Patents by Inventor Paul Andrew Thow

Paul Andrew Thow 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: 20210198980
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a request for a virtual reality (VR) image of a first VR area among a plurality of VR areas proximate a drilling rig. The first VR area may be associated with at least one drilling rig device. The method may include obtaining, a captured image from a camera device disposed in the first VR area. The method may include determining a VR user perspective based on motion tracking data of a VR user device. The method may include generating, using the captured image, a VR image from the VR user perspective. The method may be performed by a VR manager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: James Arthur Zapico, Juan-Carlos Yepez, Paul Andrew Thow
  • Patent number: 10718172
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a well bore during drilling operations, particularly with respect to a fluid gain and/or fluid loss event. Monitoring the well bore may be accomplished by monitoring an incoming flow rate of the fluid into the wellbore. The fluid return line from the well bore may carry drilling fluid from the well bore to a mud gas separator located downstream from the well bore. Changes in at least one parameter of the mud gas separator may be monitored. The changes to the at least one parameter of a mud gas separator may be compared to the incoming flow rate of the fluid. Discrepancies between the changes and the incoming flow rate may be indicative of a fluid gain or fluid loss condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Thow, Yawan Couturier
  • Patent number: 10683715
    Abstract: A system includes a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through a drill string, out a drill bit and into an annular, and a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, including a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank. The system further includes a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank. The first choke receives the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate, the first choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a second flow rate less than the first flow rate, and the second choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a third flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yawan Couturier, Paul Andrew Thow, Blaine Dow, Jesse Alan Hardt
  • Publication number: 20200102817
    Abstract: A system for determining annulus fluid volume in a well bore during a drilling operation, the system having a pressure wave generator positioned at the top of a well, wherein the pressure wave generator generates a pressure wave that propagates through the annulus fluid in the well; a first pressure wave receiver positioned in the annulus of the well to receive the generated pressure wave at a first time value; a second pressure wave receiver positioned in the annulus of the well to receive the generated pressure wave at a second time value; and a controller that determines a change in annulus fluid volume based at least in part on a phase shift between the received pressure wave at the first and second time values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Yawan Couturier, Jesse Hardt, Paul Andrew Thow
  • Publication number: 20180238130
    Abstract: A system includes a mud pump for pumping a drilling mud from a drilling mud source, through a drill string, out a drill bit and into an annular, and a plurality of chokes disposed down stream from the mud pump, including a first choke disposed between the mud pump and the drill string, and a second choke disposed between the mud pump and a mud tank. The system further includes a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with the annular space for transferring the drilling mud to handling equipment in fluid communication with the mud tank. The first choke receives the drilling mud from the mud pump at a first flow rate, the first choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a second flow rate less than the first flow rate, and the second choke reduces drilling mud flow rate to a third flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Yawan Couturier, Paul Andrew Thow, Blaine Dow, Jesse Alan Hardt
  • Publication number: 20180135367
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a well bore during drilling operations, particularly with respect to a fluid gain and/or fluid loss event. Monitoring the well bore may be accomplished by monitoring an incoming flow rate of the fluid into the wellbore. The fluid return line from the well bore may carry drilling fluid from the well bore to a mud gas separator located downstream from the well bore. Changes in at least one parameter of the mud gas separator may be monitored. The changes to the at least one parameter of a mud gas separator may be compared to the incoming flow rate of the fluid. Discrepancies between the changes and the incoming flow rate may be indicative of a fluid gain or fluid loss condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Thow, Yawan Couturier