Patents by Inventor Neeraj S. Thirumalai

Neeraj S. Thirumalai 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: 20230392224
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and treatments of linepipe steels that transport one or both of crude oil and natural gas. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to sulfide stress cracking resistance of carbon steels for use as linepipe in transporting crude oil and natural gas by alternative thermo-mechanically controlled and/or one or more additional heat treatment processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Neeraj S. THIRUMALAI, Hyun Jo JUN, Adnan OZEKCIN
  • Patent number: 10883965
    Abstract: For method of utilizing a nondestructive evaluation method to inspect a steel material comprising at least one hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or at least one nonhysteretic material to identify one or more material conditions and/or one or more inhomogeneities in steel material, the method can comprise the steps of: interrogating the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material with an input time varying magnetic field; scanning the steel material and detecting a magnetic response and/or acoustic response over time from the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material; determining a time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response; and correlating the time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response to the one or more material conditions and/or one or more inhomogeneities in steel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Lang Feng, Qiuzi Li, Harry W. Deckman, Paul M. Chaikin, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Shiun Ling, Joseph W. Krynicki, Jamey A. Fenske
  • Patent number: 10823701
    Abstract: A method for determining one or more material conditions of a hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or a nonhysteretic material can include interrogating the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material with an input time varying magnetic field and detecting a magnetic response and/or acoustic response over time from the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material. The method can also include determining a time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response and correlating the time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response or acoustic response to one or more material conditions of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Lang Feng, Qiuzi Li, Harry W. Deckman, Paul M. Chaikin, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Shiun Ling
  • Publication number: 20200232592
    Abstract: A method for repairing defects on a structure is disclosed herein. The method comprises use of an additive manufacturing head to inject a flowable filler material into the defect. In certain embodiments, the additive manufacturing head can be a laser metal deposition (LMD) head comprising a powder nozzle and a laser. The structure can be, e.g., a pipeline or a pressure vessel used in petroleum, petrochemical, or natural gas applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ning Ma, Jevan Furmanski, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Jeffrey M. Grenda
  • Publication number: 20200231769
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to metal/polymer hybrid materials, and methods for fabricating such, with strong bonding between the metals and polymers and improved properties. The articles of manufacture disclosed herein can include a metallic material and a polymer material bonded to the metallic material via a cocontinuous interface that provides for strong bonding between the metallic material and the polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Ning Ma, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Srinivasan Rajagopalan, Jevan Furmanski
  • Publication number: 20190383784
    Abstract: A pipeline inspection assembly includes a test pipe including at least one weld and one or more synthetic weld flaws, and a pipeline inspection device mountable to the test pipe and movable relative thereto. The pipeline inspection device includes a detection device operable to detect the one or more synthetic weld flaws as the pipeline inspection device moves along a length of the test pipe. A performance of the pipeline inspection device is assessed based on a comparison of a detected characteristic of the one or more synthetic weld flaws and a known characteristic of the one or more synthetic weld flaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph W. Krynicki, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Lujian Peng
  • Publication number: 20190145934
    Abstract: A method for determining one or more material conditions of a hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or a nonhysteretic material can include interrogating the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material with an input time varying magnetic field and detecting a magnetic response and/or acoustic response over time from the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material. The method can also include determining a time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response and correlating the time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response or acoustic response to one or more material conditions of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Lang Feng, Qiuzi Li, Harry W. Deckman, Paul M. Chaikin, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Shiun Ling
  • Publication number: 20190145931
    Abstract: A device for detecting one or more material qualities of a sample composed of at least one hysteretic magnetic material includes a magnet configured to provide a DC magnetic field which has a spatially varying magnetic field in at least a portion of the regions of interest, two or more suitable sensors disposed at locations with different magnetic field strengths in the regions of interest configured to receive magnetic responses. The device can also include a processor, configured to execute a method, the method comprising recording magnetic responses from two or more suitable sensors disposed at the said different locations, and correlating all the said received magnetic responses to one or more material qualities of the said sample composed of at least one hysteretic ferromagnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Lang Feng, Qiuzi Li, Harry W. Deckman, Paul M. Chaikin, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Shiun Ling
  • Publication number: 20190145932
    Abstract: For method of utilizing a nondestructive evaluation method to inspect a steel material comprising at least one hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or at least one nonhysteretic material to identify one or more material conditions and/or one or more inhomogeneities in steel material, the method can comprise the steps of: interrogating the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material with an input time varying magnetic field; scanning the steel material and detecting a magnetic response and/or acoustic response over time from the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material; determining a time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response; and correlating the time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response to the one or more material conditions and/or one or more inhomogeneities in steel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Lang Feng, Qiuzi Li, Harry W. Deckman, Paul M. Chaikin, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Shiun Ling, Joseph W. Krynicki, Jamey A. Fenske
  • Publication number: 20190145933
