EXHIBIT B 

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NCS’s U.S. Patent No. 10,465,445 (“the ’445 Patent”) and the Nine Energy BreakThruTM Casing Flotation Device 

Claim 28 of the ’445 Patent BreakThruTM Casing Flotation Device1

28.0 A float tool configured for use in positioning a 

casing string in a wellbore containing a well 

fluid, the casing string having an internal 

diameter that defines a fluid passageway 

between an upper portion of the casing string 

and a lower portion of the casing string, the 

float tool comprising: 

Nine Energy markets the following BreakThruTM casing floatation device 

for use in a casing string placed in a wellbore: 

1 All references to the BreakThruTM Casing Flotation Device are found at https://nineenergyservice.com/assets/files/Nine-BreakThruProductSheet-v5__revision_date.pdf; https://nineenergyservice.com/cementing-drilling-solutions/breakthru-casing-flotation-device.

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The casing string has an internal diameter for passing fluid between an 

upper portion of the casing (below in green) and lower portion of the casing 

(below in red):

28.1 a rupture disc assembly comprising (i) a 

tubular member having an upper end and a 

lower end, the upper and lower ends 

configured for connection in-line with the 

casing string and 

See element 28.0. The BreakThruTM device (i.e. a “rupture disc assembly”) 

is connected to the casing string. The BreakThruTM device has a tubular 

member that has an upper end (below in blue) and a lower end (below in 

orange). The upper and lower ends of the The BreakThruTM device are 

connected in-line with the casing: 

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28.2 (ii) a rupture disc having a rupture burst 

pressure and in sealing engagement with a 

region of the tubular member within the upper 

and lower ends

As shown below, the BreakThruTM device (i.e. “rupture disc assembly”) 

includes a glass barrier (i.e., a “rupture disc”). This barrier is in sealing 

engagement with the inner walls of the BreakThruTM device: 

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28.3 wherein the rupture disc is configured to 

disengage from sealing engagement when 

exposed to a pressure greater than a hydraulic 

pressure in the casing string after the casing 

string has been positioned in the wellbore 

See element 28.2. The rupture disc disengages from the sealing 

engagement when it is exposed to a pressure that is greater than the 

hydraulic pressure in the casing string: 

28.4 and the region of the tubular member where 

the rupture disc is attached has a larger internal 

The BreakThruTM device glass barrier (i.e. “rupture disc”) (see element 1.2) 

is positioned in a region of the BreakThruTM device that has a larger internal 

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diameter than the internal diameter of the 

casing string and is parallel to the internal 

diameter of the casing string.

diameter (below in gold) than the internal diameter of the casing string 

(below in pink), and is parallel to the internal diameter of the casing string:

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