Patents by Inventor Noel Duckworth

Noel Duckworth 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: 10546372
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, machines, and a computer medium or media having computer programs to determine presence anomalies in circumferential welds of one or more pipelines transporting fluids associated with energy therethrough. Wave form analysis or pattern recognition in pipeline data such as magnetic flux leakage data is employed. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded such as in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the machines, methods, and computer medium having computer programs can be used to screen for anomalies potentially threatening the structural integrity of the one or more pipelines so that site excavation can occur for confirmation and validation of the output results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Tony Wright
  • Patent number: 10352902
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer medium having computer programs to determine presence of stress corrosion cracking in one or more pipelines or portions thereof such as pipeline joints by utilizing pattern recognition in pipeline data such as magnetic flux leakage data. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded such as in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the systems, methods, and computer medium having computer programs can be used to screen for potential locations of stress corrosion cracking in one or more pipelines so that site excavation can occur for confirmation and validation of the output results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan, Inc.
    Inventor: Noel Duckworth
  • Patent number: 9581520
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Patent number: 9243972
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide computer-implemented methods to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Publication number: 20140294285
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, machines, and a computer medium or media having computer programs to determine presence anomalies in circumferential welds of one or more pipelines transporting fluids associated with energy therethrough. Wave form analysis or pattern recognition in pipeline data such as magnetic flux leakage data is employed. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded such as in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the machines, methods, and computer medium having computer programs can be used to screen for anomalies potentially threatening the structural integrity of the one or more pipelines so that site excavation can occur for confirmation and validation of the output results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Tony Wright
  • Publication number: 20140088889
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer medium having computer programs to determine presence of stress corrosion cracking in one or more pipelines or portions thereof such as pipeline joints by utilizing pattern recognition in pipeline data such as magnetic flux leakage data. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded such as in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the systems, methods, and computer medium having computer programs can be used to screen for potential locations of stress corrosion cracking in one or more pipelines so that site excavation can occur for confirmation and validation of the output results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kinder Morgan, Inc.
    Inventor: Noel Duckworth
  • Patent number: 8140273
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, program product and methods to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan Kansas, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Publication number: 20110098941
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, program product and methods to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Publication number: 20110068782
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide computer-implemented methods to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicants: Kinder Morgan, Inc., Knight, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Publication number: 20110062951
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Patent number: 7899628
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, program product and methods to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan, Inc.
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Publication number: 20090164143
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, program product and methods to detect crack-like features in pipeline welds using magnetic flux leakage data and pattern recognition. A screening process, for example, does not affect or change how survey data is recorded in survey tools; only how it is analyzed after the survey data is completed. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to screen for very narrow axial anomalies in the pipeline welds, and may also be used to predict the length of such anomalies. Embodiments of the present invention also produce a listing of the anomalies based on their relative signal characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Ron Sherstan
  • Publication number: 20010039511
    Abstract: An electronic point of sale and Internet promotional method and system that promotes customer purchases and loyalty at member merchants. The system records customer sales data and, under the control of one or more merchants and a sales promotion computer system, involves generating and storing random numbers at the sales promotion computer system, loading awards records on the promotion system consisting of sales criteria which define customer award entitlements, and comparing customer transaction data received from a sales system with the award records at the promotion computer system to determine if the customer is entitled to an award. If so, one or more of the numbers are printed on a document associated with each transaction. The printed numbers constitute a lottery ticket in a lottery to be drawn on a periodic basis with prizes awarded to ticket holders having a number or numbers which are the same as or are a defined sub-set of the numbers drawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Noel Duckworth, Chris Berryman