    Abstract: Provided is a method of utilizing a nondestructive evaluation method to inspect/screen steel components (like plates), steel metal pipes, and seam welds and girth welds of the pipes to identify material phases and assess material qualities. The method includes: providing a DC magnetic field from a magnet to a steel plate, pipe, or weld composed of at least one hysteretic ferromagnetic material followed by scanning the plate, pipe, or weld and recording magnetic responses from two or more suitable sensors disposed at locations with different magnetic field strengths in the regions of interest configured to receive magnetic responses; and correlating all the said received magnetic responses to one or more material qualities and/or material phases of the plate, pipe, or weld. The one or more material qualities includes regions of higher hardness, regions of metal loss, regions of surface cracks, amount of undesirable phases, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Lang Feng, Qiuzi Li, Harry W. Deckman, Paul M. Chaikin, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Shiun Ling, Joseph W. Krynicki, Jamey A. Fenske
  • Patent number: 8168306
    Abstract: Provided are metal structures and methods of forming such structures for use in oil, gas and/or petrochemical applications that are joined with non-ferrous weld metal compositions or a high alloy weld metal compositions. The welded metal structures include two or more segments of ferrous or non-ferrous components, and fusion welds, friction stir welds or a combination thereof bonding adjacent segments of the components together, wherein the welds comprise a non-ferrous weld metal composition or a high alloy weld metal composition that is substantially different from the metal composition of the two or more components. The resultant welded structures exhibit improvements in fatigue resistance, toughness, strain capacity, strength, stress corrosion cracking resistance, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance compared to traditional iron-based weld compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Raghavan Ayer, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Daniel B. Lillig, Steven J. Ford, Douglas P. Fairchild
  • Publication number: 20110104384
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John R. Peterson, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Robert Lee Antram, Christopher John Fowler, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, ChangMin Chun, Emery B. Lendvai-Lintner
  • Publication number: 20110104383
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: JOHN ROGER PETERSON, NARASIMHA-RAO V. BANGARU, ROBERT LEE ANTRAM, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOWLER, NEERAJ S. THIRUMALAI, CHANGMIN CHUN, EMERY B. LENDVAI-LINTNER
  • Publication number: 20110094627
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John R. Peterson, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Robert Lee Antram, Christopher John Fowler, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, ChangMin Chun, Emery B. Lendvai-Lintner
  • Patent number: 7842139
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John R. Peterson, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Robert Lee Antram, Christopher John Fowler, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, ChangMin Chun, Emery B. Lendvai-Lintner
  • Patent number: 7731776
    Abstract: Multimodal cermet compositions comprising a multimodal grit distribution of the ceramic phase and method of making are provided by the present invention. The multimodal cermet compositions include a) a ceramic phase and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the ceramic phase is a metal boride with a multimodal distribution of particles, wherein at least one metal is selected from the group consisting of Group IV, Group V, Group VI elements of the Long Form of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof, and wherein the metal binder phase comprises at least one first element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, and at least second element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Al, Si and Y, and Ti.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: ChangMin Chun, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Hyun-Woo Jin, Jayoung Koo, John R. Peterson, Robert L. Antram, Christopher J. Fowler, Emery B. Lendvai-Lintner
  • Publication number: 20090075118
    Abstract: Provided are metal structures and methods of forming such structures for use in oil, gas and/or petrochemical applications that are joined with non-ferrous weld metal compositions or a high alloy weld metal compositions. The welded metal structures include two or more segments of ferrous or non-ferrous components, and fusion welds, friction stir welds or a combination thereof bonding adjacent segments of the components together, wherein the welds comprise a non-ferrous weld metal composition or a high alloy weld metal composition that is substantially different from the metal composition of the two or more components. The resultant welded structures exhibit improvements in fatigue resistance, toughness, strain capacity, strength, stress corrosion cracking resistance, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance compared to traditional iron-based weld compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Raghavan Ayer, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, Daniel B. Lillig, Steven J. Ford, Douglas P. Fairchild
  • Publication number: 20080032152
    Abstract: The use of laser shock processing in oil & gas and/or petrochemical applications is provided by the present invention. The use includes subjecting friction stir weldments, fusion weldments, and other critical regions of ferrous and non-ferrous alloy components used in oil & gas and petrochemical applications to laser shock processing to create residual compressive stresses near the surface of the treated area. The residual compressive forces in the ferrous or non-ferrous components improve properties including, inter alia, is surface strength, fatigue life, surface hardness, stress corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and environmental cracking resistance. Laser shock processing finds particular application in high strength pipelines, steel catenary risers, top tension risers, threaded components, liquefied natural gas containers, pressurized liquefied natural gas containers, deep water oil drill strings, riser/casing joints, and well-head equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Glen A. Vaughn, Narasimha-Rao Venkata Bangaru, Jayoung Koo, Raghavan Ayer, Danny L. Beeson, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, David A. Baker, David A. Norman
  • Publication number: 20080032153
    Abstract: The use of friction stir and laser shock processing in oil & gas and/or petrochemical applications is provided by the present invention. The use includes subjecting friction stir weldments, fusion weldments, and other critical regions of ferrous and non-ferrous alloy components used in oil & gas and petrochemical applications to laser shock processing to create residual compressive stresses near the surface of the treated area. The residual compressive forces in the ferrous or non-ferrous components improve properties including, inter alia, surface strength, fatigue life, surface hardness, stress corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and environmental cracking resistance. Friction stir and laser shock processing find particular application in high strength pipelines, steel catenary risers, top tension risers, threaded components, liquefied natural gas containers, pressurized liquefied natural gas containers, deep water oil drill strings, riser/casing joints, and well-head equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Glen A. Vaughn, Narasimha-Rao Venkata Bangaru, Jayoung Koo, Raghavan Ayer, Danny L. Beeson, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, David A. Baker, David A. Norman, Steven J. Ford, Douglas P. Fairchild
  • Publication number: 20080003125
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m 1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: John R. Peterson, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Robert Lee Antram, Christopher John Fowler, Neeraj S. Thirumalai, ChangMin Chun, Emery B. Lendvai-Lintner