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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yeung et al. (US 2021/0079902).
As concerns claim 1, Yeung shows a fracturing system (100) comprising: a plurality of fracturing power sources (208, 210, 214; paragraph 0049, 0053, 0054, 0058 & 0059) for providing mechanical driving power (Fig. 2 & 7); a plurality of fracturing pumps (206) powered by the mechanical driving power from the plurality of fracturing power sources (Fig. 2 & 7); and an auxiliary system (220) for assisting operations of the plurality of fracturing power sources and the plurality of fracturing pumps (Fig. 2 & 7), wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprise at least two distinct types power system (each gas turbine engine 214 may be a dual-fuel GTE operable using two or more different types of fuel, such as natural gas and diesel fuel) configured to be operable at a same time to drive the plurality of fracturing pumps (paragraph 0049).
As concerns claim 2, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing pumps (206) comprises a plurality of plunger pumps (paragraph 0047).
As concerns claim 3, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises at least one turbine engine (214) or at least one electric motor.
As concerns claim 4, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises at least one turbine engine (214) or at least one diesel engine.
As concerns claim 5, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises at least one electric motor (406, 414) and at least one diesel engine (214; paragraph 0049).
As concerns claim 6, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises at least one turbine engine (214), at least one electric motor, or at least one diesel engine.
As concerns claim 7, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises one or more turbine engines (214); power of at least one of the one or more turbine engines is split off to power an electric generator (414) to drive at least a portion of the auxiliary system (Fig. 2 & 4).
As concerns claim 8, Yeung shows wherein the electric generator is powered by the at least one of the one or more turbine engines after a speed reducer or a gearbox (216).
As concerns claim 9, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises one or more turbine engines (214); power of at least one of the one or more turbine engines is split off to power a hydraulic system (514) to drive at least a portion of the auxiliary system (Fig. 2 & 5).
As concerns claim 10, Yeung shows wherein the hydraulic system is powered by the at least one of the one or more turbine engines after a speed reducer or a gearbox (216).
As concerns claim 11, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises one or more diesel engines (214; paragraph 0049); power of at least one of the one or more diesel engines is split off to power an electric generator (414) to drive at least a portion of the auxiliary system (Fig. 2 & 4).
As concerns claim 12, Yeung shows wherein the plurality of fracturing power sources comprises one or more diesel engines (214; paragraph 0049); power of at least one of the one or more diesel engines is split off to power a hydraulic system (514) to drive at least a portion of the auxiliary system (Fig. 2 & 5).
As concerns claim 13, Yeung shows a diesel engine (214; paragraph 0049) for powering an electric generator (414) to supply power to at least a portion of the auxiliary system (Fig. 2 & 4).
As concerns claim 14, Yeung shows a diesel engine (214; paragraph 0049) for powering a hydraulic system (514) to drive at least a portion of the auxiliary system (Fig. 2 & 5).
As concerns claim 15, Yeung shows wherein the auxiliary system (220) is powered by a dedicated external electric source (300, 400, 500).
As concerns claim 16, Yeung shows at least one or more subsystems (Fig. 1 & 7), each of the one or more subsystems belonging to one of a chemical adding subsystem (108), a sand mixing subsystem (114), a sand conveying subsystem (112), and a fracturing fluid mixing subsystem (116).
As concerns claim 17, Yeung shows wherein at least one of the one or more subsystems is powered by a dedicated external electric source (300).
As concerns claim 18, Yeung shows wherein at least one of the one or more subsystems is powered by electric power (300, 400) generated by a split off power from at least one of the plurality of fracturing power sources (Fig. 2, 4 & 11).
As concerns claim 19, Yeung shows wherein at least one of the one or more subsystems is powered by a hydraulic system (300, 500) driven by a split off power from at least one of the plurality of fracturing power sources (Fig. 2,5 & 11).
As concerns claim 20, Yeung shows wherein at least one of the one or more subsystems is powered by an electric power (300, 400) from an electric generator (414) driven by a diesel engine (412; paragraph 0054).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 09/15/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. In response to applicant’s argument that Yeung fails to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., wherein the at least two distinct types power system configured to be operable at the same time to drive the plurality of fracturing pumps are a mix of engines of distinct types) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Yeung shows a fracturing system (100) having a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units (102), wherein each fracturing unit (102) includes a gas turbine engine (214) and a fracturing pump (206) powered by the gas turbine engine, and wherein some of the gas turbine engines may be natural gas engines and some of the gas turbine engines may be diesel engines which are configured to be operable at the same time to drive the plurality of fracturing pumps (paragraph 0049). Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that providing at least one gas turbine engine operated using natural gas and at least one gas turbine engine operated using diesel fuel to drive respective pumps would have corresponded to the limitation of at least two distinct types power system configured to be operable at a same time to drive the plurality of fracturing pumps, since the claim does not limit this interpretation. Therefore, Yeung meets the claim language.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW R BUCK whose telephone number is (571)270-3653. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6:30-5.
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/MATTHEW R BUCK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679