Patents by Inventor Tobias Voelkel
Tobias Voelkel 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: 11634822Abstract: An intelligent system is provided for monitoring a subsea structure and delivering appropriate cathodic protection to desired areas of the subsea structure. According to an embodiment, the technique involves monitoring a cathodic protection potential level at an important location or locations of the subsea structure. Based on the data acquired via monitoring, a controller is able to apply voltage levels to the subsea structure so as to attain and modulate a desired cathodic protection level, e.g. a cathodic protection level within a range of about ?800 mV to ?950 mV (SCE). Consequently, undesirable overprotection and under protection are avoided and the subsea structure is adequately protected from corrosion while reducing undesirable production of hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITEDInventors: Herman Amaya, Behrang Fahimi, Manfred Hartwig, Tobias Voelkel
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Patent number: 10415354Abstract: A method of modeling effects of operational procedures during startup of a fluid production or injection system at a field includes determining initial conditions of the field at a first time based on field measurements of the field. The method also includes simulating startups of the fluid production or injection system based on the initial conditions. The method further includes determining operational procedures for starting up the fluid production or injection system based on the simulated startups. The method also includes determining whether a startup command has been received. The method further includes sending instructions to startup the fluid production or injection system using the operational procedures when the startup command is received.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITEDInventors: Cedric El Chidiac, Sarah Rae Kunz, Robert Edward Sauve, Tobias Voelkel, Burkhard Sommer
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Publication number: 20190085468Abstract: An intelligent system is provided for monitoring a subsea structure and delivering appropriate cathodic protection to desired areas of the subsea structure. According to an embodiment, the technique involves monitoring a cathodic protection potential level at an important location or locations of the subsea structure. Based on the data acquired via monitoring, a controller is able to apply voltage levels to the subsea structure so as to attain and modulate a desired cathodic protection level, e.g. a cathodic protection level within a range of about ?800 mV to ?950 mV (SCE). Consequently, undesirable overprotection and under protection are avoided and the subsea structure is adequately protected from corrosion while reducing undesirable production of hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Herman Amaya, Behrang Fahimi, Manfred Hartwig, Tobias Voelkel
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Publication number: 20180066501Abstract: A method of modeling effects of operational procedures during startup of a fluid production or injection system at a field includes determining initial conditions of the field at a first time based on field measurements of the field. The method also includes simulating startups of the fluid production or injection system based on the initial conditions. The method further includes determining operational procedures for starting up the fluid production or injection system based on the simulated startups. The method also includes determining whether a startup command has been received. The method further includes sending instructions to startup the fluid production or injection system using the operational procedures when the startup command is received.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2016Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Cedric El Chidiac, Sarah Rae Kunz, Robert Edward Sauve, Tobias Voelkel, Burkhard Sommer
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Publication number: 20150211331Abstract: A retrievable flow module (RFM) apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the RFM apparatus is a standalone assembly configured to mate with a subsea device, such as a production tree. The RFM apparatus may include a frame within which various flow control and monitoring elements are disposed. The frame may have an alignment system that enables the RFM apparatus to horizontally mate with the tree. Because the RFM apparatus provides for the collocation of flow control and monitoring elements within a standalone assembly, deployment or retrieval of the flow control and monitoring elements may be accomplished in single operation. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Edmund McHugh, Finbarr Evans, Tobias Voelkel
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Patent number: 8997876Abstract: A retrievable flow module (RFM) apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the RFM apparatus is a standalone assembly configured to mate with a subsea device, such as a production tree. The RFM apparatus may include a frame within which various flow control and monitoring elements are disposed. The frame may have an alignment system that enables the RFM apparatus to horizontally mate with the tree. Because the RFM apparatus provides for the collocation of flow control and monitoring elements within a standalone assembly, deployment or retrieval of the flow control and monitoring elements may be accomplished in single operation. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Edmund McHugh, Finbarr Evans, Tobias Voelkel
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Publication number: 20140027125Abstract: A retrievable flow module (RFM) apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the RFM apparatus is a standalone assembly configured to mate with a subsea device, such as a production tree. The RFM apparatus may include a frame within which various flow control and monitoring elements are disposed. The frame may have an alignment system that enables the RFM apparatus to horizontally mate with the tree. Because the RFM apparatus provides for the collocation of flow control and monitoring elements within a standalone assembly, deployment or retrieval of the flow control and monitoring elements may be accomplished in single operation. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Edmund McHugh, Finbarr Evans, Tobias Voelkel
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Patent number: 8550170Abstract: A retrievable flow module (RFM) apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the RFM apparatus is a standalone assembly configured to mate with a subsea device, such as a production tree. The RFM apparatus may include a frame within which various flow control and monitoring elements are disposed. The frame may have an alignment system that enables the RFM apparatus to horizontally mate with the tree. Because the RFM apparatus provides for the collocation of flow control and monitoring elements within a standalone assembly, deployment or retrieval of the flow control and monitoring elements may be accomplished in single operation. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Edmund McHugh, Finbarr Evans, Tobias Voelkel
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Publication number: 20130206420Abstract: A retrievable flow module (RFM) apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the RFM apparatus is a standalone assembly configured to mate with a subsea device, such as a production tree. The RFM apparatus may include a frame within which various flow control and monitoring elements are disposed. The frame may have an alignment system that enables the RFM apparatus to horizontally mate with the tree. Because the RFM apparatus provides for the collocation of flow control and monitoring elements within a standalone assembly, deployment or retrieval of the flow control and monitoring elements may be accomplished in single operation. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Edmund McHugh, Finbarr Evans, Tobias Voelkel