Patents by Inventor Thomas Matthew Mills
Thomas Matthew Mills 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).
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Patent number: 10689963Abstract: An automated wash system for use with a progressing cavity (PC) pump system. The automated wash system includes a wash fluid source and a wash valve. The wash valve is in fluid communication with the wash fluid source and an annulus of a well casing of the PC pump system and is operably coupled to the controller. Upon receipt of a command to initiate a wash cycle, the controller opens the wash valve to enable wash fluid to be directed into the annulus and increases a speed of a PC pump of the PC pump system to effect cleaning of the well casing.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: BRISTOL, INC.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 10481618Abstract: A method of controlling at least one of a flow rate or pressure of an injected fluid includes receiving a measured value indicative of the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid, and determining a control mode for controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure. The method further includes controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid according to the selected control mode including: determining a command signal to be communicated to a field device, and communicating the command signal to the field device.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: BRISTOL, INC.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 10465493Abstract: A method of automatically washing a well casing of a progressing cavity (PC) pump system. The method includes disabling, via a controller, a normal speed control of a progressing cavity (PC) pump of the PC pump system, and closing, via the controller, a gas flow valve to stop upward fluid flow in an annulus of the well casing. The method further includes opening a wash valve to allow fluid from the wash fluid source into the well casing. Upon wash fluid accumulation within the annulus, the method further includes increasing the speed of the pump to begin flushing the well casing, and closing the wash valve.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: BRISTOL, INC.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 10408206Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine parameters of a pumping unit for use with wells are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned in the housing. The processor is to determine a first load on a polished rod of a pumping unit, to estimate a first torque of a motor of the pumping unit, and determine a first torque factor for the pumping unit. The processor is to, based on the first load, the first torque, and the first torque factor, determine a phase angle of a counterbalance of the pumping unit or a moment of the counterbalance.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: BRISTOL, INC.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 10371142Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pairing load and position values are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a rod pump controller, a first position value of a polished rod of a pumping unit, assigning a first time value to the determined first position value, receiving first load values of the polished rod, assigning second time values to respective ones of the first load values, adjusting each of the second time values to respective third time values based on a wireless communication delay value, and determining a second load value associated with the first position value at the first time value based on the first load values and the third time values.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: BRISTOL, INC.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 10352149Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine production of a downhole pump are described herein. An example method includes measuring a first amount of liquid produced from a well by a pump during a first stroke of the pump, computing a first pump card based on the first stroke, determining a first area of the first pump card and determining a leakage proportionality constant of the pump based on the first amount of liquid produced and the first area. The example method also includes computing a second pump card based on a second stroke of the pump, determining a second area of the second pump card and determining a second amount of liquid produced by the pump during the second stroke based on the leakage proportionality constant and the second area.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Bristol, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 10094371Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine operating parameters of a pumping unit for use with wells are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned in the housing. The processor is to determine a rate at which to operate a motor of a pumping unit to enable a load imparted on a polished rod of the pumping unit to be within a threshold of a reference load or to enable a speed of the polished rod to be within a threshold of a reference speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: BRISTOL, INC.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20180087349Abstract: A method of automatically washing a well casing of a progressing cavity (PC) pump system. The method includes disabling, via a controller, a normal speed control of a progressing cavity (PC) pump of the PC pump system, and closing, via the controller, a gas flow valve to stop upward fluid flow in an annulus of the well casing. The method further includes opening a wash valve to allow fluid from the wash fluid source into the well casing. Upon wash fluid accumulation within the annulus, the method further includes increasing the speed of the pump to begin flushing the well casing, and closing the wash valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20180087368Abstract: An automated wash system for use with a progressing cavity (PC) pump system. The automated wash system includes a wash fluid source and a wash valve. The wash valve is in fluid communication with the wash fluid source and an annulus of a well casing of the PC pump system and is operably coupled to the controller. Upon receipt of a command to initiate a wash cycle, the controller opens the wash valve to enable wash fluid to be directed into the annulus and increases a speed of a PC pump of the PC pump system to effect cleaning of the well casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 9835149Abstract: Methods and apparatus to calibrate rod pump controllers are described. An example method includes obtaining initial values