Patents by Inventor Stuart E. Ferguson

Stuart E. Ferguson 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: 6986276
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus comprises a phase fraction meter and a compliant mandrel deployable within a production pipe, and may further comprise a flow velocity meter. The mandrel allows the determination of the phase fraction for a fluid comprising three phases by providing an additional cross sectional compliance within the conduit, thereby allowing the density of the fluid to be determined. The mandrel also provides a specified blockage through the flow velocity meter, thereby increasing flow velocity through the meter. This allows flow rate measurements in conditions under which flow velocity in the under-restricted cross-sectional area of the pipe would normally be very low. Further, the mandrel can provide a specified restriction in the pipe, i.e., a venturi. By measuring the differential pressure across the venturi and utilizing the measured fluid velocity from the flow velocity meter, the density of the fluid mixture can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Stuart E. Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20040173010
    Abstract: The disclosed apparatus comprises a phase fraction meter and a compliant mandrel deployable within a production pipe, and may further comprise a flow velocity meter. The mandrel allows the determination of the phase fraction for a fluid comprising three phases by providing an additional cross sectional compliance within the conduit, thereby allowing the density of the fluid to be determined. The mandrel also provides a specified blockage through the flow velocity meter, thereby increasing flow velocity through the meter. This allows flow rate measurements in conditions under which flow velocity in the under-restricted cross-sectional area of the pipe would normally be very low. Further, the mandrel can provide a specified restriction in the pipe, i.e., a venturi. By measuring the differential pressure across the venturi and utilizing the measured fluid velocity from the flow velocity meter, the density of the fluid mixture can be calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Stuart E. Ferguson