Patents by Inventor Nicholas Josep ELLSON

Nicholas Josep ELLSON 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: 11953034
    Abstract: A method for monitoring health of a hydraulic fluid subsystem is presented. The method includes determining a plurality of forces acting on an actuator of the hydraulic fluid subsystem, determining a plurality of parameters based on at least one of an actuator inlet flow rate, an actuator outlet flow rate, and the plurality of forces acting on the actuator, receiving a valve inlet pressure of at least one of oil and gas flowing through a pipe while entering a valve operationally coupled to the actuator and a valve outlet pressure of the at least one of the oil and the gas flowing through the pipe while flowing out of the valve, and monitoring the health of the hydraulic fluid subsystem based on at least one of the plurality of parameters, the valve inlet pressure, and the valve outlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Behera, Bhasker Rao Keely, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Andrew Clarke
  • Publication number: 20190211851
    Abstract: A method for monitoring health of a hydraulic fluid subsystem is presented. The method includes determining a plurality of forces acting on an actuator of the hydraulic fluid subsystem, determining a plurality of parameters based on at least one of an actuator inlet flow rate, an actuator outlet flow rate, and the plurality of forces acting on the actuator, receiving a valve inlet pressure of at least one of oil and gas flowing through a pipe while entering a valve operationally coupled to the actuator and a valve outlet pressure of the at least one of the oil and the gas flowing through the pipe while flowing out of the valve, and monitoring the health of the hydraulic fluid subsystem based on at least one of the plurality of parameters, the valve inlet pressure, and the valve outlet pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar BEHERA, Bhasker Rao KEELY, Nicholas Josep ELLSON, Andrew CLARKE
  • Patent number: 9840904
    Abstract: A christmas tree assembly for a subsea hydrocarbon extraction facility, the christmas tree assembly includes a fluid pipeline and a sensor assembly comprising a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a plurality of properties relating to hydrocarbon fluid flow through the fluid pipeline. The sensor assembly includes a differential pressure sensor that is disposed at one or more of across a choke, around a bend or restriction in the pipeline or a dedicated flow restrictor integrated within the pipeline, and a bulk density sensor that is disposed in one or more of a blind T, before or after a choke or in an upwards section of the flow pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Controls Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Phillips, Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Patent number: 9739137
    Abstract: A method for calculating a value representative of a downhole temperature in a hydrocarbon well, wherein the well includes production tubing inside an outer tubing, an annulus is provided between the production tubing and the outer tubing, and the annulus receives a hydraulic control line supplying hydraulic fluid for the control of a downhole device, the method including sensing the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the control line at the wellhead, and using a measurement of the pressure to calculate the value representative of the downhole temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Publication number: 20160341029
    Abstract: A christmas tree assembly for a subsea hydrocarbon extraction facility, the christmas tree assembly includes a fluid pipeline and a sensor assembly comprising a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a plurality of properties relating to hydrocarbon fluid flow through the fluid pipeline. The sensor assembly includes a differential pressure sensor that is disposed at one or more of across a choke, around a bend or restriction in the pipeline or a dedicated flow restrictor integrated within the pipeline, and a bulk density sensor that is disposed in one or more of a blind T, before or after a choke or in an upwards section of the flow pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond PHILLIPS, Nicholas Josep ELLSON
  • Patent number: 9435189
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of properties relating to a hydrocarbon fluid flow through a pipeline at a tree for a subsea hydrocarbon extraction facility, the method comprising locating a plurality of sensors at or near a position which is optimum for monitoring the at least one of the plurality of properties in regard to the configuration of the pipeline, the sensors being configured to monitor at least one of the plurality of properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Phillips, Axel Busboom, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Parag Vyas
  • Patent number: 9249657
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a subsea well is presented. The system includes the subsea well, where the subsea well includes a production tube, an annulus A co-axial to the production tube and positioned exterior to the production tube, an annulus B co-axial to the annulus A and positioned exterior to the annulus A, and a casing wall disposed between the annulus A and annulus B. Furthermore, the system includes a first sensor disposed on or about the production tube, the annulus A, the casing wall, or combinations thereof and configured to measure a first parameter. The system also includes a controller coupled to the subsea well and configured to analyze the first parameter measured by the first sensor and detect an anomaly in one or more components of the subsea well. Methods and non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method for monitoring a subsea well are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pekka Tapani Sipilä{umlaut over ( )}, Nicholas Josep Ellson, David John Buttle, John Charles McCarthy, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 9228428
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a subsea structure is presented. The system includes a sensor disposed on or about one or more tubular components of the subsea structure, where the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure include a riser, a flow-line, and a subsea umbilical. Moreover, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure and configured to detect an anomaly in the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure. A method for monitoring the subsea structure is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pekka Tapani Sipilä, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Marko Klaus Baller, Parag Vyas
  • Patent number: 9045973
    Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a down-hole monitoring system, comprising one or more pieces of down-hole equipment, for example a down-hole logging tool, and at least one resonant sensor for obtaining physical and chemical parameters of a down-hole fluid in proximity to the sensor. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting material properties of a down-hole fluid, the method comprising placing a resonant LCR sensor within a piece of down-hole equipment, taking sensor readings down-hole, transmitting the sensor readings to a reader device, and analyzing the sensor readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Publication number: 20140305637
