Improvement in well safety valve technology leads to patent for Cypress men

Two Cypress men received a U.S. patent last week for an invention that
could make oil and gas wells safer.

The patent describes a system for improving the reliability of a
certain kind of well safety valve that is operated from the surface
through the movement of a control fluid. In the patent, the inventors
explain how a pair of control lines can be used to cycle the fluid and
prevent it from being contaminated with debris, as well as providing a
useful backup system.

The inventors credited in the patent are Roddie R. Smith and Stuart M.
Dennistoun of Cypress, as well as Richard C. Jones of Lafayette,
Louisiana. The patent was originally filed on Aug. 20, 2007, and its
official number is 7,878,252. The filers were represented by
Houston-based intellectual property law firm Wong, Cabello, Lutsch,
Rutherford & Brucculeri LLP. The Houston offices of Weatherford/Lamb
Inc. are listed as the owners of the patent.

Weatherford International is one of the world's largest oil and
natural gas services companies. Originally founded in Texas, it is
now based in Geneva. The company has offices throughout the Houston
area.