Patents by Inventor Paul Hammonds

Paul Hammonds 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: 8506777
    Abstract: A localized corrosion monitoring (LCM) device is modified to obtain polarization resistance (Rp) from electrical resistance of a probe having a strip of metal under investigation (test electrode), a reference electrode and a temperature sensor (e.g. thermocouple). This configuration allows the probe to be used in areas where only a thin film of conductive fluid is available or required to provide potential monitoring. Thus, the applicability of the LCM technique is broadened. All the above devices are expected to be configured in one item of equipment, except for the probe which may be remotely located from the rest of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic
  • Publication number: 20120132526
    Abstract: A localized corrosion monitoring (LCM) device is modified to obtain polarization resistance (Rp) from electrical resistance of a probe having a strip of metal under investigation (test electrode), a reference electrode and a temperature sensor (e.g. thermocouple). This configuration allows the probe to be used in areas where only a thin film of conductive fluid is available or required to provide potential monitoring. Thus, the applicability of the LCM technique is broadened. All the above devices are expected to be configured in one item of equipment, except for the probe which may be remotely located from the rest of the equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic
  • Patent number: 8133383
    Abstract: A localized corrosion monitoring (LCM) device is modified to obtain polarization resistance (Rp) from electrical resistance of a probe having a strip of metal under investigation (test electrode), a reference electrode and a temperature sensor (e.g. thermocouple). This configuration allows the probe to be used in areas where only a thin film of conductive fluid is available or required to provide potential monitoring. Thus, the applicability of the LCM technique is broadened. All the above devices are expected to be configured in one item of equipment, except for the probe which may be remotely located from the rest of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic
  • Patent number: 8109161
    Abstract: Solids deposition in a gas environment, such as a gas transmission line or pipeline are measured using metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment. The metal coated on the QCM may be iron, iron alloys and/or iron oxide. The weight measurements are conducted at a constant (?T) or controlled (T=f(t)) temperature between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe. The weight gain during a CE cycle is associated with the solids formation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Sunder Ramachandran, Paul Hammonds
  • Patent number: 7713405
    Abstract: An electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system may be used to estimate and/or calculate parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article. The apparatus involves a working electrode (having substantially the same composition of the electrically conductive article), a reference electrode, and a counter electrode in an environment of interest. The working electrode is placed under potentiostatic control. A current transient between the working electrode and the counter electrode is measured. The working electrode is switched to open potential. A potential transient is measured over the duration of a localized corrosion event. The localized corrosion may then be calculated based on the measured potential transient and the current transient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Carlos M. Menendez, Paul Hammonds, Wai Yeung Mok
  • Patent number: 7686938
    Abstract: An electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system calculates parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article. The method involves placing a test electrode, a reference electrode, and an auxiliary electrode in an environment of interest; placing the test electrode under potentiostatic control regime for a potential scan; measuring the relationship of current v. potential (polarization resistance, Rp) of the test electrode relative to the reference electrode during a first period; switching from potentiostatic control to the open circuit potential (OCP) of the test electrode; monitoring the OCP of the test electrode during a second period; determining ?I from the relationship Rp=?V/?I, where ?V is measured over a second period of time; and calculating the localized corrosion from the measured potential and current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond Paul Gill, Vladimir Jovancicevic, Wai Yeung Mok, Paul Hammonds
  • Patent number: 7622030
    Abstract: Simultaneous determination of general corrosion and localized corrosion rate measurements is achieved with polarization applied by the electrodes themselves rather than externally applied polarization. Two or more working electrodes may be galvanically coupled. A localized pitting corrosion event on one of the electrodes will lead to a potential transient. The area within the potential transient is measured with the baseline being the initial starting potential. This gives localized corrosion as a function of time. The relationship Rp=?V/?I is calculated, where Rp is the polarization resistance of the working electrodes and is a measure of generalized corrosion rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond Paul Gill, Vladimir Jovancicevic, Wai Yeung Mok, Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20090211335
    Abstract: Solids deposition in a gas environment, such as a gas transmission line or pipeline are measured using metal-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in a QCM probe within a high pressure gas chamber in the gas environment. The metal coated on the QCM may be iron, iron alloys and/or iron oxide. The weight measurements are conducted at a constant (?T) or controlled (T=f(t)) temperature between the high pressure gas chamber and the QCM probe. The weight gain during a CE cycle is associated with the solids formation rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Sunder Ramachandran, Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20090184003
    Abstract: A localized corrosion monitoring (LCM) device is modified to obtain polarization resistance (Rp) from electrical resistance of a probe having a strip of metal under investigation (test electrode), a reference electrode and a temperature sensor (e.g. thermocouple). This configuration allows the probe to be used in areas where only a thin film of conductive fluid is available or required to provide potential monitoring. Thus, the applicability of the LCM technique is broadened. All the above devices are expected to be configured in one item of equipment, except for the probe which may be remotely located from the rest of the equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic
  • Publication number: 20080283418
    Abstract: An electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system may be used to estimate and/or calculate parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article. The apparatus involves a working electrode (having substantially the same composition of the electrically conductive article), a reference electrode, and a counter electrode in an environment of interest. The working electrode is placed under potentiostatic control. A current transient between the working electrode and the counter electrode is measured. The working electrode is switched to open potential. A potential transient is measured over the duration of a localized corrosion event. The localized corrosion may then be calculated based on the measured potential transient and the current transient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Carlos M. Menendez, Paul Hammonds, Wai Yeung Mok