related to a pumping unit, determining parameters based on the initial values, the parameters including at least one of a leaked off load value, a residual friction value, and a buoyant rod weight value, and based on one or more of the initial values and the parameters, calculating one or more dimensions of a rod string, the one or more dimensions to be used to determine a pump card of the pumping unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Bristol, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20170175732Abstract: Methods and apparatus to calibrate rod pump controllers are described. An example method includes obtaining initial values related to a pumping unit, determining parameters based on the initial values, the parameters including at least one of a leaked off load value, a residual friction value, and a buoyant rod weight value, and based on one or more of the initial values and the parameters, calculating one or more dimensions of a rod string, the one or more dimensions to be used to determine a pump card of the pumping unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Patent number: 9664031Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating controllers for use with wells are disclosed. An example method includes moving a polished rod of a pumping unit through a first cycle of the pumping unit using a motor and determining first pulse count values of the motor through the first cycle using a first sensor at first times. The first times are substantially equally spaced. The method also includes determining first position values of the polished rod through the first cycle using a second sensor at the first times and associating the first pulse count values with respective ones of the first position values to calibrate a processor of the pumping unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Bristol, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20170030348Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pairing load and position values are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a rod pump controller, a first position value of a polished rod of a pumping unit, assigning a first time value to the determined first position value, receiving first load values of the polished rod, assigning second time values to respective ones of the first load values, adjusting each of the second time values to respective third time values based on a wireless communication delay value, and determining a second load value associated with the first position value at the first time value based on the first load values and the third time values.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20160003234Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine parameters of a pumping unit for use with wells are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned in the housing. The processor is to determine a first load on a polished rod of a pumping unit, to estimate a first torque of a motor of the pumping unit, and determine a first torque factor for the pumping unit. The processor is to, based on the first load, the first torque, and the first torque factor, determine a phase angle of a counterbalance of the pumping unit or a moment of the counterbalance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20160003236Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine operating parameters of a pumping unit for use with wells are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned in the housing. The processor is to determine a rate at which to operate a motor of a pumping unit to enable a load imparted on a polished rod of the pumping unit to be within a threshold of a reference load or to enable a speed of the polished rod to be within a threshold of a reference speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20150300156Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine production of a downhole pump are described herein. An example method includes measuring a first amount of liquid produced from a well by a pump during a first stroke of the pump, computing a first pump card based on the first stroke, determining a first area of the first pump card and determining a leakage proportionality constant of the pump based on the first amount of liquid produced and the first area. The example method also includes computing a second pump card based on a second stroke of the pump, determining a second area of the second pump card and determining a second amount of liquid produced by the pump during the second stroke based on the leakage proportionality constant and the second area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20150293536Abstract: A method of controlling at least one of a flow rate or pressure of an injected fluid includes receiving a measured value indicative of the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid, and determining a control mode for controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure. The method further includes controlling the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure of the injected fluid according to the selected control mode including: determining a command signal to be communicated to a field device, and communicating the command signal to the field device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20150275650Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine production of downhole pumps are disclosed. An example method includes measuring an amount of liquid produced from a well by a pumping unit during a predetermined time period and determining first areas of first pump cards during the predetermined time period. The example method also includes summing the first areas and, based on the amount of liquid produced and the summed first areas, determining a leakage proportionality constant of a downhole pump of the pumping unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills
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Publication number: 20150260033Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating controllers for use with wells are disclosed. An example method includes moving a polished rod of a pumping unit through a first cycle of the pumping unit using a motor and determining first pulse count values of the motor through the first cycle using a first sensor at first times. The first times are substantially equally spaced. The method also includes determining first position values of the polished rod through the first cycle using a second sensor at the first times and associating the first pulse count values with respective ones of the first position values to calibrate a processor of the pumping unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventor: Thomas Matthew Mills