Neil E West

7062991, Jun 20, 2006

Dec 23, 2005

11/317627

Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US
Preston R. Fox - Fountain Valley CA, US

Varco I/P, Inc. - Houston TX

B25B 13/50

81 5716, 81 5719, 81 5734

An apparatus for rotating a tubular, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including a frame, a rocker assembly connected to the frame, the rocker assembly including a top rocker arm pivotably mounted to the frame, and a bottom rocker arm pivotably mounted to the frame, top torque apparatus connected to the frame, upper gripper apparatus connected to the frame for gripping a primary tubular (e. g. , but not limited to a first pipe), lower gripper apparatus connected to the frame for gripping a secondary member (e. g. , but not limited to a second pipe threadedly connected to or to be threadedly connected to the first pipe; or part of a bit to be connected to or unconnected from a tubular), the upper gripper apparatus and lower gripper apparatus operable so that the lower gripper apparatus grips and holds the secondary member while the upper gripper apparatus grips and holds the primary tubular as the top torque apparatus is rotatable to rotate the primary tubular with respect to the secondary member, and torque generated by the top torque apparatus reacted through the upper gripper apparatus, through the top rocker arm, through the bottom rocker arm, and to the lower gripper apparatus; and methods for using such an apparatus.

7188547, Mar 13, 2007

Jun 8, 2006

11/449140

Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US
Preston R. Fox - Fountain Valley CA, US

Varco I/P, Inc. - Houston TX

B25B 13/50

81 5716, 81 5719, 81 5734

An apparatus for rotating a tubular, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including a frame, a rocker assembly connected to the frame, the rocker assembly including a top rocker arm pivotably mounted to the frame, and a bottom rocker arm pivotably mounted to the frame, top torque apparatus connected to the frame, upper gripper apparatus connected to the frame for gripping a primary tubular (e. g. , but not limited to a first pipe), lower gripper apparatus connected to the frame for gripping a secondary member (e. g. , but not limited to a second pipe threadedly connected to or to be threadedly connected to the first pipe; or part of a bit to be connected to or unconnected from a tubular), the upper gripper apparatus and lower gripper apparatus operable so that the lower gripper apparatus grips and holds the secondary member while the upper gripper apparatus grips and holds the primary tubular as the top torque apparatus is rotatable to rotate the primary tubular with respect to the secondary member, and torque generated by the top torque apparatus reacted through the upper gripper apparatus, through the top rocker arm, through the bottom rocker arm, and to the lower gripper apparatus; and methods for using such an apparatus.

7313986, Jan 1, 2008

Mar 10, 2007

11/716987

Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US
Preston R. Fox - Fountain Valley CA, US

Varco I/P, Inc. - Houston TX

B25B 13/50

81 5716, 81 5715, 81 5719, 81 5734

An apparatus for rotating a tubular with respect to a drill bit, e. g. , for making or breaking a connection between a tubular and a drill bit, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including a frame, gripper apparatus connected to the frame for gripping and rotating a primary tubular, and a torquing frame with plate apparatus for holding the drill bit.

7472762, Jan 6, 2009

Dec 6, 2006

11/634680

Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US
Bastiaan de Jong - Rancho Santa Margarita CA, US

Varco I/P, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 15/00
E21B 19/08
E21B 3/02

175162, 175113, 166 7751, 277377

A top drive system including, in certain aspects, a motor, a gear system below, and driven by the motor, a space between the top drive motor and the gear system, a seal assembly for inhibiting oil for lubricating parts of the gear system from flowing into the space, the seal assembly having a movable rod piston, a sealing arm projecting from the rod piston, at least one removable seal secured to the sealing arm, a seal member releasably secured to the gear system, and the movable rod piston movable to move the sealing arm to bring the at least one removable seal into sealingly contact with the seal member to inhibit oil from flowing into the space.

7665530, Feb 23, 2010

Nov 3, 2007

11/982844

Lawrence E. Wells - Yorba Linda CA, US
Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US

National Oilwell Varco L.P. - Houston TX

E21B 19/16
E21B 3/00
E21B 3/02
B25B 13/34
E21B 31/12

166377, 166 7751, 173164, 294 861, 294 8615, 81 5733

A tubular gripping system and a top drive drilling system with such a tubular gripping system, in at least some aspects, the gripping system beneath the top drive unit and, in at least some aspects, the gripping system having a body with four spaced-apart grippers movably connected thereto and piston/cylinder devices movably interconnected with each gripper for moving the grippers to clamp the tubular.

7735565, Jun 15, 2010

Oct 22, 2009

12/603688

Lawrence E. Wells - Yorba Linda CA, US
James Edward Lynch - Terrell TX, US
Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US

Varco I/P, Inc. - Houston TX

E21B 19/18
E21B 19/00

166379, 166380, 166 7752

An apparatus for use in wellbore operations and a method for using it is provided. The apparatus includes a main body, two support ears spaced-apart and projecting from the main body, each having an inner ear part and an outer ear part. The inner ear part is able to support more weight than the outer ear part. In certain aspects, structure for preventing a large support link from being positioned on an outer ear part is provided. The apparatus, may be any of a link adapter, a block adapter, a becket, an elevator, and a drilling hook.

20080135230, Jun 12, 2008

Dec 6, 2006

11/634804

Lawrence E. Wells - Yorba Linda CA, US
James Edward Lynch - Terrell TX, US
Neil Edward West - Corona CA, US
Guy L. McClung - Spring TX, US

E21B 19/00

166 961, 166379

An apparatus for use in wellbore operations, the apparatus including a main body, two support ears spaced-apart and projecting from the main body, each inner ear part having an inner part, and an outer ear part, the inner part able to support more weight than the outer part; and, in certain aspects, structure for preventing a large support link from being positioned on an outer ear part; the apparatus, in certain aspects, being any of a link adapter, a block adapter, a becket, an elevator, and a drilling hook.

20110299802, Dec 8, 2011

May 25, 2011

13/115203

Neil West - Corona CA, US

NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P. - Houston TX

F16C 32/06

384107

A thrust bearing allows a first structure to rotate relative to a second structure about an axis of rotation while supporting an axial load between the first structure and the second structure. In an embodiment, the thrust bearing comprises a first annular bearing race slidingly disposed in a first annular recess in the first structure. In addition, the thrust bearing comprises a second annular bearing race engaging the second structure. Further, the thrust bearing comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced roller elements axially disposed between the first bearing race and the second bearing race. The roller elements contact the first bearing race and the second bearing race. The first bearing race and the first recess define a first annular fluid cavity axially positioned between the first bearing race and the first structure. The first bearing race rides on a fluid disposed in the first fluid cavity.