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).
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Patent number: 10233716Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignees: Cameron International Corporation, Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
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Patent number: 9957768Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johannes Van Wijk, David J. McWhorter, Melvyn F. Whitby, Edward C. Gaude
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Patent number: 9822604Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
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Patent number: 9789932Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
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Publication number: 20170191336Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Melvyn F. WHITBY, Matthew GIVENS
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Publication number: 20170058628Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicants: Cameron International Corporation, Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
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Publication number: 20160298409Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Gerrit M. Kroesen, Melvyn F. Whitby, Johnny Everett Jurena
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Publication number: 20160138358Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit Kroesen, Roger Boisjolie, Donald S. Coonrod, Edmund A. Fisher
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Publication number: 20160010418Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicants: SHELL OIL COMPANY, CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Johannes Van Wijk, David J. McWhorter, Melvyn F. Whitby, Edward C. Gaude
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Patent number: 9222326Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit Kroesen, Roger Boisjolie, Donald S. Coonrod, Edmund A. Fisher, Barbara J. Fisher
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Patent number: 9140090Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignees: Shell Oil Company, Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johannes Van Wijk, David J. McWhorter, Melvyn F. Whitby, Edward C. Gaude
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Patent number: 8733090Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Don Coonrod, Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit M. Kroesen, Ronald W. Webb, Mac M. Kennedy, Katherine Harvey, David Gonzalez, Thomas M. Bell, James W. Wilkirson
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Patent number: 8640775Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
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Patent number: 8365830Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
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Publication number: 20120279720Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, Gerrit Kroesen, Roger Boisjolie, Donald S. Coonrod, Edmund A. Fisher
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Publication number: 20110302911Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20110155386Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
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Patent number: 7921917Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Johnnie E. Kotrla, Melvyn F. Whitby, David J. McWhorter, Glenn J. Chiasson
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Patent number: 7637474Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, John T. Mangan, David J. McWhorter
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Patent number: 7559523Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 24, 2008Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Melvyn F. Whitby, John T. Mangan