Patents by Inventor Pietro Valsecchi

Pietro Valsecchi 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: 11839230
    Abstract: A substance processing system includes a pressurizer configured to pressurize air and a processing chamber configured to process a substance. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the pressurizer and the processing chamber. A nozzle is coupled to the processing chamber such that output from the nozzle comprises a substantially even pressure distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bellwether Coffee Co.
    Inventors: Jens Peter Voges, Fong Liu, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell Heineman, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz, Pietro Valsecchi
  • Publication number: 20210096277
    Abstract: Embodiments of evaluating production performance for a wellbore while accounting for subterranean reservoir geomechanics and wellbore completion are provided. One embodiment includes generating the wellbore model; defining geomechanical properties for the subterranean reservoir in the near wellbore region and the far field region, and completion variables for the wellbore completion; and simulating fluid flow in the near wellbore region, the far field region, and the wellbore completion to evaluate production performance for the wellbore over a period of time. A permeability of the subterranean reservoir and a contact area between the wellbore and the subterranean reservoir are updated during simulation over the period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A.INC.
    Inventors: Karim Shafik ZAKI, Yan LI, Yunhui TAN, Ruiting WU, Margaretha Catharina Maria RIJKEN, Amr Said EL-FAYOUMI, Pietro VALSECCHI
  • Publication number: 20190373940
    Abstract: A substance processing system includes a pressurizer configured to pressurize air and a processing chamber configured to process a substance. The system also includes a heat exchanger coupled between the pressurizer and the processing chamber. A nozzle is coupled to the processing chamber such that output from the nozzle comprises a substantially even pressure distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Jens Peter Voges, Fong Liu, John Laird, Scott Whitman, Zachary Russell HEINEMAN, Dylan Hilmer Bird, Nicholas Scott Reimnitz, Pietro Valsecchi
  • Patent number: 10012072
    Abstract: A flow meter for measuring multi-phase flow and method of use comprising an impeller assembly having a one or more blades in an asymmetric blade configuration on a rotational shaft and one or more sensors to measure partial rotations of the blades. Sensors may obtain impeller rotational information associated with various portions of the flow stream. With this multi-phase fluid flow may be determined from the determined local velocity information, the operation of a fluid-flow system may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Pietro Valsecchi
  • Patent number: 9291018
    Abstract: Systems and methods to inhibit packoff events during downhole assembly motion within a wellbore comprise a downhole assembly that includes an energy-storing structure that defines a charged state and a discharged state and is configured to generate a motive force upon transitioning from the charged state to the discharged state. A fluidizing stream is generated with the motive force from the energy-storing structure which emits the fluidizing stream from the downhole assembly to fluidize a portion of a cuttings bed that may be within the wellbore and proximal to the downhole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Lillard Eugene Korn, Jr., Pietro Valsecchi
  • Patent number: 9291019
    Abstract: Systems and methods to inhibit packoff during drilling assembly removal from a wellbore, utilizing a drilling assembly that includes a transition region between a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. The transition region includes a fluidizing assembly configured to partially fluidize a portion of the cuttings bed that is proximal to the transition region, and/or be in fluid communication with a flow control assembly configured to control flow rate of a fluidizing stream from the fluidizing assembly and to the portion of cuttings bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Chinar R. Aphale, Pietro Valsecchi, Jon M. Wallace, Fuping Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150041122
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow meter for measuring multi-phase flow and method of use. The flow meter comprises an impeller assembly having a one or more blades in an asymmetric blade configuration and one or more sensors to measure partial rotations of the blades. With this local velocity information, the operation of a system may be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Pietro Valsecchi
  • Patent number: 8833467
    Abstract: The present invention discloses apparatuses, systems, and methods for operating a gas well. Some embodiments include a plunger apparatus configured to fall through a continuous water phase (including water slugs) in a gas producing well by overcoming pressure and drag forces from the water by having a sufficient mass, hydrodynamic profile, and sufficiently large area for passage of the continuous water. In one embodiment, a plunger body and plug mechanism are provided, wherein the plug mechanism has open and closed positions, which may be automatically changed or controlled by a surface or other control system, and wherein the plunger body and plug may be a physically integrated one-piece system, or an interoperable two piece system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ming Gong, Larry E. Harrison, Theodore W. Pirog, Robert D. Kaminsky, Pietro Valsecchi, Jeffrey R. Bailey, Swarupa S. Bangaru
  • Patent number: 8714936
    Abstract: Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a “dynamic seal”). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Pietro Valsecchi
  • Publication number: 20130153296
    Abstract: Systems and methods to inhibit packoff during drilling assembly removal from a wellbore, utilizing a drilling assembly that includes a transition region between a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. The transition region includes a fluidizing assembly configured to partially fluidize a portion of the cuttings bed that is proximal to the transition region, and/or be in fluid communication with a flow control assembly configured to control flow rate of a fluidizing stream from the fluidizing assembly and to the portion of cuttings bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Chinar R. Aphale, Pietro Valsecchi, Jon M. Wallace, Fuping Zhou
  • Publication number: 20130153235
    Abstract: Systems and methods to inhibit packoff events during downhole assembly motion within a wellbore comprise a downhole assembly that includes an energy-storing structure that defines a charged state and a discharged state and is configured to generate a motive force upon transitioning from the charged state to the discharged state. A fluidizing stream is generated with the motive force from the energy-storing structure which emits the fluidizing stream from the downhole assembly to fluidize a portion of a cuttings bed that may be within the wellbore and proximal to the downhole assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Lillard Eugene Korn, JR., Pietro Valsecchi
  • Publication number: 20120132437
    Abstract: The present invention discloses apparatuses, systems, and methods for operating a gas well. Some embodiments include a plunger apparatus configured to fall through a continuous water phase (including water slugs) in a gas producing well by overcoming pressure and drag 5 forces from the water by having a sufficient mass, hydrodynamic profile, and sufficiently large area for passage of the continuous water. In one embodiment, a plunger body and plug mechanism are provided, wherein the plug mechanism has open and closed positions, which may be automatically changed or controlled by a surface or other control system, and wherein the plunger body and plug may be a physically integrated one-piece system, or an interoperable two piece system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Ming Gong, Larry E. Harrison, Theodore W. Pirog, Robert D. Kaminsky, Pietro Valsecchi, Jeffrey R. Bailey, Narasimha-Rao V. Bangaru, Swarupa S. Bangaru
  • Publication number: 20120087806
    Abstract: Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a “dynamis seal”). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Pietro Valsecchi