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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of the Species of “lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance” consolidating material; “a zirconium cross-linking agent” metal cross-linking agent; “pentaerythritol triacrylate” allyl-type cross-linking agent; “a monomer represented by formula (IV)” required second monomer of enhancer I; “di-t-butyl peroxide” initiator; and “ethyl silicate” silicon cross-linking agent, drawn to claims 1-3 and 20-36, in the reply filed on 16 April 2026 is acknowledged.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
In [0081], the disclosure states “the monomer represented by formula (V) is sodium acrylate.” However, sodium acrylate does not have the structure depicted in formula (V), which necessarily includes an amine group. Accordingly, this should be corrected (e.g., “sodium aminoacrylate” or another structure).
In [00146], “the salt-resistant polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of SMPFL-C, SMHV-C, and SMVIS-1” should be Amended to further recite what “SMPFL-C,” “SMHV-C,” and “SMVIS-1” are (e.g., the terms should be accompanied by the generic terminology, such as the chemical structure(s) or composition(s) being referred to).
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
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.
Claims 1-3 and 20-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3 and 20-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, because the specification, while being enabling for:
“A lost-circulation composition comprising cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide, characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material, wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa,”
does not reasonably provide enablement for:
Any/every “lost-circulation composition, characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material, wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.”
The specification does not enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention commensurate in scope with these claims.
Claims 1-3 and 20-36 are 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.
Independent claim 1 recites “A lost-circulation composition, characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material, wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.”
Upon consultation with the Specification, regarding the necessary components to provide the claimed properties, the Office observes that Applicant discloses:
“(2) The cross-linkable polymer in the lost-circulation composition of the invention initially carries out a cross-linking reaction with a cross-linking agent to generate a gel, which encapsulates other ingredients in a network structure formed by the cross-linking process, such that the system will not be scattered by water, the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more, and the bearing strength can reach 7 MPa” ([0014]);
“In the invention, the consolidating material in the enhancer II can be cured, its bonding performance with the water-bearing lost-circulation formation is desirable, and the formed and consolidated lost-circulation material will not be scattered by water after entering the lost-circulation formation. The cross-linkable polymer and the cross-linking agent are initially cross-linked to generate a gel, which is then cured with the consolidating material to form the lost-circulation material” ([0040]);
“The enhancer I comprises a monomer represented by formula (I), dopamine, and an initiator [of formula (I)]” ([0031]) and “In the invention, the initiator in the enhancer I enables the polymerizable monomers to carry out the secondary cross-linking and curing under the formation conditions in a controllable manner, and a lost-circulation material is formed at the lost-circulation formation” ([0035]);
“Dopamine in the lost-circulation composition can enhance the adhesive force of the gel with the rock, the adhesive property between the cured gel and the lost-circulation formation is desirable, thereby improving the water erosion resistance of the finally generated lost-circulation material” ([0047]), and in Comparative Example 1, “The lost-circulation slurry was prepared according to the formula of the lost-circulation composition in Example 3 of Table 1 and the method in Example 1, except that the dopamine was not added” ([00205]);
“In some embodiments of the invention, the cross-linkable polymer is polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative” ([0049]);
“In some preferred embodiments, the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance” ([0150]); and
“In some preferred embodiments, the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide. The initiator can adapt to different temperatures and can efficiently initiate the cross-linking reaction under the different temperatures so that the gel further forms a lost-circulation material with high compressive strength and multiple cross-links” ([0070]).
That is, it appears that at least the cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine are necessary components of the lost-circulation composition in order to provide “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.” Furthermore, Applicant does not provide any guidance about alternative components which may provide “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.” Finally, Applicant does not provide any guidance about other cross-linkable polymers; initiators; and consolidating materials which would provide “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa,” except for the disclosed polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative; cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance; and potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide.
First, while there is a presumption that an adequate Written Description of the claimed invention is present in the Specification as filed, a question as to whether a Specification provides an adequate Written Description may arise in the context of an original claim. An original claim may lack Written Description support when (1) the claim defines the invention in functional language specifying a desired result but the disclosure fails to sufficiently identify how the function is performed or the result is achieved or (2) a broad Genus claim is presented but the disclosure only describes a narrow Species with no evidence that the Genus is contemplated. See MPEP 2163.03 Typical Circumstances Where Adequate Written Description Issue Arises.
In this case, (2) a broad Genus claim is presented (broadly encompassing any/every possible lost-circulation composition “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa”) but the disclosure only describes a narrow Species (specifically, lost-circulation compositions comprising at least cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide, and “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa”) with no evidence that the Genus is contemplated. For example, Applicant has plainly not contemplated a lost-circulation composition which comprises only cross-linkable polymer and cross-linking agent, but no consolidating material, initiator, or dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer is a non-polyacrylamide such as a polyacrylic polymer, which still provides “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.” Thus, these and other non-described possible lost-circulation compositions which the claimed properties were not possessed by Applicant.
