Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2024-12-19)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of claims in the application.

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Currently Amended) An apparatus comprising:a dissolvable gauge cutter made of an alloy comprising magnesium and at least one of zinc, aluminum, iron, tungsten, nickel, manganese, or copper, the dissolvable gauge cutter configured to be disposed within and travel through a tubular installed within a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, the dissolvable gauge cutter configured to dislodge solids from an inner wall of the tubular as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels through the tubular down to a specified depth within the wellbore, the dissolvable gauge cutter configured to completely dissolve after reaching the specified depth;
a temperature sensor configured to travel with the dissolvable gauge cutter and measure a temperature of a surrounding fluid as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels downhole through the tubular to the specified depth, wherein the temperature sensor is dissolvable and made of the alloy; and
a pressure sensor configured to travel with the dissolvable gauge cutter and measure a pressure of the surrounding fluid as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels downhole through the tubular to the specified depth, wherein the pressure sensor is dissolvable and made of the alloy.

2\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a distance sensor configured to travel with the dissolvable gauge cutter and measure a distance between the distance sensor and a surface location.
3\. (Currently Amended) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the distance sensor \[\[are\]\] is dissolvable and made of the alloy.

4\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a controller configured to travel with the dissolvable gauge cutter, wherein the controller is wirelessly and communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the distance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive the measured temperature from the temperature sensor, the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, and the measured distance from the distance sensor, and the controller is configured to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance to the surface location.

5\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a controller configured to travel with the dissolvable gauge cutter, wherein the controller is wirelessly and communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the distance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive the measured temperature from the temperature sensor, the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, and the measured distance from the distance sensor, the controller is configured to store the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance in a memory of the controller, and the controller is configured to release from the dissolvable gauge cutter in response to dissolution of the dissolvable gauge cutter.

6\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller has a density that is lighter than the surrounding fluid, such that the controller is configured to float back to the surface location after the dissolvable gauge cutter has dissolved.

7\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:the apparatus further comprises a second dissolvable gauge cutter made of a second alloy comprising magnesium and at least one of zinc, aluminum, iron, tungsten, nickel, manganese,
or copper;the second dissolvable gauge cutter configured to reversibly couple to the dissolvable gauge cutter;
the second dissolvable gauge cutter configured to ensure a second minimum inner diameter down to a second specified depth within the wellbore; and

the second dissolvable gauge cutter configured to completely dissolve after reaching the second specified depth.

8\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second minimum inner diameter is less than the minimum inner diameter, the second specified depth is deeper than the specified depth, and the second dissolvable gauge cutter is configured to dissolve at a slower rate in comparison to the dissolvable gauge cutter.

9\. (Original) An apparatus comprising:a first dissolvable gauge cutter made of a first alloy comprising magnesium and at least one of zinc, aluminum, iron, tungsten, nickel, manganese, or copper, the first dissolvable gauge cutter configured to be disposed within and travel through a tubular installed within a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, the dissolvable gauge cutter configured to dislodge solids from an inner wall of the tubular as the first dissolvable gauge cutter travels through the tubular down to a first specified depth within the wellbore to ensure a first minimum inner diameter down to the first specified depth, the first dissolvable gauge cutter configured to completely dissolve after reaching the first specified depth;
a second dissolvable gauge cutter reversibly coupled to the first dissolvable gauge cutter,
the second dissolvable gauge cutter made of a second alloy comprising magnesium and at least one of zinc, aluminum, iron, tungsten, nickel, manganese, or copper, the second dissolvable gauge cutter configured to ensure a second minimum inner diameter down to a second specified depth within the wellbore, the second dissolvable gauge cutter configured to completely dissolve after reaching the second specified depth;a temperature sensor configured to travel with the second dissolvable gauge cutter and measure a temperature of a surrounding fluid as the second dissolvable gauge cutter travels downhole to the second specified depth;
a pressure sensor configured to travel with the second dissolvable gauge cutter and measure a pressure of the surrounding fluid as the apparatus travels downhole to the second specified depth; and

a distance sensor configured to travel with the second dissolvable gauge cutter and measure a distance between the distance sensor and a surface location.

10\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to travel with the second dissolvable gauge cutter, wherein the controller is wirelessly and communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the distance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive the measured temperature from the temperature sensor, the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, and the measured distance from the distance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance to the surface location.

11\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to travel with the second dissolvable gauge cutter, wherein the controller is wirelessly and communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the distance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive the measured temperature from the temperature sensor, the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, and the measured distance from the distance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to release from the second dissolvable gauge cutter in response to dissolution of the second dissolvable gauge cutter, wherein the controller has a density that is lighter than the surrounding fluid, such that the controller is configured to float back to the surface location after the first dissolvable gauge cutter and the second dissolvable gauge cutter have dissolved.

12\. (Original) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second minimum inner diameter is less than the first minimum inner diameter, the second specified depth is deeper than the first specified depth, and the second dissolvable gauge cutter is configured to dissolve at a slower rate in comparison to the first dissolvable gauge cutter.

