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 § 112
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 18 and 19 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.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "the connector", "the second end", and "the initial position" in the last two lines of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. This appears to be due to the fact that the last two lines of claim 18 are from original claim 20, which previously depended on claim 19, which is also where the proper antecedent basis for said claim limitations can be found. Claim 19 depends from an indefinite claim, so it is considered to be equally indefinite at this time.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 8-16, and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by US 20190330947 to Mulhern et al.
Regarding claim 1, Mulhern discloses a wireline release tool for use in a wellbore, comprising: a casing 12 having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinally extending chamber 84 extending between the first end and the second end; a first connector 24 disposed at the first end and configured for attachment to a wireline; a second connector 70 disposed at the second end and configured for attachment to a tool string 2; and a gas generator 50 disposed in the chamber between the first connector and the second connector, the gas generator being configured to generate a threshold gas pressure in the chamber, the chamber being enclosed within the casing between the first connector and the second connector, wherein in response to the gas generator generating the threshold gas pressure in the chamber, the second connector and the attached tool string are configured to be physically separated from the first connector and the attached wireline; a fastener 76 coupling the second connector to the second end of the casing (figs. 1-11C; at least paragraphs 0059 and 0062-0066).
Regarding claim 2, the wireline release tool of claim 1, wherein in response to the gas generator generating the threshold gas pressure in the chamber, the second connector is configured to slide with respect to the first end of the casing between an initial position (fig. 11A), in which the second end of the casing is sealed from an external wellbore environment, and a release position (fig. 11C) in which the second end of the casing is open to the external wellbore environment (paragraph 0064).
Regarding claim 3, the wireline release tool of claim 2, further comprising: one or more dampening ports 82 extending from the chamber through an outer wall of the casing, the one or more dampening ports being angled to vent away from the second connector; and one or more sealing elements 72 positioned between the casing and the second connector, wherein in the initial position, the one or more sealing elements prevent fluid communication between the chamber and the external wellbore environment via the one or more dampening ports, and when the second connector is in a venting position (fig. 11B) between the initial position and the release position, the one or more sealing elements allow fluid communication between the chamber and the external wellbore environment via the one or more dampening ports (figs. 8-11C; paragraph 0063).
Regarding claim 4, the wireline release tool of claim 3, wherein the one or more dampening ports are configured to dampen recoil during separation of the second connector from the casing (paragraph 0063).
Regarding claim 5, the wireline release tool of claim 2, wherein the threshold gas pressure from the gas generator provides the only force acting to move the second connector from the initial position to the release position (paragraph 0054).
Regarding claim 6, the wireline release tool of claim 2, wherein the threshold gas pressure is sufficient to deform or break the fastener such that the second connector is forced from the initial position to the release position (paragraph 0059).
Regarding claim 8, the wireline release tool of claim 1, wherein the physical separation of the second connector and the attached tool string from the first connector and the attached wireline includes the second connector and the attached tool string being axially separated from the first connector and the attached wireline along a longitudinal axis of the wireline release tool (figs. 11A-11C).
Regarding claim 9, the wireline release tool of claim 1, wherein the threshold gas pressure generated is sufficient to overcome a pressure differential between the chamber and an external wellbore environment (paragraph 0066).
Regarding claim 10, the wireline release tool of claim 1, further comprising an activator 102 configured to activate the gas generator in response to receiving an activation signal from a ground surface above the wellbore via the wireline, wherein before activation of the gas generator, a pressure inside the wireline release tool is less than an external wellbore pressure (paragraphs 0047-0053 and 0066).
Regarding claim 11, the wireline release tool of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the casing are formed as a single, integral element (fig. 2).
Regarding claim 12, Mulhern discloses a wireline perforating gun string system, comprising: a wireline configured to convey electrical signals therethrough (paragraph 0036); a tool string 2 configured to be received in a wellbore and operated via the wireline from a ground surface external to the wellbore; and a wireline release tool configured to be positioned between the wireline and the tool string, the wireline release tool including: a casing 12 having a first end configured for attachment to the wireline, a second end, and a longitudinally extending chamber 84 extending between the first end and the second end; a connector 70 disposed at the second end of the casing and configured for attachment to the tool string; and a gas generator 50 disposed in the chamber and configured to generate a threshold gas pressure in the chamber, wherein in response to the gas generator generating the threshold gas pressure in the chamber, the connector and the attached tool string are configured to be physically separated from the casing and the attached wireline; and a fastener 76 coupling the second connector to the second end of the casing (figs. 1-11C; at least paragraphs 0037, 0059, 0062-0066).
Regarding claim 13, the wireline system of claim 12, wherein in response to the gas generator generating the threshold gas pressure in the chamber, the second connector is configured to slide with respect to the first end of the casing between an initial position (fig. 11A), in which the second end of the casing is sealed from an external wellbore environment, and a release position (fig. 11C) in which the second end of the casing is open to the external wellbore environment (paragraph 0064).
Regarding claim 14, the wireline system of claim 13, further comprising: one or more dampening ports 82 extending from the chamber through an outer wall of the casing, the one or more dampening ports being angled to vent away from the second connector; and one or more sealing elements 72 positioned between the casing and the second connector, wherein in the initial position, the one or more sealing elements prevent fluid communication between the chamber and the external wellbore environment via the one or more dampening ports, and when the second connector is in a venting position (fig. 11B) between the initial position and the release position, the one or more sealing elements allow fluid communication between the chamber and the external wellbore environment via the one or more dampening ports (figs. 8-11C; paragraph 0063).
Regarding claim 15, the wireline system of claim 14, wherein the one or more dampening ports are configured to dampen recoil during separation of the second connector from the casing (paragraph 0063).
Regarding claim 16, the wireline system of claim 13, wherein the threshold gas pressure is sufficient to deform or break the fastener such that the second connector is forced from the initial position to the release position (paragraph 0059).
Regarding claim 18, as best understood with respect to the 112 rejection above, Mulhern discloses a method of releasing a part of a wireline perforating gun string, the method comprising: transmitting an initiation signal from a ground surface of a wellbore through a wireline to a wireline release tool that is coupled between the wireline and a tool string 2 located in the wellbore (paragraph 0036); and generating a gas pressure in a chamber 84 of a casing 12 of the wireline release tool in response to the wireline release tool receiving the initiation signal, whereby the generated gas pressure in the chamber physically separates a first end of the casing and the wireline from the tool string; and deforming or breaking a fastener 76 that detachably couples a connector 70 to a second end of the casing as the connector moves out of an initial position (figs. 1-11C; at least paragraphs 0037, 0059, 0062-0066).
Regarding claim 19, the method of claim 18, wherein physically separating the first end of the casing and the wireline from the tool string includes sliding a connector of the wireline release tool coupled between the tool string and a second end of the casing relative to the first end of the casing from an initial position (fig. 11A), in which the chamber is sealed from an external wellbore environment, to a release position (fig. 11C) in which the chamber is open to the external wellbore environment (paragraph 0064).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7 and 17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record on form 892 and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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/SHANE BOMAR/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3674