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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The references listed in the Information Disclosure Statements filed on 03/28/2024 and 01/08/2025 have been considered by the examiner (see attached PTO-1449 forms).
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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
The claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Claim 1 recites a method for validating well system measurements, comprising: obtaining, from one or more well devices of a well system, sample datasets for a plurality of measurement channels of a first channel set, the plurality of measurement channels including sample measurement mnemonics and sample units of measure;
performing a comparison operation of a first sample dataset associated with a first sample unit of measure of a first measurement channel of a first channel set with historical datasets of one or more historical units of measure of one or more matched historical measurement channels;
performing a frequency of occurrence operation to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first sample unit of measure and the one or more historical units of measure across the plurality of measurement channels of the first channel set; and
determining whether the first sample unit of measure of the first measurement channel is validated based on at least one of the comparison operation or the frequency of occurrence operation,
Claim 11 recites a well system, comprising: one or more processors; and a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the well system to: obtain, from one or more well devices, sample datasets for a plurality of measurement channels of a first channel set, the plurality of measurement channels including sample measurement mnemonics and sample units of measure; perform a comparison operation of a first sample dataset associated with a first sample unit of measure of a first measurement channel of a first channel set with historical datasets of one or more historical units of measure of one or more matched historical measurement channels; perform a frequency of occurrence operation to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first sample unit of measure and the one or more historical units of measure across the plurality of measurement channels of the first channel set; and determine whether the first sample unit of measure of the first measurement channel is validated based on at least one of the comparison operation or the frequency of occurrence operation…
Claim 16 recites a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by one or more processors of a well system, the instructions comprising: instructions for obtaining, from one or more well devices of the well system, sample datasets for a plurality of measurement channels of a first channel set, the plurality of measurement channels including sample measurement mnemonics and sample units of measure; instructions for performing a comparison operation of a first sample dataset associated with a first sample unit of measure of a first measurement channel of a first channel set with historical datasets of one or more historical units of measure of one or more matched historical measurement channels; instructions for performing a frequency of occurrence operation to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first sample unit of measure and the one or more historical units of measure across the plurality of measurement channels of the first channel set; and instructions for determining whether the first sample unit of measure of the first measurement channel is validated based on at least one of the comparison operation or the frequency of occurrence operation…
and thus grouped as Mathematical concepts – mathematical relationships, mathematical formulas or equations, mathematical calculations.
These judicial exceptions are not integrated into a practical application because the additional elements, the data gathering step, (claim 1) “obtaining, from one or more well devices of a well system, sample datasets for a plurality of measurement channels of a first channel set, the plurality of measurement channels including sample measurement mnemonics and sample units of measure” (claim 11) “obtain, from one or more well devices, sample datasets for a plurality of measurement channels of a first channel set, the plurality of measurement channels including sample measurement mnemonics and sample units of measure” (claim 16) “obtaining, from one or more well devices of the well system, sample datasets for a plurality of measurement channels of a first channel set, the plurality of measurement channels including sample measurement mnemonics and sample units of measure” are mere data gathering that do not add a meaningful limitation to the method as they are insignificant extra-solution activity. Furthermore, the additional elements (claims 11 and 16) the “one or more processors, a computer-readable storage medium and executable by one or more processors” are recited as performing generic computer functions routinely used in computer applications. Generic computer components recited as performing generic computer functions amount to no more than using a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea. All of which are considered not indicative of integration into a practical application (see MPEP 2106.04(d)).
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional elements are considered extra-solution activity of pre-solution and post-solution activity which fall under insignificant extra solution activity and deemed insufficient to qualify as “significantly more” - see MPEP 2106.05(g). The additional elements of the processors are mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer, or merely uses a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea and deemed insufficient to qualify as “significantly more” see MPEP 2106.05(f).
Dependent claims 2-10, 12-15 and 17-20 when analyzed as a whole are patent ineligible under 35 U.S.C. §101 because the dependent claims fail to establish that the claims are not directed to an abstract idea as they are directed mathematical concepts and/or mental processes and do not add significantly more to the abstract idea.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 101 set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Claim 1 is considered to be allowable because the closest prior art, Xu et al. [US 2024/0026784 A1], fails to anticipate or render obvious performing a frequency of occurrence operation to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first sample unit of measure and the one or more historical units of measure across the plurality of measurement channels of the first channel set, in combination with all other limitations in the claim(s) as defined by applicant.
Claim 11 is considered to be allowable because the closest prior art, Xu et al. [US 2024/0026784 A1], fails to anticipate or render obvious perform a frequency of occurrence operation to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first sample unit of measure and the one or more historical units of measure across the plurality of measurement channels of the first channel set, in combination with all other limitations in the claim(s) as defined by applicant.
Claim 16 is considered to be allowable because the closest prior art, Xu et al. [US 2024/0026784 A1], fails to anticipate or render obvious performing a frequency of occurrence operation to determine the frequency of occurrence of the first sample unit of measure and the one or more historical units of measure across the plurality of measurement channels of the first channel set, in combination with all other limitations in the claim(s) as defined by applicant.
Relevant Prior Art / Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
MCNEALY et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2016/0312607 A1) discloses a system and method for history matching multi-porosity solutions;
Crafton (US Patent Application Publication 2015/0134620 A2) discloses a system and method for analyzing and validating oil and gas well production data.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RICKY GO whose telephone number is (571)270-3340. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arleen M. Vazquez can be reached on (571) 272-2619. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RICKY GO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
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