Patents by Inventor Steve E. Hester

Steve E. Hester 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).

  • Annular flow restrictor for electrical submersible pump
    Patent number: 6615926
    Abstract: A method of pumping well fluid from a well having casing with perforations includes connecting an electrical motor to a lower end of a pump and securing the pump to tubing. A restrictor is mounted to the tubing above the pump, the restrictor having a restrictor passage. The well annulus contains a well fluid with a static level under static conditions. When the motor is started to cause the pump to operate, downward flow of well fluid contained in the well annulus flows through the restrictor passage. This reduces the amount of downward flow to increase well fluid flow through the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steve E. Hester, Michael Gary Gagner, Ernesto Alejandro Vilcinskas
  • Annular flow restrictor for electrical submersible pump
    Publication number: 20020033266
    Abstract: A method of pumping well fluid from a well having casing with perforations includes connecting an electrical motor to a lower end of a pump and securing the pump to tubing. A restrictor is mounted to the tubing above the pump, the restrictor having a restrictor passage. The well annulus contains a well fluid with a static level under static conditions. When the motor is started to cause the pump to operate, downward flow of well fluid contained in the well annulus flows through the restrictor passage. This reduces the amount of downward flow to increase well fluid flow through the perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Steve E. Hester, Michael Gary Gagner, Alejandro Vilcinskas