Patents by Inventor Michael C. Romer

Michael C. Romer 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: 20150275633
    Abstract: Selectively actuated plungers and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The methods include flowing a wellbore fluid stream in fluid contact with a plunger and in an uphole direction within a wellbore conduit while the plunger is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit. The methods further include maintaining the plunger in a low fluid drag state while a variable associated with the wellbore fluid stream is outside a threshold range and transitioning the plunger to a high fluid drag state responsive to the variable associated with the wellbore conduit being within the threshold range. The methods further include conveying the plunger in the uphole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems include the plungers and/or hydrocarbon wells that include the plungers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Randy C. Tolman, Federico A. Tavarez, Pavlin B. Entchev, Krishnan Kumaran, Michael C. Romer
  • Publication number: 20150240602
    Abstract: A method for removing liquids from a gas well. The method includes the steps of atomizing gas well liquids within a wellbore to produce a volume weighted average droplet size of less than or equal to about 400 ?m; dispersing the atomized gas well liquids within a gaseous production stream; producing the gaseous production stream having dispersed atomized gas well liquids; and adjusting atomization parameters to maximize the rate of gas well liquids removed. A system, apparatus and kit of parts for removing liquids from a gas well are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Andrey A. Troshko, Michael C. Romer
  • Publication number: 20150114632
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for removing fluids from a well comprising a rotary pump for positioning within the well, the rotary pump including an inlet end and a discharge end, the rotary pump comprising at least one pump impeller intermediate the inlet end and discharge end, the at least one pump impeller rotating at a rate greater than 3600 rpm; a driver for driving the at least one pump impeller to a rate greater than 3600 rpm, the driver positioned within the wellbore and operatively connected to the rotary pump; a magnetic bearing system, the magnetic bearing system operatively connected to the rotary pump and/or driver; and a digital controller positioned within the wellbore to control the magnetic bearing system. A method for removing liquids from a well and an apparatus and method for producing gas from a wellbore or injecting a fluid into a wellbore are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Stan O. Uptigrove
  • Publication number: 20150060055
    Abstract: Systems and methods for artificial lift via a downhole positive displacement pump are disclosed herein. The methods include methods of removing a wellbore liquid from a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation and/or methods of locating the downhole positive displacement pump within the wellbore. The systems include hydrocarbon wells that include the wellbore, a casing, a rotary electric motor, the downhole positive displacement pump, and a liquid discharge conduit, and the systems may be utilized with and/or configured to perform the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Randy C. Tolman, Michael C. Romer
  • Publication number: 20150060083
    Abstract: Systems and methods for artificial lift via a downhole piezoelectric pump are disclosed herein. The methods include methods of removing a wellbore liquid from a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation and/or methods of locating the downhole piezoelectric pump within the wellbore. The systems include hydrocarbon wells that include the wellbore, a casing, the downhole piezoelectric pump, and a liquid discharge conduit and the systems may be utilized with and/or configured to perform the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Federico A. Tavarez, Randy C. Tolman