Patents by Inventor William Bakke

William Bakke 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: 9790778
    Abstract: There is described subsea apparatus and a method for processing fluid from a well. In an embodiment, a pipeline may be arranged to carry the multiphase fluid containing liquid and gas from the well. An outlet extending through a wall of the pipeline may let gas out of the pipeline from said region and through the outlet to separate said gas and liquid. A compressor may be connected to the outlet to compress the separated gas. Separated liquid may be conveyed along a sloping portion of the pipe to a low point in the seabed terrain, and may be conveyed to a pump for boosting the flow of liquid. The pump may be located in an excavated hole or glory hole below the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: William Bakke, Henning Holm, Tor Arne Gunnerød
  • Patent number: 9784076
    Abstract: A gas compression system and a method of flow conditioning by a gas compression system are provided. A gas compression system includes a compact flow conditioner in a form of a flow conditioner tank and a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit comprising an impeller configured to compress a mixture of gas and liquid, wherein the gas compression system is configured such that the gas and the liquid are separated in the flow conditioner tank, the separated gas and liquid are sucked up through the separate gas and liquid pipes and re-mixed again upstream of the impeller, and the liquid is distributed in a gas flow by Venturi effect, and wherein the Venturi effect is obtained by a constriction in the outlet pipe to the impeller, just upstream of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tor Bjorge, Lars Brenne, Harald Underbakke, Bjorn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
  • Patent number: 9784075
    Abstract: A combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit and a gas compression system are provided. The combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit functions on a centrifugal principle for transporting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner to a remote multi-phase receiving plant, wherein a rotating separator separates liquid and gas upstream of a compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, wherein the separated liquid is collected in a rotating annulus in such a way that the liquid is given kinetic energy which is converted to pressure energy in a static system, and wherein the pressurized liquid bypasses the compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, and then is re-mixed with the gas downstream of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tor Bjørge, Lars Brenne, Harald Underbakke, Bjorn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
  • Publication number: 20160348490
    Abstract: There is described subsea apparatus and a method for processing fluid from a well. In an embodiment, a pipeline (6) may be arranged to carry the multiphase fluid containing liquid and gas from the well. An outlet (10) extending through a wall of the pipeline may let gas out of the pipeline from said region and through the outlet to separate said gas and liquid. A compressor may be connected to the outlet to compress the separated gas. The separated liquid and the compressed gas may be combined. Separated liquid may be conveyed along a sloping portion of the pipe to a low point in the seabed terrain, and may be conveyed to a pump for boosting the flow of liquid. The pump may be located in an excavated hole or glory hole below the seabed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Henning HOLM, William BAKKE, Tor Arne GUNNERØD
  • Patent number: 9435186
    Abstract: A sub-sea processing system for the production of oil and/or gas from one or more production wells (1), especially wells producing heavy oil in deep water and with high viscosity. The system includes, beyond the production wells (1), one or more injection wells (2) for the injection of produced water, a separator (3), a production pump (4), a water injection and circulation pump (5) and a heating arrangement (6). A water circulation and injection pipe loop (7) is provided to interconnect the separator (3), the injection and circulation pump (5), the heating arrangement (6), the flow control device (11), and the wells (1, 2) enabling circulation of heated water to the wells (1, 2) via the separator (3) and heating arrangement (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventor: William Bakke
  • Patent number: 9303498
    Abstract: Subsea apparatus (10) for processing a well stream (2) and a method of processing a well stream subsea is described. In an embodiment, liquid (5) and gas (3) contained in the well stream (2) is separated. The separated gas (3) is cooled and the cooled gas (32) is combined with the separated liquid (5) to form a wet gas (52) for a compressor (90). An active cooling arrangement (30) may be used in one example to enhance the cooling effect provided by the cooler (30). Advantageously, the apparatus (10) can be arranged compactly, and may be provided on a subsea retrievable module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tom Grimseth, William Bakke, Tor Bjørge, Håvard Torpe, Håvard Eidsmoen, Birgitte Nordheim Tveter, Harald Underbakke, Lars Brenne
  • Publication number: 20150322763
    Abstract: A gas compression system and a method of flow conditioning by a gas compression system are provided. A gas compression system includes a compact flow conditioner in a form of a flow conditioner tank and a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit comprising an impeller configured to compress a mixture of gas and liquid, wherein the gas compression system is configured such that the gas and the liquid are separated in the flow conditioner tank, the separated gas and liquid are sucked up through the separate gas and liquid pipes and re-mixed again upstream of the impeller, and the liquid is distributed in a gas flow by Venturi effect, and wherein the Venturi effect is obtained by a constriction in the outlet pipe to the impeller, just upstream of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tor BJORGE, Lars BRENNE, Harald UNDERBAKKE, Bjorn-André EGERDAHL, Rune Mode RAMBERG, William BAKKE
  • Publication number: 20150322749
    Abstract: A combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit and a gas compression system are provided. The combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit functions on a centrifugal principle for transporting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner to a remote multi-phase receiving plant, wherein a rotating separator separates liquid and gas upstream of a compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, wherein the separated liquid is collected in a rotating annulus in such a way that the liquid is given kinetic energy which is converted to pressure energy in a static system, and wherein the pressurized liquid bypasses the compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, and then is re-mixed with the gas downstream of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tor BJØRGE, Lars BRENNE, Harald UNDERBAKKE, Bjorn-André EGERDAHL, Rune Mode RAMBERG, William BAKKE
