Patents by Inventor Sean P. Thomas
Sean P. Thomas 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: 11592106Abstract: A hollow annular seal for sealing two concentric components in a subsea environment is disclosed. The hollow annular seal is constructed from an elastomeric material with a hollow core. The hollow annular seal also includes a plurality of apertures to allow fluid to flow through the apertures and into the hollow core to prevent collapse of the fluid filled, hollow annular seal.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Patent number: 11220877Abstract: A protective cap assembly uses a heavy corrosion inhibitor fluid in the primary chamber (the central bore of the mandrel or hub) and a lightweight corrosion inhibitor fluid in the zones outside of the mandrel or hub. The protective cap assembly uses a two port hot stab receptacle and connects the first port to the primary chamber and the second port to the secondary inlet port with a secondary inlet check valve. The primary chamber is vented directly to the subsea environment. With the secondary inlet check valve added to the secondary inlet port, the second port of the protective cap assembly is connected directly to the secondary inlet check valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Patent number: 11142983Abstract: An apparatus for installation to a subsea equipment mandrel or hub, including a body having a cylindrical sidewall defining one or more receptacles and a locking system to couple the body to the mandrel or hub. The locking system may include one or more locking assemblies received within a respective receptacle and coupled to the cylindrical sidewall. Each locking assembly may include a locking body, a locking collar, an annular seal, an actuator, and a locking pin. The annular seal may be seated within an annular groove and configured to engage the shoulder of a receptacle in a sealing relationship, and the locking collar may couple the locking body to the cylindrical sidewall. The actuator may be adjustably coupled to the locking body and configured to move radially. A locking pin may be configured to selectively engage the angled shoulder surface of the mandrel or hub.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Publication number: 20210156214Abstract: A protective cap assembly uses a heavy corrosion inhibitor fluid in the primary chamber (the central bore of the mandrel or hub) and a lightweight corrosion inhibitor fluid in the zones outside of the mandrel or hub. protective cap assembly uses a two port hot stab receptacle and connects the first port to the primary chamber and the second port to the secondary inlet port with a secondary inlet check valve. The primary chamber is vented directly to the subsea environment. With the secondary inlet check valve added to the secondary inlet port, the second port of the protective cap assembly is connected directly to the secondary inlet check valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Patent number: 10907433Abstract: A protective cap assembly for a subsea equipment mandrel or hub, including a protective cap body with a top plate and a cylindrical sidewall. The protective cap body may further include a primary inlet port, a first annular groove, a secondary inlet port, a second annular groove, and one or more secondary outlet ports. A primary seal may be disposed in the first annular groove to sealingly engage the mandrel or hub, and a secondary seal may be disposed in the second annular groove to sealingly engage the mandrel or hub. The protective cap assembly may further define at least in part primary and secondary chambers configured to fluidly communicate, and the secondary chamber configured to fluidly communicate directly or indirectly with the external subsea environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Publication number: 20190331224Abstract: A hollow annular seal for sealing two concentric components in a subsea environment is disclosed. The hollow annular seal is constructed from an elastomeric material with a hollow core. The hollow annular seal also includes a plurality of apertures to allow fluid to flow through the apertures and into the hollow core to prevent collapse of the fluid filled, hollow annular seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventor: Sean P. THOMAS
-
Publication number: 20190330952Abstract: An apparatus for installation to a subsea equipment mandrel or hub, including a body having a cylindrical sidewall defining one or more receptacles and a locking system to couple the body to the mandrel or hub. The locking system may include one or more locking assemblies received within a respective receptacle and coupled to the cylindrical sidewall. Each locking assembly may include a locking body, a locking collar, an annular seal, an actuator, and a locking pin. The annular seal may be seated within an annular groove and configured to engage the shoulder of a receptacle in a sealing relationship, and the locking collar may couple the locking body to the cylindrical sidewall. The actuator may be adjustably coupled to the locking body and configured to move radially. A locking pin may be configured to selectively engage the angled shoulder surface of the mandrel or hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Publication number: 20190330951Abstract: A protective cap assembly for a subsea equipment mandrel or hub, including a protective cap body with a top plate and a cylindrical sidewall. The protective cap body may further include a primary inlet port, a first annular groove, a