DETAILED ACTION
This action is filed in response to the application filed on 3/27/2024.
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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding Claim 8, the claim recites “separately obtaining the micro displacement efficiency Ewz of the flooded zone of the reservoir and the micro displacement efficiency Eoz of the single oil zone of the reservoir through analysis.” Examiner notes obtaining the micro displacement through analysis are not sufficiently defined as to meaningfully limit the claim. It is unclear what kind of analysis is performed to obtain results. Given the high level of generality with which these limitations are written it would not be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art how to enact the claimed method or the metes and bounds of the invention. Claim 8 is therefore considered indefinite.
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.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101. The claimed invention is directed to the abstract concept of performing mental steps without significantly more. Claim 1 recites the following abstract concepts in BOLD of:
A method for determining effective storage capacity of a gas storage reconstructed from a water-flooded volatile oil reservoir, comprising the following steps:
step 1: determining an oil reservoir water drive recovery ratio according to dynamic oil reservoir development data;
step 2: determining, according to the dynamic oil reservoir development data, crude oil production extracted only due to a water flooding effect in an oil reservoir development process;
step 3: determining an oil-bearing pore volume of a flooded zone of a reservoir influenced due to the water flooding effect in an original state before an oil reservoir is put into development when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir according to the oil reservoir water drive recovery ratio and crude oil production extracted only due to the water flooding effect;
step 4: determining an oil-bearing pore volume of a single oil zone of a reservoir not influenced due to the water flooding effect in an original state before the oil reservoir is put into development when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir according to a total original oil-bearing pore volume before the oil reservoir is put into development and the oil-bearing pore volume of the flooded zone of the reservoir in the original state before the oil reservoir is put into development;
step 5: determining an effective pore volume for gas storage produced in the flooded zone and the single oil zone of the reservoir due to a gas injection driven oil recovery and liquid discharge displacement effect according to macro sweep coefficients and micro displacement efficiency of injected gas in the flooded zone and the single oil zone of the reservoir separately when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir;
step 6: determining an effective pore volume for gas storage produced in the single oil zone of the reservoir of the gas storage reconstructed from the oil reservoir due to a volume shrinkage effect of final remaining oil according to crude oil property change features caused by multi-cycle injection-production interphase mass transfer of the gas storage reconstructed from the oil reservoir; and
step 7: computing the effective storage capacity of the gas storage reconstructed from the water-flooded volatile oil reservoir according to a total effective pore volume for gas storage produced due to the gas injection driven oil recovery and liquid discharge displacement effect and the volume shrinkage effect of the final remaining oil in the single oil zone of the reservoir.
Under Step 1 of the eligibility analysis, we determine whether the claims are to a statutory category by considering whether the claimed subject matter falls within the four statutory categories of patentable subject matter identified by 35 U.S.C. 101: process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. The above claims are considered to be in a statutory category as Claim 1 recites a method.
Under Step 2A, Prong One, we consider whether the claim recites a judicial exception (abstract idea). In the above claim, the highlighted portion constitutes an abstract idea because, under a broadest reasonable interpretation, it recites limitations that fall into/recite abstract idea exceptions. Specifically, under the 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance, it falls into the grouping of subject matter that, when recited as such in a claim limitation, covers performing mathematics or mental steps. Steps 1-7 of Claim 1 recite performing mathematics.
Next, under Step 2A, Prong Two, we consider whether the claim that recites a judicial exception is integrated into a practical application. In this step, we evaluate whether the claim recites additional elements that integrate the exception into a practical application of that exception.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because there is no improvement to another technology or technical field; improvements to the functioning of the computer itself; a particular machine; effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing. Examiner notes that the claimed methods and system are not tied to a particular machine or apparatus, they do not represent an improvement to another technology or technical field. Similarly there are no other meaningful limitations linking the use to a particular technological environment. Finally, there is nothing in the claims that indicates an improvement to the functioning of the computer itself or transform a particular article to a new state.
Under Step 2B, we consider whether the additional elements are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the abstract idea. The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception.
Claims 2-10 further limit the abstract ideas without integrating the abstract concept into a practical application or including additional limitations that can be considered significantly more than the abstract idea. The dependent claims further limit the mathematics performed by defining the formulas and variables used in the mathematical calculations and how the variables can be obtained.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 contain allowable subject matter. The following is a statement of reasons for indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding Claim 1, Examiner notes the closest prior art to be Cheng (CN110894782A), Huang (CN115618768A), Wang (CN104484550A), and Su (CN114936535A). Cheng teaches a method for determining effective storage capacity of a gas storage reconstructed from a water-flooded volatile oil reservoir (e.g. see [pg. 13 paragraph 4] “then according to oil reservoir gas storage amount and gas injection amount of each production period, determining oil reservoir gas storage rate of each production period and reservoir gas storage rate of target natural gas flooding project”), comprising the following steps:
step 1: determining an oil reservoir water drive recovery ratio according to dynamic oil reservoir development data (e.g. see [pg. 3 paragraphs 7-8] “determining the ratio of the oil yield and the average oil content of the target production period of the target natural gas drive item; the ratio and the target natural gas drive item of the target production period of the average water content of the product, determining the target natural gas drive item of the target production period of water yield”);
step 2: determining, according to the dynamic oil reservoir development data, crude oil production extracted only due to a water flooding effect in an oil reservoir development process (e.g. see [pg. 7 paragraph 2] “obtaining oil production of target production period of target natural gas drive item, water yield and dissolved gas amount, target natural gas drive item is the natural gas drive item implemented in the target reservoir”).