13\. (Currently Amended) A method comprising:

lowering a dissolvable gauge cutter, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor through a tubular installed within a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, the dissolvable gauge cutter, the temperature sensor, and the pressure sensor are dissolvable and made of an alloy comprising magnesium and at least one of zinc, aluminum, iron, tungsten, nickel, manganese,
or copper;dislodging, by the dissolvable gauge cutter, solids from an inner wall of the tubular as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels through the tubular to a specified depth within the wellbore to ensure a minimum inner diameter of the tubular;
measuring, by \[\[a\]\] the temperature sensor, a temperature of a surrounding fluid as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels downhole through the tubular to the specified depth; and
measuring, by \[\[a\]\] the pressure sensor, a pressure of the surrounding fluid as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels downhole through the tubular to the specified depth, wherein the dissolvable gauge cutter completely dissolves after reaching the specified depth.

14\. (Original) The method of claim 13, further comprising measuring, by a distance sensor, a distance between the distance sensor and a surface location as the dissolvable gauge cutter travels downhole through the tubular to the specified depth.

15\. (Original) The method of claim 14, further comprising:receiving, by a controller, the measured temperature from the temperature sensor, the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, and the measured distance from the distance sensor; and
storing, by the controller, the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance in a memory of the controller.

16\. (Original) The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance at the surface location.

17\. (Original) The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance at the surface location comprises wirelessly transmitting, by the controller, the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance to the surface location.

18\. (Original) The method of claim 16, wherein:the controller has a density that is lighter than the surrounding fluid;
the controller floats back to the surface location after the dissolvable gauge cutter has reached the specified depth and dissolved; and
receiving the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance at the surface location comprises receiving the measured temperature, the measured pressure, and the measured distance from the controller after the controller has floated back to the surface location.

19\. (Original) The method of claim 18, wherein the dissolvable gauge cutter is reversibly coupled to a second dissolvable gauge cutter made of a second alloy comprising magnesium and at least one of zinc, aluminum, iron, tungsten, nickel, manganese, or copper, and the method further comprises:releasing the second dissolvable gauge cutter from the dissolvable gauge cutter after the dissolvable gauge cutter has reached the specified depth within the wellbore; and
dislodging, by the second dissolvable gauge cutter, solids from a second inner wall of a second tubular installed within the wellbore as the second dissolvable gauge cutter travels through the second tubular to a second specified depth within the wellbore to ensure a second minimum inner diameter of the second tubular, wherein the second dissolvable gauge cutter completely dissolves after reaching the second specified depth.

20\. (Original) The method of claim 19, wherein the second minimum inner diameter is less than the first minimum inner diameter, the second specified depth is deeper than the first specified depth, and the second dissolvable gauge cutter dissolves at a slower rate in comparison to the dissolvable gauge cutter.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 . The amendments of 03 Sep 2024 have been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks page 8 line 4, filed 03 Sep 2024, with respect to Fig 1 have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The objection of 05 Jun 2024 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks page 9 line 9, filed 03 Sep 2024, with respect to claim(s) 1 and 13 have been fully considered and are persuasive.  The rejection(s) of 05 Jun 2024 have been withdrawn.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-20 are allowed.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: Amendments to the Drawings
The attached replacement sheet of drawings includes changes to Fig. 1 and replaces the original sheet including Fig. 1.
In Figure 1, reference numbers 130 and 132 (and corresponding arrows) are removed.
Attachments following last page of this Amendment:
Replacement Sheet (1 pages)
REMARKS
Claims 1, 3, and 13 are amended. Claims 1 and 13 are amended to incorporate features previously recited in claim 3. Claim 3 is amended for consistency with the amendment to claim
1. No new subject matter has been introduced. Applicant respectfully traverses all of the rejections and objections, including any assertions therein; and therefore, requests reconsideration.
Allowable Subject Matter
Applicants acknowledge, with thanks, the indication that claims 3, 4, 7, 8, 19 and 20 would be allowable if rewritten in independent form. In this amendment, claims 1 and 13 have been rewritten to incorporate features originally recited in claim 3. Accordingly, Applicants respectfully request that amended claims 1 and 13 and their dependent claims be found allowable for at least the same reasons for which claim 3 has been indicated as being allowable.
Applicants acknowledge, with thanks, the indication that claims 9-12 are allowed.
Drawing Objection
Figure 1 is amended to remove the reference numbers 130 and 132 (and corresponding arrows). Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests withdrawal of the objection to the drawings.
Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over U.S. Publication No. 20190316459 to Chen et al. ("Chen") in view of U.S. Publication No. 20150239795 to Doud et al. ("Doud"). Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Chen and Doud as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of U.S. Publication No. 20200131899 to Chen et al. ("Chen2"). Claims 5 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Chen, Doud and Chen2 as applied to claim 2 above, and further in view of U.S. Publication No. 20210238982 to Schulte et al. ("Schulte").
As mentioned above, claim 1 is amended to incorporate features previously recited in claim 3, which was indicated as including allowable subject matter. Claim 3 is amended for consistency with the amended to claim 1. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests withdrawal of the rejection of claim 1 and any claims depending therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over the cited portions of the art.
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Chen in view of U.S. Publication No. 20010045288 to Allamon et al. ("Allamon") and Doud. Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Chen, Allamon and Doud as applied to claim 13 above, and further in view of Chen2. Claims 15-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Chen, Allamon, Doud and Chen2 as applied to claim 14 above, and further in view of Schulte.
As mentioned above, claim 13 is amended to incorporate features previously recited in claim 3, which was indicated as including allowable subject matter. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests withdrawal of the rejection of claim 13 and any claims depending therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over the cited portions of the art.
CONCLUSION