Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/286,911

WELLBORE EXCLUSION FLUID METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOWNHOLE LOGGING

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 31, 2025
Priority
Sep 30, 2022 — continuation of 12/398,608
Examiner
CULLER, JILL E
Art Unit
2853
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Halliburton Energy Services Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
57%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 0m
Est. Remaining
71%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 57% of resolved cases
57%
Career Allowance Rate
494 granted / 863 resolved
-10.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
900
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
63.3%
+23.3% vs TC avg
§102
19.9%
-20.1% vs TC avg
§112
11.1%
-28.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 863 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group II, claims 9-14 in the reply filed on June 17, 2026 is acknowledged. 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)(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) 9-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Vasques et al. (US 2010/0024540, hereafter Vasques) With respect to claim 9, Vasques teaches a downhole logging system comprising: an isolated primary analysis region (isolated by packers 262-265); and a bypass mechanism configured to route a wellbore fluid externally or internally around the isolated primary analysis region. (par. 32-36, 54-56, Figs. 3-6) With respect to claim 10, Vasques teaches the bypass mechanism comprises external pipes or internal conduits positioned on or within a logging tool of the downhole logging system. (par. 54-56, Figs. 3-6) With respect to claim 11, Vasques teaches: a logging fluid deployment mechanism configured to supply logging fluid into the isolated primary analysis region at selected target depths. (par. 52-56) With respect to claim 12, Vasques teaches: a fluid flushing mechanism configured to remove and replace logging fluid within the isolated primary analysis region to mitigate contamination. (par. 52-56) With respect to claim 13, Vasques teaches a sensor measurement device located on a logging tool of the downhole logging system to monitor the wellbore fluid. (par. 32-36) With respect to claim 14, Vasques teaches the sensor measurement device is one of a nuclear, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), an electromagnetic, a magnetic, an electric, an acoustic, or an optical device. (par. 32-36) Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 5,697,441, US 6,817,415 and US 9,206,659 each teach an invention having similarities to the claimed subject matter. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jill E Culler whose telephone number is (571)272-2159. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Stephen Meier can be reached at 571-272-2149. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /JILL E CULLER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 31, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 31, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12742382
DOWNHOLE SENSOR APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND RELATED METHODS
4y 4m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12735978
MEASURING WATER LEVEL IN HIGHLY DEVIATED OR HORIZONTAL HYDROCARBON WELL SECTIONS
3y 4m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12724166
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BROADBAND ACOUSTIC SOURCE
3y 2m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12724036
AERODYNAMIC MEASUREMENT PROBE
2y 9m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12704786
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING AND TRANSPORTING A RELIEF PRINTING PLATE PRECURSOR
2y 10m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
57%
Grant Probability
71%
With Interview (+13.9%)
3y 2m (~2y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 863 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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