CyFair-area man receives patent for new oil well packer design

A CyFair-area man is part of a team receiving a U.S. patent for a new oil well packer design he helped develop for Halliburton Energy Services.

According to the patent, the new design employs an expandable bladder to protect key components of the well from undesired fluids. The inventors also suggest the bladder could be used as a backup for a main packer performing the same function.

The inventors of the new device listed by the patent are Anthony H. van Zuilekom of Houston, Mark A. Proett of Missouri City and Michael T. Pelletier of the CyFair area of Houston. The official patent number is 7,866,387 and it originally was filed on Jan. 20, 2009. The inventors were represented by Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, a Minneapolis-based intellectual property law firm with offices in Austin. The patent is owned by Halliburton.

Halliburton is one of the world's largest energy services companies. Its headquarters are located in the Aldine area of Houston at 3000 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E.