DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more (See 2019 Update: Eligibility Guidance).
Independent Claim(s) 1 recites
determining a hydrocarbon-filled porosity for each of the plurality of rock samples;
determining a concentration of hydrocarbons within each of the plurality of rock samples;
and
determining, using regression analysis, a relationship between the concentration of hydrocarbons and the hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the plurality of rock samples
[Mathematical Concepts – mathematical relationships; mathematical formulas or equations or mathematical calculation] and/or [Mental Processes - concepts performed in the human mind (including an observation, evaluation, judgement, opinion)].
Independent Claim(s) 4 recites
obtaining a plurality of well logs;
determining a total hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the in situ rock using, at least in part, the plurality of well logs;
obtaining a relationship between a concentration of hydrocarbons and a hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the rock type;
determining an in situ concentration of hydrocarbons within the in situ rock using the relationship and the total hydrocarbon-filled porosity;
and
determining a recovery factor for the in situ rock based, at least in part, on the in situ concentration of hydrocarbons
[Mathematical Concepts – mathematical relationships; mathematical formulas or equations or mathematical calculation] and/or [Mental Processes - concepts performed in the human mind (including an observation, evaluation, judgement, opinion)].
Independent Claim(s) 14 recites
receive a plurality of well logs,
determine a total hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the in situ rock using, at least in part, the plurality of well logs,
receive a relationship between a concentration of hydrocarbons and a hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the rock type;
determine an in situ concentration of hydrocarbons within the in situ rock using the relationship and the total hydrocarbon-filled porosity, and
determine a recovery factor for the in situ rock based, at least in part, on the in situ concentration of hydrocarbons;
and
determine a hydrocarbon production rate based, at least in part, on the recovery factor
[Mathematical Concepts – mathematical relationships; mathematical formulas or equations or mathematical calculation] and/or [Mental Processes - concepts performed in the human mind (including an observation, evaluation, judgement, opinion)].
In combination with Independent Claim(s) 1, 4, 14, Claim(s) 5, 7-10, 13, 15, 18, 19 recite(s)
determining a hydrocarbon production rate based, at least in part, on the recovery factor,
and
designing a production management plan for the subterranean region of interest based, at least in part, on the hydrocarbon production rate.
design a production management plan based, at least in part, on the hydrocarbon production rate.
wherein
the plurality of well logs
comprises
a resistivity log.
wherein
determining the total hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the in situ rock
comprises:
determining a water saturation and a total porosity for the in situ rock using, at least in part, the plurality of well logs;
and
determining the total hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the in situ rock using, at least in part, the water saturation and the total porosity.
wherein
the relationship comprises
a linear relationship.
wherein
obtaining the relationship comprises:
obtaining, from a rock coring system, a plurality of rock samples,
wherein
each of the plurality of rock samples is of the rock type.
determining, using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, the hydrocarbon-filled porosity for each of the plurality of rock samples;
determining, using a pyrolysis system, the concentration of hydrocarbons within each of the plurality of rock samples; and
determining, using regression analysis, the relationship between the concentration of hydrocarbons and the hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the plurality of rock samples.
determine the hydrocarbon-filled porosity for each of the plurality of rock samples;
and
determine the concentration of hydrocarbons within each of the plurality of rock samples.
determine, using regression analysis, the relationship between the concentration of hydrocarbons and the hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the plurality of rock samples
[Mathematical Concepts – mathematical relationships; mathematical formulas or equations or mathematical calculation] and/or [Mental Processes - concepts performed in the human mind (including an observation, evaluation, judgement, opinion)].
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Limitations that are not indicative of integration into a practical application:
Adding the words “apply it” (or an equivalent) with the judicial exception, or mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer, or merely uses a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea (see MPEP § 2106.05(f)) (i.e. a computer system configured to:; a production management system configured to:);
Adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception (see MPEP § 2106.05(g)) (i.e. generic data acquisition steps utilizing generic data acquisition tools to fulfill the mathematical concept (e.g. obtaining, from a rock coring system, a plurality of rock samples, wherein each of the plurality of rock samples is of a rock type; determining, using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system; determining, using a pyrolysis system; obtaining, from a well logging system, a plurality of well logs along an interval of a well located within a subterranean region of interest, wherein the well penetrates an in situ rock within the subterranean region of interest at a discrete depth within the interval, and wherein the in situ rock is of a rock type; receive, from a well logging system; wherein the well logging system comprises a resistivity logging system; a rock coring system configured to obtain a plurality of rock samples, wherein each of the plurality of rock samples is of the rock type; a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system configured to determine; a pyrolysis system configured to determine; wherein the NMR system comprises a two-dimensional NMR system)); or
Generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use (MPEP § 2106.05(h)) (i.e. a plurality of rock samples, wherein each of the plurality of rock samples is of a rock type, a plurality of well logs along an interval of a well located within a subterranean region of interest, wherein the well penetrates an in situ rock within the subterranean region of interest at a discrete depth within the interval, and wherein the in situ rock is of a rock type; wherein each of the plurality of rock samples comprises hydrocarbons; wherein the plurality of rock samples is collected from a subterranean region of interest; wherein the subterranean region of interest comprises a hydrocarbon reservoir, and wherein the hydrocarbon reservoir comprises the in situ rock; wherein the plurality of rock samples comprises the in situ rock).