secondary inlet port, a second annular groove, and one or more secondary outlet ports. A primary seal may be disposed in the first annular groove to sealingly engage the mandrel or hub, and a secondary seal may be disposed in the second annular groove to sealingly engage the mandrel or hub. The protective cap assembly may further define at least in part primary and secondary chambers configured to fluidly communicate, and the secondary chamber configured to fluidly communicate directly or indirectly with the external subsea environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Patent number: 8813837Abstract: A wellbore system comprising a housing assembly and a hanger assembly. The hanger assembly comprises an actuation member that interacts with a portion of the housing assembly when the hanger assembly is positioned at a desired location in the housing assembly. The hanger assembly also comprises a load member that is adapted to extend between the hanger assembly and the housing assembly to enable the housing assembly to support the hanger assembly. The load member is carried into the wellbore in a retracted position. When the actuation member interacts with the housing assembly at the desired location, the actuation member actuates the load member to expand outward to extend between the hanger assembly and the housing assembly. The actuation member is adapted to transfer a lifting force from the surface to the load member to enable an over-pull test of the hanger assembly to be performed.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Gette, Daniel W. Fish, Sean P. Thomas
-
Publication number: 20100243238Abstract: A wellbore system comprising a housing assembly and a hanger assembly. The hanger assembly comprises an actuation member that interacts with a portion of the housing assembly when the hanger assembly is positioned at a desired location in the housing assembly. The hanger assembly also comprises a load member that is adapted to extend between the hanger assembly and the housing assembly to enable the housing assembly to support the hanger assembly. The load member is carried into the wellbore in a retracted position. When the actuation member interacts with the housing assembly at the desired location, the actuation member actuates the load member to expand outward to extend between the hanger assembly and the housing assembly. The actuation member is adapted to transfer a lifting force from the surface to the load member to enable an over-pull test of the hanger assembly to be performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P. Gette, Daniel W. Fish, Sean P. Thomas
-
Patent number: 7380607Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly includes a housing with a bore containing at least one conical generally upward facing load shoulder that inclines relative to an axis of the bore. A hanger is lowered into the housing, the hanger having at least one conical downward facing load shoulder that inclines at a lesser inclination relative to an axis of the bore than the upward facing load shoulder. A split load ring has an inner profile that slidingly engages the downward facing load shoulder and an outer profile that slidingly engages the upward facing load shoulder. The load ring is carried by the hanger for movement between a retracted position, wherein the outer profile is spaced radially inward from the upward facing load shoulder, and an expanded position wherein the outer profile is in engagement with the upward facing load shoulder.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Sean P. Thomas
-
Patent number: 6695059Abstract: An anti-rotation device prevents an inner wellhead housing from rotating within an outer wellhead housing. The anti-rotation device provides spring loaded anti-rotational keys within the outer wellhead housing and mating slots formed within the inner wellhead housing. The keys face inwards to the inner wellhead housing, are circumferentially spaced apart around the outer wellhead housing, and located between the two tapered shoulders. As the inner wellhead housing lands in the outer housing, the inner wellhead housing pushes the keys of the outer wellhead housing to a retracted position. The inner wellhead housing is then rotated within the outer wellhead housing until the spring loaded keys align with the slots and extend into the slots of the inner wellhead housing. Any rotational force on the inner wellhead housing will be resisted by the anti-rotational mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Sean P. Thomas, Hernani G. Deocampo
-
Publication number: 20020144820Abstract: An anti-rotation device prevents an inner wellhead housing from rotating within an outer wellhead housing. The anti-rotation device provides spring loaded anti-rotational keys within the outer wellhead housing and mating slots formed within the inner wellhead housing. The keys face inwards to the inner wellhead housing, are circumferentially spaced apart around the outer wellhead housing, and located between the two tapered shoulders. As the inner wellhead housing lands in the outer housing, the inner wellhead housing pushes the keys of the outer wellhead housing to a retracted position. The inner wellhead housing is then rotated within the outer wellhead housing until the spring loaded keys align with the slots and extend into the slots of the inner wellhead housing. Any rotational force on the inner wellhead housing will be resisted by the anti-rotational mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Inventors: Sean P. Thomas, Hernani G Deocampo