Appeal No. 97-1403
Application No. 08/275,214
18 through 20 in Noik form the major sensing apparatus in a
differential pressure sensing device that determines the nature
of fluids filling a well at various depths. Mattar teaches
that rising and falling liquid levels in a shut-in well can
cause errors in interpreting pressure measurements (page 711,
column 2), and that at least two gauges must be used during a
test for proper pressure readings (page 715, column 2).
According to the examiner (Final rejection, page 4), it
would have been obvious based upon the teachings of Mattar to
provide Guimard with a differential pressure gauge as taught by
Noik because “as taught by Mattar, density changes caused by
fluid discontinuities are one source of misdiagnosis in pressure
data taken in a shut in well and to account for this source of
error by employing the apparatus of Noik to determine the type of
fluid surrounding the instrument and any change therein as a
criteria for judging the soundness of absolute pressure
measurements would assure that such fluid discontinuities are
properly treated.”
Although Mattar teaches that at least two gauges must be
used for proper pressure measurements, this reference neither
teaches nor would it have suggested to one of ordinary skill in
the art the use of a differential pressure gauge in combination
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