Cheng does not explicitly disclose step 3: determining an oil-bearing pore volume of a flooded zone of a reservoir influenced due to the water flooding effect in an original state before an oil reservoir is put into development when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir according to the oil reservoir water drive recovery ratio and crude oil production extracted only due to the water flooding effect;
step 4: determining an oil-bearing pore volume of a single oil zone of a reservoir not influenced due to the water flooding effect in an original state before the oil reservoir is put into development when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir according to a total original oil-bearing pore volume before the oil reservoir is put into development and the oil-bearing pore volume of the flooded zone of the reservoir in the original state before the oil reservoir is put into development;
In the same field of endeavor, Huang teaches step 3: determining an oil-bearing pore volume of a zone of a reservoir (e.g. see [pg. 3 paragraphs 14-16] “extracting the pore volume of each permeation zone of the gas storage reservoir, the pore volume comprises gas pore volume, oil pore volume, aqueous pore volume and hydrocarbon-containing pore volume; S10, determining the utilization efficiency of each permeation zone of the gas storage tank; according to the multi-cycle injection simulation experiment result, determining the utilization efficiency of each permeation zone of the gas storage tank”). However, Huang does not disclose the reservoir zone being flooded or the reservoir being influenced due to the water flooding effect in an original state before an oil reservoir is put into development when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir according to the oil reservoir water drive recovery ratio and crude oil production extracted only due to the water flooding effect.
Huang teaches step 4: determining an oil-bearing pore volume of a single oil zone of a reservoir not influenced due to the water flooding effect in an original state before the oil reservoir is put into development when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir according to a total original oil-bearing pore volume before the oil reservoir is put into development and the oil-bearing pore volume of the flooded zone of the reservoir in the original state before the oil reservoir is put into development (e.g. see [pg. 3 paragraphs 14-16] “extracting the pore volume of each permeation zone of the gas storage reservoir, the pore volume comprises gas pore volume, oil pore volume, aqueous pore volume and hydrocarbon-containing pore volume; S10, determining the utilization efficiency of each permeation zone of the gas storage tank; according to the multi-cycle injection simulation experiment result, determining the utilization efficiency of each permeation zone of the gas storage tank).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date to combine the oil reservoir and storage capacity determination method of Cheng with the pore volume of Huang for the purpose of determining the capacity of the gas storage with the advantage of increased accuracy in the determination.
Cheng as modified by Huang does not explicitly disclose step 6: determining an effective pore volume for gas storage produced in the single oil zone of the reservoir of the gas storage reconstructed from the oil reservoir due to a volume shrinkage effect of final remaining oil according to crude oil property change features caused by multi-cycle injection-production interphase mass transfer of the gas storage reconstructed from the oil reservoir.
In the same field of endeavor, Su teaches step 6: determining an effective pore volume for gas storage produced in the single oil zone of the reservoir of the gas storage reconstructed from the oil reservoir (e.g. see [pg. 4 paragraphs 4-7] “according to the formula (6) determining the effective gas-containing pore volume of the gas storage tank: Vgm=Vgi-Δ V1- Δ V2- Δ V3- Δ V4- Δ V5 formula (6) wherein Vgm represents the effective gas containing pore volume of the gas storage tank, Vgi represents the original gas containing pore volume of the gas storage tank. In the embodiment of the application, according to the upper limit pressure and lower limit pressure and effective air-containing pore volume determining reservoir capacity”). However, Su does not explicitly disclose the effective volume calculation as a result of a volume shrinkage effect of final remaining oil according to crude oil property change features caused by multi-cycle injection-production interphase mass transfer of the gas storage reconstructed from the oil reservoir.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date to combine the storage capacity determination of Cheng with the effective pore volume of Su for the purpose of determining the capacity of the gas storage with the advantage of increased accuracy in the determination.
Examiner notes none of the cited prior art teaches or renders obvious step 5: determining an effective pore volume for gas storage produced in the flooded zone and the single oil zone of the reservoir due to a gas injection driven oil recovery and liquid discharge displacement effect according to macro sweep coefficients and micro displacement efficiency of injected gas in the flooded zone and the single oil zone of the reservoir separately when the gas storage is reconstructed from the oil reservoir;
step 7: computing the effective storage capacity of the gas storage reconstructed from the water-flooded volatile oil reservoir according to a total effective pore volume for gas storage produced due to the gas injection driven oil recovery and liquid discharge displacement effect and the volume shrinkage effect of the final remaining oil in the single oil zone of the reservoir.
Claims 2-10 contain allowable subject matter based on their dependence on Claim 1.
Conclusion
There are no prior art rejections, but Examiner is unable to comment on the allowability of the claims until the 35 U.S.C. 101 Rejections are addressed.
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/NYLA GAVIA/Examiner, Art Unit 2857
/Catherine T. Rastovski/Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
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