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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group III (claims 13-20) in the reply filed on 11/17/2025 is acknowledged.
Claim Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities: readability error. The structure (I) should be placed prior to further limiting the dispersant. Further, the “OH or guaiacyl groups” is confusing as a branch of a chemical structure. There appears to be two alternate structures and should be presented as such. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 14-20 are objected to because of the following informalities: typographical error. The preambles are inconsistent with the parent claim. The limitation of dependent claims should further limit the cement slurry, not the overall method. For example, the preamble of the dependent claim 14 should be “The method of claim 13, wherein the cement slurry further comprises.” The preamble of claim 15 should be “The method of claim 14, wherein the cement slurry comprises.” The preamble of claims 16-20 should be” The method of claim 13, wherein the cement slurry comprises.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
Claims 13-17 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a), because the specification, while being enabling for certain alcohols, does not reasonably provide enablement for any and/or all alcohol.
The original disclosure recites the following: “Alcohols suitable for use in the lignosulfonate-based cement dispersants described herein may include, but are not limited to, methanol, ethanol, propanol, iso-butanol, t-butanol, the like, and any combination thereof.” (See Applicant’s Specification, filed 02/08/2023: [0028]).
The specification does not enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention commensurate in scope with these claims.
Claims 13-17 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a), because the specification, while being enabling for certain aldehydes, does not reasonably provide enablement for any and/or all aldehyde.
The original disclosure recites the following: “Aldehydes suitable for the use in the compositions and methods of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, the like, and any combination thereof.” (See Applicant’s Specification, filed 02/08/2023: [0029]).
The specification does not enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention commensurate in scope with these claims.
The Examiner suggests the following amendment:
Claim 13. (currently amended) A method comprising: introducing a cement slurry into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation;
wherein the cement slurry comprises a lignosulfonate-based cement dispersant, a cement, and water;
wherein the lignosulfonate-based cement dispersant comprises a calcium lignosulfonate salt having a chemical structure (I), an alcohol, an aldehyde, and water,
wherein the chemical structure (I) includes one of:
PNG
media_image1.png
354
528
media_image1.png
Greyscale
OH
and
PNG
media_image1.png
354
528
media_image1.png
Greyscale
guaiacyl group,
wherein a total number of guaiacyl groups in the chemical structure (I) is 2 to 10;
wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, iso-butanol, t-butanol, and combinations thereof,
wherein the aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, and combinations thereof;
and allowing the cement slurry to set to a concrete in a downhole zone of interest.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record, including applicant-cited EP 1028096 and newly-cited CA 2954611 and WO 2015/130284 fails to teach the method as claimed (with suggested amendments above).
EP 1028096 teaches a method of oil well cementing, wherein a
cement composition is used, which inter alia comprises a calcium lignosulfonate
(see [0025]).
CA 2954611 teaches a cement comprising a cement set retarder. A broad variety of cement set retarders may be suitable for use. For example, the cement set retarder may comprise phosphonic acids, such as ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid), diethylenetriamine (methylene phosphonic acid), etc.; lignosulfonates, such as sodium lignosulfonate, calcium lignosulfonate, etc.; salts such as stannous sulfate, lead acetate, monobasic calcium phosphate, organic acids, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, etc.
WO 2015/130284 teaches a cement composition comprising hydrated lime, lignosulfonate and calcium chloride. Preferred Process: The cement composition is obtained by mixing passivated cement accelerator with at least cement and water. The passivated cement accelerator is obtained by mixing cementitious material with water and agitating mixture of cementitious material and water such that passivating layer is formed on at least a portion of the cementitious material. The method further involves introducing the cement composition into a subterranean formation (20).
Therefore, none of the cited art teaches or suggests a method comprising: introducing a cement slurry into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; wherein the cement slurry comprises a lignosulfonate-based cement dispersant, a cement, and water; wherein the lignosulfonate-based cement dispersant comprises a calcium lignosulfonate salt having a chemical structure (I), an alcohol, an aldehyde, and water as specifically claimed above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZAKIYA W BATES whose telephone number is (571)272-7039. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am - 5pm.
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.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Doug Hutton can be reached at 5712724137. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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.
/ZAKIYA W BATES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3674 3/6/2026