Patents by Inventor Michael C. Tschauner

Michael C. Tschauner 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: 12252983
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Michael C. Tschauner, Christopher C. Frazier, Andrew D. McFadden, Salvador G. Vela, III, Billy-Bob K. Walker, Adam J. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240280007
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) system is described herein. The ESP system includes a pump and a motor connected to drive the pump. The pump and motor are disposed to pump fluid into production tubing in a wellbore. A connector is in fluid communication with the production tubing and the connector contains a receptacle to receive a plug. A fixed power cable section is connected at a first end to power the motor. The fixed power cable section is fixedly connected at a second end to the receptacle of the connector. Also included in the ESP system is an ESP power cable that extends through the production tubing to an ESP surface unit. The ESP power cable includes a removable plug to engage the receptacle of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Michael C. TSCHAUNER, Billy-Bob K. WALKER, Michael C. ROMER
  • Publication number: 20240200442
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Michael C. ROMER, Michael C. TSCHAUNER, Christopher C. FRAZIER, Andrew D. MCFADDEN, Salvador G. VELA, III, Billy-Bob K. WALKER, Adam J. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 11952887
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Michael C. Tschauner, Christopher C. Frazier, Andrew D. McFadden, Salvador G. Vela, III, Billy-Bob K. Walker, Adam J. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230019787
    Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Michael C. Tschauner, Christopher C. Frazier, Andrew D. McFadden, Salvador G. Vela, Billy-Bob K. Walker, Adam J. Johnson