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 .
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention III in the reply filed on 8/5/26 is acknowledged.
The amended claims filed 8/5/26 are acknowledged; claims 14-25 are currently pending.
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.
Claim(s) 14-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Donald et al. (US 7111687).
CLAIM 14: Donald discloses a system to modify a subsea Christmas tree (XT). The system comprises a bridging module (flow diverter apparatus; see Fig. 2) coupled to an inlet flow path of a processing apparatus (from production bore). The bridging module comprises: a first bridging module inlet (from first portion of flowpath); a first bridging module outlet to direct the flow toward the inlet flow path (outlet to external apparatus); a second bridging module inlet to receive the flow from the processing apparatus (return inlet); and a second bridging module outlet to direct the flow along a production flow path (“back to second portion… of flowpath”); and an adapter assembly coupled to a subsea control module, wherein the adapter assembly is configured to reroute one or more support systems for the XT (power pack shown in Fig. 5).
CLAIM 15: The first bridging module inlet corresponds to an original XT flow path (see Fig. 2).
CLAIM 16: The second bridging module outlet corresponds to a modified outlet flow path different from an original outlet flow path (see Fig. 2).
CLAIM 17: Donald discloses a subsea system. The system comprises a Christmas tree (XT)(see Fig. 1, 2); a completion extending into a wellbore associated with the XT (see Fig. 2); a processing apparatus (200) having an apparatus inlet and an apparatus outlet; and a vertical isolation flow tree (VIFT) system (see Fig. 2, also col. 3, lines 14-17), comprising: a closure in a flow path of the XT (plug); a valve assembly fluidly connected to an outlet of the XT (see valves in Fig. 1); and a bridging module having a first inlet, a first outlet, a second inlet, and a second outlet; wherein the first inlet is fluidly coupled to a flow outlet of the valve assembly, the first outlet is fluidly coupled to the apparatus inlet, the second inlet is fluidly coupled to the apparatus outlet, and the second outlet is fluidly coupled to a production flow line (see discussion of claim 14 above).
CLAIM 18: The closure in the flow path is at least one of a sleeve, a closed valve, or a plug (plug).
CLAIM 19: The processing apparatus is a flow control module (FCM) (see .col. 5, line 44 – col. 6, line 10 describing a variety of processing apparatus options, including fluid riser which would be a FCM).
CLAIM 20: A subsea control module (SCM) assembly including at least an adapter assembly, wherein the adapter assembly is configured to reroute at least a portion of one or more auxiliary supplies to the VIFT system (see discussion of claim 14 above).
CLAIM 21: A sandwich plate, wherein the sandwich plate is configured to reroute at least a portion of the one or more auxiliary supplies to the VIFT system (power pack as discussed in claim 14).
CLAIM 22: The bridging module is configured to close at least one of a flow outlet from the XT or a flow path towards a flowline connector (via valves).
CLAIM 23: The second outlet is fluidly coupled to a first flowline connector (see discussion of claim 14 above).
CLAIM 24: A second flowline connector in fluid communication with the second outlet is structurally supported by at least one of the first flowline connector, a structural element of the XT, or a structural element of a template (see Fig. 2; flowline connector to outside elements).
CLAIM 25: The XT is a horizonal XT and the valve assembly is a vertical XT (see col. 3, lines 14-17).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited art shows similar Christmas tree arrangements.
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