  • Patent number: 7368050
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system for estimating parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article, the method comprising: placing a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode in an environment of interest; measuring potential at open circuit between the working electrode and the reference electrode over time; placing the working electrode under a potentiostatic control; measuring current between the working electrode and the counter electrode for a predetermined period of time, the period of time of measurements may be extended to include a transient event; and estimating the corrosion rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Wai Yeung Mok, Carlos M. Menendez, Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20080047614
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing drag in a fluid stream involves admixing the components of a drag reducer to form an incipient drag reducer and injecting the incipient drag reducer into the fluid stream wherein the drag reducer components are admixed at the site of the fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic, C. Means, David Green
  • Patent number: 7288506
    Abstract: Aluminum carboxylate drag reducing agents are described herein. These materials are useful to reduce drag in hydrocarbon fluids and multiphase fluids of hydrocarbon(s) and water. No injection probes or other special equipment is expected to be required to introduce the drag reducing agent into the liquid stream. The drag reducing additives of the invention are not subject to shear degradation and do not cause undesirable changes in the emulsion or fluid quality of the fluid being treated, or undesirable foaming. In one non-limiting embodiment, an aluminum monocarboxylate is reacted with at least one carboxylic acid in situ. In another non-limiting embodiment, the aluminum carboxylate is introduced as a dispersion in a solvent such as paraffin oil. The drag reducing additives include aluminum dicarboxylates such as aluminum dioctoate, aluminum distearate, aluminum octoateoleate, aluminum octoatestearate, aluminum stearateoleate, hydroxyaluminum bis(2-ethylhexanoate) and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Samuel Campbell, Sunder Ramachandran, Paul Hammonds, Steven J. Weghorn
  • Patent number: 7287540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing drag in a fluid stream. The method includes admixing the components of a drag reducer to form an incipient drag reducer and injecting the incipient drag reducer into the fluid stream wherein the drag reducer components are admixed at the site of the fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic, C. Mitch Means, David Green
  • Publication number: 20070017822
    Abstract: Simultaneous determination of general corrosion and localized corrosion rate measurements is achieved with polarization applied by the electrodes themselves rather than externally applied polarization. Two or more working electrodes may be galvanically coupled. A localized pitting corrosion event on one of the electrodes will lead to a potential transient. The area within the potential transient is measured with the baseline being the initial starting potential. This gives localized corrosion as a function of time. The relationship Rp=?V/?I is calculated, where Rp is the polarization resistance of the working electrodes and is a measure of generalized corrosion rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond Gill, Vladimir Jovancicevic, Wai Mok, Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20060144719
    Abstract: An electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system calculates parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article. The method involves placing a test electrode, a reference electrode, and an auxiliary electrode in an environment of interest; placing the test electrode under potentiostatic control regime for a potential scan; measuring the relationship of current v. potential (polarization resistance, Rp) of the test electrode relative to the reference electrode during a first period; switching from potentiostatic control to the open circuit potential (OCP) of the test electrode; monitoring the OCP of the test electrode during a second period; determining ?I from the relationship Rp=?V/?I, where ?V is measured over a second period of time; and calculating the localized corrosion from the measured potential and current data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond Gill, Vladimir Jovancicevic, Wai Mok, Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20050211570
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical noise method, apparatus and system for estimating parameters of interest related to corrosion rates of an electrically conductive article, the method comprising: placing a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode in an environment of interest; measuring potential at open circuit between the working electrode and the reference electrode over time; placing the working electrode under a potentiostatic control; measuring current between the working electrode and the counter electrode for a predetermined period of time, the period of time of measurements may be extended to include a transient event; and estimating the corrosion rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Wai Mok, Carlos Menendez, Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20040216780
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing drag in a fluid stream. The method includes admixing the components of a drag reducer to form an incipient drag reducer and injecting the incipient drag reducer into the fluid stream wherein the drag reducer components are admixed at the site of the fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic, C. Mitch Means, David Green
  • Patent number: 6792796
    Abstract: A method for predicting scale deposition in a general environment has been discovered which involves providing a localized environment where scale would preferentially form, where the localized environment is adjacent the general environment. Monitoring the deposition of scale in the localized environment is performed for the purpose of taking preemptive action to prevent scale deposition in the general environment once scale begins to form, or a certain threshold is reached. Scale is removed from the localized environment so that monitoring can be performed by the probe again. Preemptive action will often be the introduction of a scale inhibiting agent into the general environment. An apparatus for practicing the method of predicting and preventing scale deposition in a general environment is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul Hammonds
  • Publication number: 20040142825
    Abstract: Aluminum carboxylate drag reducing agents are described herein. These materials are useful to reduce drag in hydrocarbon fluids and multiphase fluids of hydrocarbon(s) and water. No injection probes or other special equipment is expected to be required to introduce the drag reducing agent into the liquid stream. The drag reducing additives of the invention are not subject to shear degradation and do not cause undesirable changes in the emulsion or fluid quality of the fluid being treated, or undesirable foaming. In one non-limiting embodiment, an aluminum monocarboxylate is reacted with at least one carboxylic acid in situ. In another non-limiting embodiment, the aluminum carboxylate is introduced as a dispersion in a solvent such as paraffin oil. The drag reducing additives include aluminum dicarboxylates such as aluminum dioctoate, aluminum distearate, aluminum octoateoleate, aluminum octoatestearate, aluminum stearateoleate, hydroxyaluminum bis(2-ethylhexanoate) and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Vladimir Jovancicevic, Samuel Campbell, Sunder Ramachandran, Paul Hammonds, Steven J. Weghorn