Patents by Inventor Murray Hann

Murray Hann 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: 9103205
    Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation may include injecting a solvent via a wellbore into the subterranean formation while supplying radio frequency (RF) power from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources via the wellbore and from the subterranean formation while supplying RF power from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Mark Trautman, Steven Stresau
  • Publication number: 20150211336
    Abstract: A system for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a wellbore extending therein may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to be positioned within the wellbore, an RF source, a cooling fluid source, and a transmission line coupled between the RF antenna and the RF source. A plurality of ring-shaped choke cores may surround the transmission line, and a sleeve may surround the ring-shaped choke cores and define a cooling fluid path for the ring-shaped choke cores and in fluid communication with the cooling fluid source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: BRIAN WRIGHT, Murray Hann, Raymond C. Hewit, Verlin Hibner, Mark Trautman, John Emory White
  • Publication number: 20150129223
    Abstract: A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include a tubular radio frequency (RF) antenna within the wellbore and a tool slidably positioned within said tubular RF antenna. The tool may include an RF transmission line and at least one RF contact coupled to a distal end of said RF transmission line and biased in contact with said tubular RF antenna. The tool may also include a guide member extending longitudinally outwardly from the distal end of said RF transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Brian N. WRIGHT, Murray Hann, Raymond C. Hewit, Zachary Linc Alexander Linkewich, Alan Watt
  • Publication number: 20150129224
    Abstract: A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include a tubular radio frequency (RF) antenna within the wellbore and a tool slidably positioned within the tubular RF antenna. The tool may include an RF transmission line and at least one RF contact coupled to a distal end of the RF transmission line and biased in contact with the tubular RF antenna. The tool may also include a dielectric grease injector configured to inject dielectric grease around the at least one RF contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Brian N. WRIGHT, Murray Hann, Raymond C. Hewit, Zachary Linc Alexander Linkewich, Alan Watt
  • Publication number: 20150129222
    Abstract: A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include a tubular radio frequency (RF) antenna within the wellbore, and a tool slidably positioned within the tubular RF antenna. The tool may include an RF transmission line and at least one RF contact coupled to a distal end of the RF transmission line and biased in contact with the tubular RF antenna. The tool may also include an anchoring device configured to selectively anchor the RF transmission line and the at least one RF contact within the tubular RF antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Brian N. Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond C. Hewit, Zachary Linc Alexander Linkewich, Alan Watt
  • Patent number: 9016367
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery may include a series of tubular conductors coupled together in end-to-end relation. Each tubular conductor may include a dual-wall conductor defining an RF antenna. The dual-wall conductor may include an outer wall and an inner wall spaced inwardly therefrom to define an outer fluid passageway. The RF antenna assembly may further include an RF transmission line extending within at least some of the tubular conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Keith Nugent
  • Publication number: 20150083387
    Abstract: An RF antenna assembly is positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly includes first and second tubular conductors to be positioned within the wellbore, and having adjacent joined together ends, and first and second RF transmission line segments extending within the first and second tubular conductors and having adjacent joined together ends aligned with the joined together adjacent ends of the first and second tubular conductors. The RF antenna assembly includes a tubular sheath surrounding the first RF transmission line segment and having an outer surface, and a spacer received on the outer surface of the tubular sheath and extending between the tubular sheath and adjacent portions of the first tubular conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian WRIGHT, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit
  • Publication number: 20150068706
    Abstract: A device for processing hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source, a dielectric cooling liquid source, and an RF applicator in the subterranean formation and coupled to the RF source to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources. The RF applicator may include concentric tubular conductors defining cooling passageways therebetween coupled to the dielectric cooling fluid source. At least one property of the dielectric cooling liquid, a flow rate of the dielectric cooling liquid, and a configuration of the cooling passageways may be operable together to generate a turbulent flow of the dielectric cooling liquid adjacent surfaces of the plurality of concentric tubular conductors to enhance thermal transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Murray Hann, Mark Alan Trautman, John E. White, Brian Wright
  • Publication number: 20150070112
    Abstract: A rigid RF coaxial transmission line is positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line includes a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation and to be positioned within the wellbore of the subterranean formation. Each rigid coaxial section includes an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. Each of the rigid outer conductors has threaded ends. The rigid RF coaxial transmission line includes a respective connector between adjacent ones of the series of rigid coaxial sections, each connector having a rigid outer layer threadingly secured to respective threaded ends of adjacent rigid outer conductors, and an electrically conductive liner carried by the rigid outer layer and defining an electrical joint between the adjacent rigid outer conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian WRIGHT, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit, Ryan Whitney
  • Patent number: 8960272
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) applicator may be rotated during positioning within a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The wellbore may have at least one bend therein. The RF applicator may include a series of tubular conductors, and a respective bendable tubular dielectric coupler rotationally interlocking opposing ends of adjacent ones of the series of tubular conductors to define a tubular antenna. The RF applicator may include at least one RF feed conductor extending within the tubular antenna and connected to the series of tubular conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit
