Patents by Inventor Rick Pilgrim

Rick Pilgrim 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: 11499384
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ensco Services Limited
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20210301603
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 10975637
    Abstract: Techniques and systems to provide automatic positioning of a tripping apparatus. A system may include a sensor configured to detect a physical characteristic of a tubular string moving past the sensor and generate a signal indicative of the physical characteristic. The system may also include a processing device configured to process the signal indicative of the physical characteristic, determine whether the processed signal is indicative of a deviation of the tubular string, and generate output data utilized to automatically position a tripping apparatus at a location of the deviation on the tubular string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ensco International Incorporated
    Inventors: Rick Pilgrim, Stephen Joseph DeLory, Richard Robert Roper
  • Patent number: 10975639
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ensco Services Limited
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20190186220
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 10214977
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ensco Services Limited
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20180216424
    Abstract: Techniques and systems to provide automatic positioning of a tripping apparatus. A system may include a sensor configured to detect a physical characteristic of a tubular string moving past the sensor and generate a signal indicative of the physical characteristic. The system may also include a processing device configured to process the signal indicative of the physical characteristic, determine whether the processed signal is indicative of a deviation of the tubular string, and generate output data utilized to automatically position a tripping apparatus at a location of the deviation on the tubular string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Rick Pilgrim, Stephen Joseph DeLory, Richard Robert Roper
  • Publication number: 20160376857
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 9441427
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ensco Services Limited
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 9074455
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides drilling and tripping equipment packages and control schemes and methods using two or more lifting systems that operate simultaneously and continuously in a synchronized manner such that the feeding of tubular into or out of a well bore is achieved with continuous or near continuous movement, without the need for periodic interruptions. The drilling and tripping equipment packages and control schemes are also able to rotate the tubular in the well bore with continuous speed and torque sufficient for both drilling and back-reaming operations. The drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme is additionally able to circulate drilling fluid into the internal bore of the tubular with sufficient pressure and flow to facilitate both drilling and back-reaming operations, with minimal interruption to circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cameron Rig Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick Pilgrim, Tommy Duc Vu, Paul Channon, Erman Citirik
  • Patent number: 8955602
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme and methods using two or more systems that operate simultaneously and continuously in a synchronized manner such that the feeding of tubulars into or out of a well bore is achieved with continuous or near continuous movement, without the need for periodic interruptions. The drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme is also able to rotate the tubulars in the well bore with continuous speed and torque sufficient for both drilling and back-reaming operations. The drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme is additionally able to circulate drilling fluid into the internal bore of the tubulars with sufficient pressure and flow to facilitate both drilling and back-reaming operations, with minimal interruption to circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: LeTourneau Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim
  • Publication number: 20140124218
    Abstract: An automated pipe tripping apparatus includes an outer frame and an inner frame. The inner frame includes a tripping slips and iron roughneck. The automated pipe tripping apparatus may, in concert with an elevator and drawworks, trip in a tubular string in a continuous motion. The tripping slips and iron roughneck, along with the inner frame, may travel vertically within the outer frame. The weight of the tubular string is transferred between the tripping slips and the elevator. The iron roughneck may make up or break out threaded connections between tubular segments, the upper tubular segment supported by the elevator and the lower by the tripping slips. An automated pipe handling apparatus may remove or supply sections of pipe from or to the elevator. A control system may control both the automated pipe tripping apparatus and the elevator and drawworks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: Rick PILGRIM
  • Publication number: 20120181084
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme and methods using two or more systems that operate simultaneously and continuously in a synchronized manner such that the feeding of tubulars into or out of a well bore is achieved with continuous or near continuous movement, without the need for periodic interruptions. The drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme is also able to rotate the tubulars in the well bore with continuous speed and torque sufficient for both drilling and back-reaming operations. The drilling and tripping equipment package and control scheme is additionally able to circulate drilling fluid into the internal bore of the tubulars with sufficient pressure and flow to facilitate both drilling and back-reaming operations, with minimal interruption to circulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Rick Pilgrim