Patents by Inventor Theresa Smigura

Theresa Smigura 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: 9528355
    Abstract: There is provided a system for producing oil from a well bore extending through a fossil fuel reservoir. The system includes a plurality of perforations defined in the casing proximate the fossil fuel reservoir. A gas flow tube is in communication with the annulus volume of the casing proximate the wellhead. A gas valve is coupled to the gas flow tube, with the gas valve configured to selectively open and close the gas flow tube. A controller, is coupled to the gas valve, with the controller configured to control the opening and closing of the gas valve. The opening and closing of the gas valve maximizes the volumetric rate of oil flow into the annulus volume through the perforations from the reservoir by displacing liquid in the annulus volume with a gas volume between the gas valve and the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. McCrickard, Ronald G. Peterson, Thomas L. Beck, Michael D. Dry, Theresa Smigura
  • Publication number: 20140262238
    Abstract: There is provided a system for producing oil from a well bore extending through a fossil fuel reservoir. The system includes a plurality of perforations defined in the casing proximate the fossil fuel reservoir. A gas flow tube is in communication with the annulus volume of the casing proximate the wellhead. A gas valve is coupled to the gas flow tube, with the gas valve configured to selectively open and close the gas flow tube. A controller, is coupled to the gas valve, with the controller configured to control the opening and closing of the gas valve. The opening and closing of the gas valve maximizes the volumetric rate of oil flow into the annulus volume through the perforations from the reservoir by displacing liquid in the annulus volume with a gas volume between the gas valve and the perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: James P. McCrickard, Ronald G. Peterson, Thomas L. Beck, Michael D. Dry, Theresa Smigura
  • Patent number: 8444393
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, echo meters, flow sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura
  • Patent number: 7168924
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, rod load sensors, flow sensors, acoustic fluid level sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura
  • Publication number: 20060251525
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, echo meters, flow sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Beck, Ronald Peterson, Mark Garlow, Theresa Smigura
  • Publication number: 20040062657
    Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, rod load sensors, flow sensors, acoustic fluid level sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas L. Beck, Ronald G. Peterson, Mark E. Garlow, Theresa Smigura