Last updated: May 29, 2026

Application No. 18/655,006

SYSTEMS AND TECHNIQUES FOR AUTOMATED DRILLING

Non-Final OA

Filed

May 03, 2024

Priority

May 04, 2023 — provisional 63/500,154

Examiner

AKAKPO, DANY E

Art Unit

3672

Tech Center

3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce

Assignee

Helmerich & Payne Technologies LLC

OA Round

3 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +13.1% interview lift. Interview lift (+13.1%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 531 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

AKAKPO, DANY E View full profile →

Grants 87% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

462 granted / 531 resolved

+35.0% vs TC avg

Moderate +13% lift

Without

With

+13.1%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

2y 1m

Avg Prosecution

30 currently pending

Career history

565

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.2%

-38.8% vs TC avg

§103

67.2%

+27.2% vs TC avg

§102

7.4%

-32.6% vs TC avg

§112

19.7%

-20.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 531 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

May 03, 2024

Application Filed

Jan 14, 2025

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jun 06, 2025

Response Filed

Oct 01, 2025

Final Rejection mailed

Jan 29, 2026

Request for Continued Examination

Feb 23, 2026

Response after Non-Final Action

Mar 24, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/417,610

Patent 12623583

VEHICLE

2y 3m to grant Granted May 12, 2026

18/544,439

Patent 12623725

VEHICLE REAR STRUCTURE

2y 4m to grant Granted May 12, 2026

18/320,303

Patent 12617360

RETRACTABLE BUMPER ASSEMBLY WITH ACTUATOR BASED ON VEHICLE SPEED

2y 11m to grant Granted May 05, 2026

18/460,825

Patent 12617475

VEHICLE BODY REAR STRUCTURE

2y 8m to grant Granted May 05, 2026

18/626,870

Patent 12618996

REAL-TIME CHARACTERIZATION OF FLUID FRONT IN SUBSURFACE FORMATION AND INFLOW MANAGEMENT

2y 1m to grant Granted May 05, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4

Expected OA Rounds

87%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+13.1%)

2y 1m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

High

PTA Risk

Based on 531 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.