subsea system includes an operator and a deintensifier. The operator includes a housing and a piston. The piston is movably disposed within the operator housing and divides an inner volume of the operator housing into a closing chamber and a second chamber. The deintensifier is fluidically coupled to the operator. The deintensifier includes a housing and a piston. The piston includes a closing surface and an opening surface. The closing surface is fluidically coupled to the second chamber of the operator housing. The opening surface is fluidically coupled to ambient pressure. The area of the closing surface is greater than an area of the opening surface so as to increase the pressure differential between the closing chamber and the second chamber and assist in moving the operator piston to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicants: SHELL OIL COMPANY, CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Johannes Van Wijk, David J. McWhorter, Melvyn F. Whitby, Edward C. Gaude
  • Patent number: 9222326
    Abstract: A subsea system including a frame including an intensifier, the intensifier providing structural support to the frame and capable of providing pressurized delivery fluid. The intensifier includes an intensifier chamber and a delivery fluid chamber separated by a piston, the intensifier chamber capable of receiving ambient pressure to provide a pressure on the delivery fluid through the piston. Also, a regulation system regulates the amount of ambient pressure communicated to the intensifier chamber to maintain the delivery fluid pressure substantially constant as the delivery fluid is depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit Kroesen, Roger Boisjolie, Donald S. Coonrod, Edmund A. Fisher, Barbara J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 9140090
    Abstract: A system for reducing pressure in a subsea operator. In one embodiment, a subsea system includes an operator and a deintensifier. The operator includes a housing and a piston. The piston is movably disposed within the operator housing and divides an inner volume of the operator housing into a closing chamber and a second chamber. The deintensifier is fluidically coupled to the operator. The deintensifier includes a housing and a piston. The piston includes a closing surface and an opening surface. The closing surface is fluidically coupled to the second chamber of the operator housing. The opening surface is fluidically coupled to ambient pressure. The area of the closing surface is greater than an area of the opening surface so as to increase the pressure differential between the closing chamber and the second chamber and assist in moving the operator piston to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: Shell Oil Company, Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Van Wijk, David J. McWhorter, Melvyn F. Whitby, Edward C. Gaude
  • Patent number: 8733090
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an apparatus includes a hydraulic directional control manifold and a plurality of electric piezopumps. The apparatus also includes an electric piezopump controller that operates the plurality of electric piezopumps in varying combinations to provide generation and directional control of hydraulic power to linear hydraulic actuators using localized closed-loop hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Don Coonrod, Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit M. Kroesen, Ronald W. Webb, Mac M. Kennedy, Katherine Harvey, David Gonzalez, Thomas M. Bell, James W. Wilkirson
  • Patent number: 8640775
    Abstract: Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
  • Patent number: 8365830
    Abstract: Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
  • Publication number: 20120279720
    Abstract: A subsea system including a frame including an intensifier, the intensifier providing structural support to the frame and capable of providing pressurized delivery fluid. The intensifier includes an intensifier chamber and a delivery fluid chamber separated by a piston, the intensifier chamber capable of receiving ambient pressure to provide a pressure on the delivery fluid through the piston. Also, a regulation system regulates the amount of ambient pressure communicated to the intensifier chamber to maintain the delivery fluid pressure substantially constant as the delivery fluid is depleted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit Kroesen, Roger Boisjolie, Donald S. Coonrod, Edmund A. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20110302911
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an apparatus includes a hydraulic directional control manifold and a plurality of electric piezopumps. The apparatus also includes an electric piezopump controller that operates the plurality of electric piezopumps in varying combinations to provide generation and directional control of hydraulic power to linear hydraulic actuators using localized closed-loop hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Don Coonrod, Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit M. Kroesen, Ronald W. Webb, Mac M. Kennedy, Katherine Harvey, David Gonzalez, Thomas M. Bell, James W. Wilkirson
  • Publication number: 20110155386
    Abstract: Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
  • Patent number: 7921917
    Abstract: Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
  • Patent number: 7637474
    Abstract: A hydraulic blowout preventer operator comprises a piston rod having one end coupled to a closure member. The operator further comprises an operator housing having one end coupled to a bonnet and a second end coupled to a head. The piston rod extends through the bonnet into the operator housing where it is coupled to a piston that is disposed within the operator housing. The piston comprises a body and a flange. A flange seal is disposed on the flange and is sealingly engaged with the operator housing. A body seal is disposed on the body and is sealingly engaged with the operator housing. The flange seal has a sealing diameter greater than a sealing diameter of the body seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, John T. Mangan, David J. McWhorter
  • Patent number: 7559523
    Abstract: A hydraulic blowout preventer operator comprises a first piston rod coupled to a closure member. The operator further comprises a first operator housing coupled to a bonnet and a head. The first piston rod extends through the bonnet into the first operator housing where is couples to a first piston disposed within the first operator housing. The operator further comprises a second piston rod coupled to the closure member. The second piston rod has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first piston rod. The second piston rod extends through the bonnet into a second operator housing and is coupled to a second piston that is disposed within the second operator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, John T. Mangan