Accordingly, the claim lacks an adequate Written Description for its full scope.
Second, based on the foregoing, per In re Wands, 858 F.2d 731, 737, 8 USPQ2d 1400, 1404 (Fed. Cir. 1988), the following Undue Experimentation factors do not support a determination that the disclosure satisfies the Enablement requirement for the Full claim Scope:
(A) The breadth of the claims – because the claims encompass lost-circulation compositions made of other materials, such as a lost-circulation composition which comprises only cross-linkable polymer and cross-linking agent, but no consolidating material, initiator, or dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer is a non-polyacrylamide such as a polyacrylic polymer, but they have not been described;
(D) The level of one of ordinary skill – because oilfield artisans are medium-skilled and, although they are skilled at using chemicals from predetermined lists, do not themselves ordinarily assay all known chemicals to discern whether a given combination of chemicals would have properties such as “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa”;
(E) The level of predictability in the art – because the chemical arts are relatively unpredictable and generating a particular mass retention rate when scouring etc. and a particular lap anti-shear strength would be highly unpredictable for a given combination of chemicals;
(F) The amount of direction provided by the inventor – because Applicant has only provided guidance for lost-circulation compositions comprising at least cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide, “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa,” but Applicant has not provided guidance for any/every possible lost-circulation composition with these properties;
(G) The existence of working examples – because Applicant only provides working examples which include lost-circulation compositions comprising at least cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide ([00207] Table 1, compositions of water, polyacrylamide, dopamine, metal cross-linking agent, formula (I) monomer, initiator, allyl-type cross-linking agent, formula (II) monomer, formula (III) monomer, formula (IV) monomer, silicon cross-linking agent, and density modifier); and
(H) The quantity of experimentation needed to make or use the invention based on the content of the disclosure – because it would require virtually infinite experimentation to ascertain any/every lost-circulation compositions “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa” with very little predictability of what other combinations of chemicals would or would not provide these properties.
That is, six of the Wands factors do not support Enablement, four of which relates directly to the current claim scope (A/F/G/H).
Therefore, there also exists a Scope of Enablement deficiency for the current claim.
Third, based on the foregoing, it is unclear what other compositions would be “A lost-circulation composition, characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material, wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa” or not. For example, it is unclear if a lost-circulation composition which comprises only cross-linkable polymer and cross-linking agent, but no consolidating material, initiator, or dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer is a non-polyacrylamide such as a polyacrylic polymer, would provide “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa” or not.
Accordingly, the claim scope is also rendered Indefinite.
Claims 2, 3, and 20-36 are rejected by dependency on claim 1, also failing to limit the claims to the Described and Enabled scope in a Definite manner. Although claims 21-32 and 34 require some of the required chemicals, none of these claims require all minimally-necessary chemicals to form the lost-circulation composition as disclosed by Applicant.
In addition to the cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide, it is possible that the claimed “lost-circulation composition, characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material, wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa” requires additional chemicals to those suggested by the Office. For example, all working examples disclosed by Applicant include water, polyacrylamide, dopamine, metal cross-linking agent, formula (I) monomer, initiator, allyl-type cross-linking agent, formula (II) monomer, formula (III) monomer, formula (IV) monomer, silicon cross-linking agent, and density modifier ([00207] Table 1). In the case that any of these other chemicals are required to provide “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa,” Applicant should further include in independent claim 1 all other chemicals necessary to provide “A lost-circulation composition, characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material, wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.”
For examination purposes, claims will be read as though requiring the cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent; consolidating material; initiator; and dopamine, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide in order to provide “wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa”:
“1. (Currently Amended) A lost-circulation composition[[,]] comprising:
cross-linkable polymer, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative;
cross-linking agent;
consolidating material, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance;
initiator, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, benzoyl peroxide, azobisisobutyramidine hydrochloride, di-t-butyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, azobisisobutyronitrile, and cumene hydroperoxide; and
dopamine,
the lost-circulation composition characterized in that the lost-circulation composition can be cross-linked to form a gel before or during being injected into the formation, and the gel can be cured at the lost-circulation formation to form a lost-circulation material,
wherein the mass retention rate of the gel when scouring at 50-180°C for 30 min at a water flow rate of 10 m/min is 90% or more; and the lap anti-shear strength of the lost-circulation material is within the range of 0.1-0.14 MPa.”
