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 .
The amended claims filed 7/6/26 are acknowledged; claims 16-32 are currently pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 16-35 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Finkenzeller et al. (US 20120298419).
CLAIM 16: Finkenzeller discloses a method for providing a subsea template system on a seabed. The method comprising placing the subsea template system (10) on the seabed. The subsea template system includes a structure including a guide (14) with an opening for a well. The structure including a plurality of supports (26) for engaging the seabed. A tail pipe (30) arranged within the opening, the tail pipe being cylindrical, the tail pipe including a serrated end structure (34) at a first end of the tail pipe. Rotating and moving axially the tail pipe relative to the guide and into the seabed to remain in the sea bed (paragraph 0037). Drilling an opening in the seabed (using drilling tool 40), inside the tail pipe.
Finkenzeller fails to disclose the opening of the seabed for receiving an outer conductor casing; installing the outer conductor casing in the opening of the seabed; and applying cement between the outer conductor casing and the tail pipe.
Examiner takes official notice that installing conductor casing and applying cement are well known steps in the art of well completion.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Finkenzeller by completing a well within the bore with a reasonable expectation of success as the fields of well completion and foundation drilling share similarities in the initial bore generating steps and the markets of those steps are similar in cost and complexity, thus it would be predictable to apply the steps to the well completion.
CLAIM 17: Placing the subsea template system on the seabed comprises: installing the structure on the seabed; and installing the tail pipe into the guide of the structure (see Figures).
CLAIM 18: The subsea template system further comprises a temporary lock coupled to the guide for locking the tail pipe relative to the guide (see paragraph 0037).
CLAIM 19: Placing the subsea template system on the seabed comprises: locking the tail pipe to the guide with the temporary lock; installing the structure on the seabed; and releasing the temporary lock (see paragraphs 0037-39).
CLAIM 20: The tail pipe further comprises an interface for rotating and axially move the tail pipe relative to the structure (via collet drives 61; see paragraph 0037).
CLAIM 21: Finkenzeller fails to disclose rotating and moving axially the tail pipe relative to the guide and into the seabed to remain in the seabed comprises: lowering and connecting a drill string to the interface; and rotating the drill string and thereby the rotating the tail pipe while applying weight on the tail pipe to move the tail pipe axially relative to the structure.
One of ordinary skill in the art would find it obvious to modify the driving force of the tail pipe from the disclosed collet drives to the drilling tool with a reasonable expectation of success as the substitution of one rotational source for another in which the result ends up being the same of rotating the pipe.
CLAIM 22: The tail pipe further comprises an interface for rotating and axially move the tail pipe relative to the structure (see paragraph 0037).
CLAIM 23: Rotating and moving axially the tail pipe relative to the guide and into the seabed to remain in the seabed comprises: installing a dedicated tool on a drill string for connecting the drill string to the interface (see paragraphs 0040-41).
CLAIM 24: The subsea template system further comprises a stop defined by the guide for restricting axial downward movement of the tail pipe relative to the structure (see Figures, top of frame would stop the pipe).
CLAIM 25: Rotating and moving axially the tail pipe until the stop restricts the axial movement of the tail pipe relative to the structure (see Figures, the tail pipe is restricted).
CLAIM 26: The guide comprises a first guide for the tail pipe and a second guide for the conductor casing (see Figures, showing guides for the tail pipe and the drilling means; thus it would be obvious to modify the drilling means guide to be for the obvious casing as discussed above).
CLAIM 27: Rotating and moving axially the tail pipe relative to the guide while guiding the tail pipe with the first guide, and installing the outer conductor casing while guiding the conductor casing with the second guide (see Figures, this is the obvious result of modifying the system to have a casing as discussed above).
CLAIMS 28-33: These structures are inherent to the above methods.
CLAIM 34: The first guide for the tail pipe is removable (see Figures, structure is capable of disassembly).
CLAIM 36: The first guide for the tail pipe has an inner diameter smaller than the second guide for the outer conductor casing (see Figures showing different diameters).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 7/6/26 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Applicant’s arguments regarding the previous prior art, mainly that Collins fails to disclose the rail pipe and guide arrangement as described in the claims, is persuasive.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PATRICK F LAMBE whose telephone number is (571)270-1932. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 10-4.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tara Schimpf can be reached at (571)270-7741. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PATRICK F LAMBE/Examiner, Art Unit 3676
/TARA SCHIMPF/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3676
