DETAILED ACTION
Final Rejection
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s amendments, filed 02/02/2026 to claims are accepted. In this amendment, claims 1-20 have been amended.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bartetzko et al. (US20160341834) in view of Borrel et al. (US 2019/0034812)
Regarding Claims 1, 10 and 19. Bartetzko teaches A method for determining, via a pattern based control point detector, control points of a drilling system comprising (fig. 3-4; processor: [0004]; [0067]):
obtaining, via a plurality of logging while drilling sensors (i.e. gamma ray measurement tools, resistivity tools :[0023]), wellbore measurements while propagating a wellbore trajectory through a formation, wherein the wellbore measurements include at least two different types of formation-related measurement channels and corresponding wellbore positions (LWD: [0023], [0029]; target and reference: [0037]-[0043]; 61, 62: fig.2; 120, 130: fig.10);
generating, during the propagating of the wellbore trajectory, a combined measurement feature set by computing at least one combined measurement feature jointly from the at least two different types of formation-related measurement channels evaluating the combined measurement feature set with a pattern detector configured with a plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns to determine whether at least one of the plurality of combined measurement predetermined patterns is detected in the combined measurement feature set(120, 130, 132,134: fig.10; 63: fig. 2),
wherein each of the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns is correlated to a geological event (a processor continuously monitors measurement data for patterns corresponding to features of interest; features of interest are pre-defined by marking changes or patterns in the reference log data before and/or during drilling: [0044]-[0047], [0067]-[0071]; 63: fig. 2), and wherein the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns are represented with a function (the measurement and reference data are compared to identify similar features, such as groups or sections of data that have the same or similar patterns of magnitude as a function of depth or time. calculated, features of interest, such as changes in lithology or interfaces between layers, are identified in the reference data at subsequent depths or times and the depths or times of the subsequent features of interest are noted: [0045],[0048]-[0049] [0054], [0072], [0074]; 64: fig.2;132, 134: fig. 10);
based on detection, via the pattern detector (a processor continuously monitors measurement data for patterns corresponding to features of interest: [0067]; features of interest are pre-defined by marking changes or patterns in the reference log data before and/or during drilling: [0069]), of a first predetermined combined measurement pattern from the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns in a subset of the wellbore measurements, labeling the subset of the wellbore measurements and corresponding wellbore position as a potential control point (d1’…d4’: [0071] & fig. 8; 64: [0068]; fig. 5-6, 10); and
performing a geosteering operation with a drill bit based on the potential control point (claim 4, [0050]; [0068];65: fig. 2).
Bartetzko silent about wherein the plurality of predetermined patterns are based on domain knowledge.
However, Borrel teaches the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns are based on domain knowledge (the planning, implementation, and maintenance of oil reservoirs may include domain knowledge: [0002]; domain experts: [0015]; knowledge base manage 46: [0016]; match a pattern of features across the two data sets. Feature matching 26 may use prior patterns from historical stratigraphic layer interpretations stored in stratigraphic knowledge base 52 and processed through algorithms: [0018]-[0019])
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to the modified invention of Bartetzko, the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns patterns are based on domain knowledge, as taught by Borrel, so as to calculate probability of a given pattern of seismic data corresponding to a layer feature and extracting providing a layer profile for a given column of the seismic data.
Regarding Claims 2 and 11. Bartetzko further teaches the wellbore measurements comprise measurements of a set of one or more formation properties ( [0023]; fig. 8).
Regarding Claims 3 and 12 Bartetzko further teaches evaluating the wellbore measurements against the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns to determine whether at least one of the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns is detected in the combined measurement feature set comprises evaluating measurements of a formation properties against the set of predetermined patterns ([0067]-[0076]; fig.10) .
Regarding Claims 4 and 13. Bartetzko further teaches evaluating measurements of combined of the formation properties against the set of predetermined combined measurement patterns comprises, identifying which of the predetermined combined measurement patterns corresponds to the combination of the formation properties and evaluating the measurements of the combination of formation properties against those of the predetermined combined measurement patterns identified as corresponding to the combination of the formation properties ([0067]-[0076];figs. 10 & 12 ) .
Regarding Claims 5 and 14. Bartetzko further teaches the wellbore measurements comprise wellbore position measurements ([0067]-[0076]; figs. 8, 10) .