The dependent claims should also be Amended to reflect the independent claim:
“21. (Currently Amended) The lost-circulation composition according to claim 1, wherein the lost-circulation composition further comprises the following ingredients: cross-linking agent and/or an allyl-type cross-linking agent, and the enhancer is an enhancer I and/or an enhancer II; the enhancer I comprise a monomer represented by formula (I)
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formula (I)
Wherein R1, R2, R21 and R22 are each independently hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group of C1-C10;
the enhancer II comprises ”
“22. (Currently Amended) The lost-circulation composition according to claim 21, wherein ”
“26. (Currently Amended) The lost-circulation composition according to claim 21, wherein ”
“30. (Currently Amended) The lost-circulation composition according to claim 21, wherein the cross-linking agent further comprises a silicon cross-linking agent”
“31. (Currently Amended) The lost-circulation composition according to claim 30, wherein the silicon cross-linking agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, ethyl silicate, and γ-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxysilane;
and/or, the mass ratio of the allyl-type cross-linking agent to the metal cross-linking agent and the silicon cross-linking agent is 1: (0.3-8): (0.1-12
”
“34. (Currently Amended) The lost-circulation composition according to claim 33, wherein the mass ratio of the salt-resistant polymer to the cross-linkable polymer is 10: (0.5-3);
and/or, the cross-linkable polymer has a weight-average molecular weight within the range of 2,000,000 - 14,000,000 g/mol;
and/or, the set retarder is selected from 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid polymer and/or hydroxycarboxylic acid polymer; and/or, the density of the lost-circulation composition at 25°C after mixing is within the range of 1.2-1.65 g/cm3.”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 20-36 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112 set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
The reference to Saini (2013/0157905) discloses using dopamine ([0029]) as a competitive binder for removing interfering metal ions (abstract), which may be used with a cross-linked gelling agent ([0039]) such as synthetic polymer with metal cross-linking agent ([0041]), in a cementing fluid i.e. a fluid comprising cement ([0026]). However, this reference fails to disclose or teach including an initiator, and moreover this reference does not appear directed to uses for lost circulation control and thus would not seek to provide the claimed properties.
The reference to Jiang (2015/0240143) discloses stabilizing a wellbore including sealing shale pores and reducing the filter loss of drilling fluid with a composition comprising carboxymethyl chitosan grafted with dopamine-derived groups (abstract), further including polyacrylamide ([0056]), dopamine hydrochloride and bentonite ([0076]), and wherein the dopamine-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan is copolymerized with an initiator such as potassium persulfate or ammonium persulfate ([0022]). However, this reference fails to disclose or teach including a cross-linking agent; and/or consolidating material, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance.
The reference to Peeters (2017/0210843) discloses a hydrogel (abstract) comprising a polymer backbone ([0145]) with a cross-linking component such as dopamine ([0165]), bentonite ([0176]), and initiator such as hydroperoxides ([0182]), which has a “lap-shear tensile strength” of at least 10 kPa ([0194]). However, this reference fails to disclose or teach including consolidating material, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance; and furthermore it appears this reference does not provide polyacrylamide, or either metal cross-linking agent or allyl-type cross-linking agent. Finally, this reference is not directed to use for lost circulation control.
The reference to Bai (2021/0087453) (cited by Applicant) discloses “a high-temperature resistant, high-strength, and thixotropic gel plugging agent and its preparation method and application. The said gel plugging agent is composed of raw materials in the following mass percent: 8-20% acrylamide monomer, 0.05-0.5% reactive polymer, 0.1-1.0% organic polymer cross-linker, 3.0-8.0% resin toughening agent, 1.0-5.0% flow pattern regulator, 0.01-0.5% cross-linking regulator, and water in the remaining percentage. The gel solution in the invention shows a low apparent viscosity during the shear flow and is easy to be pumped into the wellbore and then into the formation leakage layer; after the pumping stops, the gel solution shows rapidly increased viscosity and strong adhesive force, so it can stay in the leakage layers easily and form a high-strength barrier between the wellbore and the formation, preventing the drilling fluid from further leaking” (abstract) wherein “the said cross-linking regulator is a combination of one or more from among the encapsulated potassium persulfate, encapsulated sodium persulfate, and encapsulated ammonium persulfate” ([0042]). Thus, this appears to provide A lost-circulation composition comprising: cross-linkable polymer, wherein the cross-linkable polymer comprises polyacrylamide and/or a polyacrylamide derivative; cross-linking agent; … and initiator, wherein the initiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate. However, this reference fails to disclose or teach including consolidating material, wherein the consolidating material comprises cement or lime, slag, bentonite, gypsum, and an acidic substance; and/or dopamine.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW SUE-AKO whose telephone number is (571)272-9455. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9AM-5PM EST.
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/ANDREW SUE-AKO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3674
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