    Abstract: A method for calculating a value representative of a downhole temperature in a hydrocarbon well, wherein the well includes production tubing inside an outer tubing, an annulus is provided between the production tubing and the outer tubing, and the annulus receives a hydraulic control line supplying hydraulic fluid for the control of a downhole device, the method including sensing the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the control line at the wellhead, and using a measurement of the pressure to calculate the value representative of the downhole temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Controls Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Publication number: 20140174752
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a subsea structure is presented. The system includes a sensor disposed on or about one or more tubular components of the subsea structure, where the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure include a riser, a flow-line, and a subsea umbilical. Moreover, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure and configured to detect an anomaly in the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure. A method for monitoring the subsea structure is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pekka Tapani Sipilä, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Marko Klaus Baller, Parag Vyas
  • Publication number: 20140116715
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a subsea well is presented. The system includes the subsea well, where the subsea well includes a production tube, an annulus A co-axial to the production tube and positioned exterior to the production tube, an annulus B co-axial to the annulus A and positioned exterior to the annulus A, and a casing wall disposed between the annulus A and annulus B. Furthermore, the system includes a first sensor disposed on or about the production tube, the annulus A, the casing wall, or combinations thereof and configured to measure a first parameter. The system also includes a controller coupled to the subsea well and configured to analyze the first parameter measured by the first sensor and detect an anomaly in one or more components of the subsea well. Methods and non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method for monitoring a subsea well are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pekka Tapani Sipilä, Nicholas Josep Ellson, David John Buttle, John Charles McCarthy, Sakethraman Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 8534114
    Abstract: A method of operating an acoustic sand detector deployed at a flowline within a flow system, the detector comprising an acoustic sensor and functioning to produce electrical output signals in dependence on acoustic signals detected by the acoustic sensor, the acoustic signals being at least partially produced by the impact of sand particles within the flow on an object is provided. The method comprises estimating the location of particle impacts on the flowline; and weighting the output signals according to the distance between the estimated location and the detector location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Controls Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Publication number: 20130154847
    Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a down-hole monitoring system, comprising one or more pieces of down-hole equipment, for example a down-hole logging tool, and at least one resonant sensor for obtaining physical and chemical parameters of a down-hole fluid in proximity to the sensor. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting material properties of a down-hole fluid, the method comprising placing a resonant LCR sensor within a piece of down-hole equipment, taking sensor readings down-hole, transmitting the sensor readings to a reader device, and analyzing the sensor readings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Publication number: 20130126180
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of properties relating to a hydrocarbon fluid flow through a pipeline at a tree for a subsea hydrocarbon extraction facility, the method comprising locating a plurality of sensors at or near a position which is optimum for monitoring the at least one of the plurality of properties in regard to the configuration of the pipeline, the sensors being configured to monitor at least one of the plurality of properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Raymond Phillips, Axel Busboom, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Parag Vyas
  • Publication number: 20130116962
    Abstract: Method for estimating cool down in a subsea oil and gas production system, which system includes at least one piping or equipment. The method includes the steps of, at shut down of the production in the system; obtaining data from CFD cool down analysis results for a range of temperatures of production media in the system; obtaining data from a temperature sensor in the system; and estimating the actual coldest temperature in the system from the CFD analysis results obtained based on data from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Gaute Yddal Vestbostad, Astrid Kristoffersen, Lars Artun, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Inge Wold
  • Publication number: 20130008649
    Abstract: A method of providing information regarding erosion in an oil and/or a gas production system, which system includes at least one equipment/piping, the method including the steps of obtaining CFD results regarding hot spots in the equipment/piping from a CFD analysis of the equipment/piping for a range of pressures, flow rates and sand rates; and to, during production, obtaining data regarding erosion rates in a particular location in the system; and combining the data regarding erosion rates and CFD results to estimate and monitor sand erosion rates in the hot spots of the system. Further disclosed is a module performing the method steps as well as a computer program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Gaute Yddal Vestbostad, Astrid Kristoffersen, Nicholas Josep Ellson, Inge Wold
  • Publication number: 20120096922
    Abstract: A method of operating an acoustic sand detector deployed at a flowline within a flow system, the detector comprising an acoustic sensor and functioning to produce electrical output signals in dependence on acoustic signals detected by the acoustic sensor, the acoustic signals being at least partially produced by the impact of sand particles within the flow on an object is provided. The method comprises estimating the location of particle impacts on the flowline; and weighting the output signals according to the distance between the estimated location and the detector location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Publication number: 20110297398
    Abstract: A method of installing a cable between a topside location of an underwater well installation and an underwater location of the installation is provided. The method comprises inserting an end of the cable into a passageway between the locations and using a fluid passed along the passageway to displace the cable along the passageway so that it extends between the locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Nicholas Josep ELLSON, Parag Vyas