DETAILED ACTION 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. Status of Claims Claims 1-20 filed January 18, 2023 are pending. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 3 . In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 4 . 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. 5 . The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. 6 . Claims 1 - 4, 6-13, and 15- 20 are rejecte d under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Allo et al (US 2020/0025667) in view of Eichmann et al (US 2021/0080414) . 7 . Re Claims 1, 11 : Allo discloses comprising: a laboratory-scale wellbore analysis system configured to measure a plurality of observed rock parameters and observed wellbore parameters of a laboratory-scale wellbore within a rock sample (see [0027] geological sample) ; and a computer system configured to (see Fig. 5) : obtaining a set of wellbore length compensating breakdown pressure correction curves (see [0054] length of wellbore) ; obtaining an approximate breakdown pressure, wherein the approximate breakdown pressure is based, at least in part, on measurements taken in a laboratory-scale wellbore (see [0050] estimating breakdown pressure) ; receive the plurality of observed rock parameters and observed wellbore parameters measurements taken in a laboratory-scale wellbore (see [0044] regional stress field measurements) ; and determining a predicted breakdown pressure from the approximate breakdown pressure and the set of wellbore length compensating breakdown pressure correction curves (see [0055] predicted breakdown pressure) , wherein the predicted breakdown pressure predicts the breakdown pressure of a reservoir-scale wellbore (see [0055] predicted breakdown pressure) . However, Allo fails to explicitly disclose the following. Meanwhile, Eichmann teaches: correction curves (see [0030] calibration curve is analgous to correction curve). From the teaching of Eichmann , it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Allo’s breakdown pressure estimation with Eichmann’s teaching of correction curves in order “… to correlate a measured change… with a value of a thermal property of the sample (see Eichmann [0030]).” 8 . Re Claims 2, 12: Allo discloses wherein the set of wellbore length compensating breakdown pressure correction curves are determined using numerical simulation for a plurality of nominal rock parameters and nominal wellbore parameters (see [0049] wellbore length being analyzed) . 9 . Re Claim 3: Allo discloses wherein the measurements comprise a plurality of observed rock parameters and observed wellbore parameters (see [0058] breakdown pressure measurements) . 1 0 . Re Claims 4, 13: Allo discloses wherein obtaining an approximate breakdown pressure further comprises predicting the approximate breakdown pressure using a breakdown pressure prediction model and the plurality of observed rock parameters and observed wellbore parameters (see [0055] predicted breakdown pressure) . 1 1 . Re Claims 6, 15: Allo discloses further comprising determining a well construction plan based, at least in part, on the predicted breakdown pressure (see Fig.2 plan) . 1 2 . Re Claims 7, 16: Allo discloses further comprising hydraulically fracturing a well guided by the well construction plan (see [0038] hydraulic fracturing) . 1 3 . Re Claims 8, 17: However, Allo fails to disclose the following. Meanwhile, Eichmann teaches wherein determining a predicted breakdown pressure further comprises interpolating between points in the set of wellbore length compensating breakdown pressure correction curves (see [0030] correction curves) . From the teaching of Eichmann , it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Allo’s breakdown pressure estimation with Eichmann’s teaching of correction curves in order “… to correlate a measured change… with a value of a thermal property of the sample (see Eichmann [0030]).” 1 4 . Re Claims 9, 18: Allo discloses wherein numerical simulation comprises numerical solutions to a system of poroelastic equations (see [0037] equation) . 1 5 . Re Claims 10, 19: Allo discloses wherein the set of wellbore length compensating breakdown pressure correction curves comprises a wellbore length compensating breakdown pressure correction curve for each of a plurality of doublets comprising a normalized wellbore length and a normalized injection rise-up time (see [0049] wellbore length being analyzed) . 1 6 . Re Claim 20: Allo discloses wh erein the laboratory-scale wellbore analysis system is configured to raise a fluid pressure within the laboratory-scale wellbore while constraining applying stresses along at least one axis of the rock sample (see [0044] regional stress field measurement) . 1 7 . Claims 5 and 14 are rejecte d under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Allo et al (US 2020/0025667) in view of Eichmann et al (US 2021/0080414) , further in view of Han et al (US 2023/0184105) . 1 8 . Re Claims 5, 14: However, Allo and Eichmann fail to disclose the following. Meanwhile, Han teache s wherein the breakdown pressure prediction model comprises a Hubbert-Willis model (see [0084]) . From the teaching of Han, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Allo’s breakdown pressure estimation with Eichmann’s teaching of correction curves, and further with Han’s teaching of a Hubbert-Willis model in order for “… hydraulic fracturing a formation of a borehole (see Han Abstract).” Examiner’s Notes 19. The Examiner suggests incorporating claim 5 (dependent on 4 and 3), 2, 9, and 10 together into the independent claims. Conclusion 20 . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT FAWAAD HAIDER whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-7178 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Mon-Fri 8 AM to 5 PM . 2 1 . Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. 2 2 . If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Florian Zeender can be reached on FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-6790 . The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 2 3 . Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /FAWAAD HAIDER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3627