  • Publication number: 20150204180
    Abstract: There is described subsea apparatus and a method for processing fluid from a well. In an embodiment, a pipeline may be arranged to carry the multiphase fluid containing liquid and gas from the well. An outlet extending through a wall of the pipeline may let gas out of the pipeline from said region and through the outlet to separate said gas and liquid. A compressor may be connected to the outlet to compress the separated gas. Separated liquid may be conveyed along a sloping portion of the pipe to a low point in the seabed terrain, and may be conveyed to a pump for boosting the flow of liquid. The pump may be located in an excavated hole or glory hole below the seabed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: William Bakke, Henning Holm, Tor Arne Gunnerød
  • Patent number: 9032987
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wet gas compression system comprising a compact flow conditioner (21), intended to be placed below sea level in close vicinity to a well head or on a dry installation, said flow conditioner (21) being intended to receive a multi-phase flow through a supply pipe (11) from a sub sea well for further transport of such hydrocarbons to a multi-phase receiving plant, and where preferably avoid sand accumulation or remove as much sand as possible from the multi-phase flow, the gas (G) and the liquid (L) being separated in the flow conditioner (21) whereupon the separated gas (G) and liquid (L) are re-assembled and enters a multi-phase meter (46) prior to boosting by means of a compressor (22). In the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22), as an integrated unit, comprises a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22) functioning on the centrifugal principle, used for trans-porting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner (21) to a remote multi-phase receiving plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tor Bjørge, Lars Brenne, Harald Underbakke, Bjorn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
  • Publication number: 20140202704
    Abstract: Subsea apparatus (10) for processing a well stream (2) and a method of processing a well stream subsea is described. In an embodiment, liquid (5) and gas (3) contained in the well stream (2) is separated. The separated gas (3) is cooled and the cooled gas (32) is combined with the separated liquid (5) to form a wet gas (52) for a compressor (90). An active cooling arrangement (30) may be used in one example to enhance the cooling effect provided by the cooler (30). Advantageously, the apparatus (10) can be arranged compactly, and may be provided on a subsea retrievable module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Tom Grimseth, William Bakke, Tor Bjørge, Håvard Torpe, Håvard Eidsmoen, Birgitte Nordheim Tveter, Harald Underbakke, Lars Brenne
  • Patent number: 8466591
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bearing system for a high speed rotary machine, said bearing system comprising a rotor shaft (51) including a plurality of active magnet or hydrostatic radial bearings (10,11,12,13,14,15) and at least one active magnet or hydrostatic axial bearing (16) for supporting said rotor shaft (51), said axial bearing (16) being arranged at one end of said rotor shaft (51), said bearing system also comprising a permanent magnet (PM) axial bearing arranged at a same end as the at least one active magnet or hydrostatic axial bearing (16), said permanent magnet axial bearing comprising at least one permanent magnet (52) arranged on the rotary shaft (51) and at least one permanent magnet (50) connected to a control system for varying a distance or gap (67) between said permanent magnets (50, 52), thus providing a variable force in said permanent magnet axial bearing in order to counteract at least semi-static axial forces imposed on said rotor shaft (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Tom Grimseth, William Bakke
  • Publication number: 20110057528
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bearing system for a high speed rotary machine, said bearing system comprising a rotor shaft (51) including a plurality of active magnet or hydrostatic radial bearings (10,11,12,13,14,15) and at least one active magnet or hydrostatic axial bearing (16) for supporting said rotor shaft (51), said axial bearing (16) being arranged at one end of said rotor shaft (51), said bearing system also comprising a permanent magnet (PM) axial bearing arranged at a same end as the at least one active magnet or hydrostatic axial bearing (16), said permanent magnet axial bearing comprising at least one permanent magnet (52) arranged on the rotary shaft (51) and at least one permanent magnet (50) connected to a control system for varying a distance or gap (67) between said permanent magnets (50, 52), thus providing a variable force in said permanent magnet axial bearing in order to counteract at least semi-static axial forces imposed on said rotor shaft (51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Tom Grimseth, William Bakke
  • Publication number: 20110048546
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wet gas compression system comprising a compact flow conditioner (21), intended to be placed below sea level in close vicinity to a well head or on a dry installation, said flow conditioner (21) being intended to receive a multi-phase flow through a supply pipe (11) from a sub sea well for further transport of such hydrocarbons to a multi-phase receiving plant, and where preferably avoid sand accumulation or remove as much sand as possible from the multi-phase flow, the gas (G) and the liquid (L) being separated in the flow conditioner (21) whereupon the separated gas (G) and liquid (L) are re-assembled and enters a multi-phase meter (46) prior to boosting by means of a compressor (22). In the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22), as an integrated unit, comprises a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit (22) functioning on the centrifugal principle, used for trans-porting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner (21) to a remote multi-phase receiving plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: STATOIL ASA
    Inventors: Tor Bjørge, Lars Brenne, Harald Unerbakke, Bjørn-André Egerdahl, Rune Mode Ramberg, William Bakke
  • Publication number: 20100032164
    Abstract: Sub-sea processing system for the production of oil and/or gas from one or more production wells (1), especially wells producing heavy oil on deep water and with high viscosity. The system includes, beyond the production well/s (1), one or more injection wells (2) for the injection of produced water, a separator (3), a production pump (4), a water injection and circulation pump (5) and a heating arrangement (6). A water circulation and injection pipe loop (7) is provided to interconnect the separator (3), the injection and circulation pump (5), the heating arrangement (6), the flow control device (11) and the wells (1, 2) enabling circulation of heated water to the wells (1,2) via the separator (3) and heating arrangement (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: William Bakke