Regarding Claims 6 and 15 . Bartetzko further teaches evaluating the combined measurement feature sets against the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns to determine whether at least one of the plurality of predetermined combined measurement patterns is detected combined measurement feature set comprises evaluating the wellbore position measurements against the set of predetermined combined measurement patterns ([0067]-[0076]; fig. 10).
Regarding Claims 7 and 16. Bartetzko further teaches the at least one of a depth corresponding to the steering control point and the first predetermined combined measurement pattern corresponding to the steering control point is communicated to an interpreter for interpretation ([0050], [0075]-[0076]; fig.12]).
Regarding Claims 8 and 17. Bartetzko further teaches interpretation of the steering control point is performed by manual interpretation or automated interpretation([0050]).
Regarding Claims 9, 18 and 20. Bartetzko further teaches a predetermined combined measurement pattern is represented with at least one of function and a set of one or more conditions that relate to magnitude, rate of change, or relative changes between different types of wellbore measurements ([0045]; [0067]-[0073]; fig.10).
Response to Argument
Applicant’s arguments with respect 103 rejection, the Applicant argus that Bartetzko does not teach or suggest computing combined measurement features jointly from multiple measurement channels, nor does Bartetzko disclose defining patterns based on such jointly computed combined measurement features.
In response, the Examiner respectfully disagree because Bartetzko in view of Borrel teaches all the limitations including amended limitation also. See the rejection above. Further more Bartetzko teaches computing combined measurement features(fig. 10; the time or depth shift is calculated between the corresponding features in the reference data and the measurement data:[0045]-[0046]; a target well log 130 is monitored and a relative change log 132 and absolute change log 134 are calculated as measurement data is received. Similar changes or fingerprints and their corresponding depths are noted as A′, B′ and C′. The fingerprints from the reference and target logs are compared and depth shifts are calculated: [0072], [0074]) jointly from multiple measurement channels (61,62). As such 103 rejection is maintained.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
a)Cao et al. (US 20120046868) disclose a closed-loop method for geosteering includes acquiring logging while drilling data and processing the logging while drilling data downhole while drilling to obtain a geosteering correction (a correction to the drilling direction based upon the LWD measurements). The geosteering correction is further processed downhole to obtain new steering tool settings which are then applied to the steering tool to change the direction of drilling. These steps are typically repeated numerous times without the need for uphole processing or surface intervention..
b) Sun et al. (US 20220127951) disclose accessing type log reference data respectively associated with a plurality of reference wells in a geological vicinity of a well being drilled; using the type log reference data, performing a type log alignment for the plurality of reference wells using multi-stage optimization to generate an aligned geosteering depth log; using the aligned geosteering depth log, determining a stratigraphic depth of a bottom-hole assembly (BHA) in the well during drilling; and using the aligned geosteering depth log, steering the drilling of the well based on the stratigraphic depth towards a predetermined target.
c) Wes. (US 20170328192) disclose Systems and methods for drilling a borehole into the earth are provided. The systems and methods include drilling a first portion of a borehole with a drilling system comprising a disintegrating device, the first portion extending from the surface to a subsurface reference point, wherein steering within the first portion is performed based on a first coordinate system with a first origin, creating a second coordinate system, wherein the second coordinate system has a second origin that is related to subsurface reference point, and drilling a second portion of the borehole with the drilling system, wherein steering within the second portion is performed based on the second coordinate system.
d) Chahine et al, (US 20200291764) disclose a method and system for drilling a wellbore. A method for drilling a wellbore includes: generating a library of defined patterns, each of the defined patterns corresponding to an operational behavior of drilling equipment used to drill the wellbore; collecting, during operation of the drilling equipment, measurements from sensors coupled to the drilling equipment; characterizing the measurements as correlating to one of the defined patterns; detecting the one of the defined patterns in the measurements; extracting a feature from the measurements; determining a condition of the drilling equipment by comparing a value of the feature to a threshold derived from the one of the defined patterns; and activating an actuator coupled to the drilling equipment to adjust operation of the drilling equipment based on the condition.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMAD K ISLAM whose telephone number is (571)270-0328. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m..
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/MOHAMMAD K ISLAM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
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