  • Patent number: 8847711
    Abstract: A rigid radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission line to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation may include a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation. Each rigid coaxial section may include an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. Each of the rigid outer conductors may include a rigid outer layer having opposing threaded ends defining overlapping mechanical threaded joints with adjacent rigid outer layers. Each of the rigid outer conductors may also include an electrically conductive inner layer coupled to the rigid outer layer and having opposing ends defining electrical joints with adjacent electrically conductive inner layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit
  • Publication number: 20140262222
    Abstract: An RF antenna assembly is to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly includes a series of tubular dipole antennas to be positioned within the wellbore, each tubular dipole antenna having a pair of dipole elements, and an RF transmission line extending within the series of tubular dipole antennas. The RF antenna assembly includes a respective coupling structure between each pair of dipole elements and between the series of tubular dipole antennas, each coupling structure including a dielectric tube mechanically coupling adjacent dipole elements, and a tap connector carried by the dielectric tube and electrically coupling the RF transmission line to a corresponding dipole element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Brian WRIGHT, Murray HANN, Raymond HEWIT, Ronald Edward JACKSON, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140262223
    Abstract: An RF antenna assembly is positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly includes first and second tubular conductors and a dielectric isolator therebetween. The dielectric isolator includes a dielectric tube having opposing first and second open ends, a first tubular connector having a first slotted recess receiving therein the first open end of the dielectric tube, and a second tubular connector having a second slotted recess receiving therein the second open end of the dielectric tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian WRIGHT, Murray HANN, Raymond HEWIT, Verlin HIBNER
  • Publication number: 20140262224
    Abstract: An RF antenna assembly may be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly includes first and second tubular conductors and a feed structure therebetween defining a dipole antenna to be positioned within the wellbore, and an RF transmission line extending within one of the tubular conductors. The feed structure includes a dielectric tube, a first connector coupling the RF transmission line to the first tubular conductor, and a second connector coupling the RF transmission line to the second tubular conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Schuyler R. AYERS, Tim W. DITTMER, Murray HANN, Verlin A. HIBNER, Brian WRIGHT
  • Publication number: 20140231416
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly configured to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery may include an RF transmission line and an RF antenna coupled to the RF transmission line. The RF antenna assembly may also include an adjustable balun that may include a tubular balun housing surrounding the RF transmission line and defining a space therebetween. The adjustable balun may further include an adjustable shorting body slidably movable within the space and contacting the tubular balun housing and the RF transmission line at an adjustable shorting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit, Verlin A. Hibner
  • Publication number: 20140216714
    Abstract: A transmission line segment coupler is for coupling together first and second coaxial transmission line segments each including an inner tubular conductor and an outer tubular conductor surrounding the inner tubular conductor and a dielectric therebetween. The coupler apparatus includes an outer tubular bearing body to be positioned within adjacent open ends of the inner tubular conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission line segments, and an inner tubular bearing body configured to slidably move within the outer tubular bearing body to define a linear bearing therewith. The inner tubular bearing body is configured to define a fluid passageway in communication with the adjacent open ends of the inner tubular conductors of the first and second coaxial transmission line segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: TIM DITTMER, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit, Brian Wright
  • Publication number: 20140043115
    Abstract: A rigid radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission line to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation may include a series of rigid coaxial sections coupled together in end-to-end relation. Each rigid coaxial section may include an inner conductor, a rigid outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. Each of the rigid outer conductors may include a rigid outer layer having opposing threaded ends defining overlapping mechanical threaded joints with adjacent rigid outer layers. Each of the rigid outer conductors may also include an electrically conductive inner layer coupled to the rigid outer layer and having opposing ends defining electrical joints with adjacent electrically conductive inner layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit
  • Publication number: 20140020908
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna assembly to be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery may include a series of tubular conductors coupled together in end-to-end relation. Each tubular conductor may include a dual-wall conductor defining an RF antenna. The dual-wall conductor may include an outer wall and an inner wall spaced inwardly therefrom to define an outer fluid passageway. The RF antenna assembly may further include an RF transmission line extending within at least some of the tubular conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Keith Nugent
  • Publication number: 20140014324
    Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation may include injecting a solvent via a wellbore into the subterranean formation while supplying radio frequency (RF) power from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources via the wellbore and from the subterranean formation while supplying RF power from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Mark Trautman, Steven Stresau
  • Publication number: 20130180729
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) applicator may be rotated during positioning within a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The wellbore may have at least one bend therein. The RF applicator may include a series of tubular conductors, and a respective bendable tubular dielectric coupler rotationally interlocking opposing ends of adjacent ones of the series of tubular conductors to define a tubular antenna. The RF applicator may include at least one RF feed conductor extending within the tubular antenna and connected to the series of tubular conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond Hewit