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because looking at the additional elements as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when looking at the elements taken individually. There is no indication that the combination of elements improves the functioning of a computer or improves any other technology. The additional elements simply append well-understood, routine, conventional activities previously known to the industry, specified at a high level of generality, to the judicial exception, e.g., a claim to an abstract idea requiring no more than a generic computer to perform generic computer functions that are well-understood, routine and conventional activities previously known to the industry, as discussed in Alice Corp., 134 S. Ct. at 2359-60, 110 USPQ2d at 1984 (see MPEP § 2106.05(d)) (i.e. See Alice Corp. and cited references for evidence of additional elements (i.e., generic computer structure; nuclear magnetic resonance measurement device; pyrolysis measurement device)).
Allowable Subject Matter (over prior art)
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter over prior art:
Examiner’s closest prior art to the claimed subject matter:
XU ET AL (US 20220237891 A1) teaches a method may include obtaining core image data regarding a geological region of interest. The method may further include obtaining well log data regarding the geological region of interest from one or more wells. The method may further include determining a sliding window that corresponds to a predetermined window size. The method may further include determining various quantitative image attributes using the core image data, the well log data, and the sliding window. The quantitative image attributes may be determined in a continuous manner by moving the sliding window along the core image data. The method may further include generating predicted rock data for the geological region of interest using the quantitative image attributes, a machine-learning algorithm, and a machine-learning model;
BUITING ET AL. (US 9588939 B2) teaches an apparatus, computer readable media, method and program code for determining well characteristics and pore architecture for a hydrocarbon well utilizing data available from conventional/standard electronic well logs, are provided. An example apparatus is configured to perform operations which include determining the value of well constants from well log data to include calculating water saturation, free water level location, wettability, and pore throat heterogeneity, and calculating pore architecture at log resolution responsive thereto. This can be accomplished, for example, by accessing well log data from a conventional well log, determining a linear regression line responsive to parameters calculated from the well log data, the linear regression line having a slope and an intercept, and determining a value of each of a plurality of well constants responsive to a value of the slope and of the intercept of the linear regression line;
DVORKIN ET AL. (US 9507047 B1) teaches a method and system for integrating logging tool data and digital rock physics to estimate rock formation properties. A rock sample from a logging tool such as a sidewall plug or large enough cutting can be extracted by the logging tool at approximately the same well bore location that the logging tool measures fluid properties. The rock samples thus obtained is scanned using a CT scanner, scanning electron microscope or other suitable scanning device. The resulting scanned rock image can be segmented and rock properties comprising porosity, absolute permeability, relative permeability, capillary pressure and other relevant rock properties are calculated. The resulting digital calculations are integrated with logging tool data and rock property estimates to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the logging tool data.
None of the cited prior art alone or in combination provides motivation to explicitly teach:
obtaining, from a rock coring system, a plurality of rock samples,
wherein
each of the plurality of rock samples is of a rock type;
determining, using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, a hydrocarbon-filled porosity for each of the plurality of rock samples;
determining, using a pyrolysis system, a concentration of hydrocarbons within each of the plurality of rock samples; and
determining, using regression analysis, a relationship between the concentration of hydrocarbons and the hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the plurality of rock samples
of claim(s) 1 (including dependent claim(s));
obtaining, from a well logging system, a plurality of well logs along an interval of a well located within a subterranean region of interest,
wherein
the well penetrates an in situ rock within the subterranean region of interest at a discrete depth within the interval, and
wherein
the in situ rock is of a rock type;
determining a total hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the in situ rock using, at least in part, the plurality of well logs;
obtaining a relationship between a concentration of hydrocarbons and a hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the rock type;
determining an in situ concentration of hydrocarbons within the in situ rock using the relationship and the total hydrocarbon-filled porosity; and
determining a recovery factor for the in situ rock based, at least in part, on the in situ concentration of hydrocarbons
of claim(s) 4 (including dependent claim(s));
a computer system
configured to:
receive, from a well logging system, a plurality of well logs along an interval of a well located within a subterranean region of interest,
wherein
the well penetrates an in situ rock within the subterranean region of interest at a discrete depth within the interval, and
wherein
the in situ rock is of a rock type,
determine a total hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the in situ rock using, at least in part, the plurality of well logs,
receive a relationship between a concentration of hydrocarbons and a hydrocarbon-filled porosity for the rock type;
determine an in situ concentration of hydrocarbons within the in situ rock using the relationship and the total hydrocarbon-filled porosity, and
determine a recovery factor for the in situ rock based, at least in part, on the in situ concentration of hydrocarbons; and
a production management system
configured to:
determine a hydrocarbon production rate based, at least in part, on the recovery factor
of claim(s) 14 (including dependent claim(s)).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RAYMOND NIMOX whose telephone number is (469)295-9226. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thu 10am-8pm CT.
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RAYMOND NIMOX
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2857
/RAYMOND L NIMOX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit