Appeal 2007-1474
Application 10/192,833
unpatentable. More particularly, the issues before us are:
• whether Goldman discloses using a drill bit selected to optimize at
least one production parameter; and
• whether the combination of Goldman and Johnston would have led
one of ordinary skill in the art to optimize a production performance
parameter for a drill bit in a drilled borehole.
FINDINGS OF FACT
The Specification provides “[p]roduction performance parameters include,
for example, reducing or minimizing skin damage, optimizing cutting size for
screening from mud, and increasing the surface area of the borehole wall”
(Specification 4:25-27). The Specification describes that “[Drilling performance]
parameters include, for example, maximum total footage (drilled interval) for each
bit A, B, minimum cost to reach the base of the overburden 22, maximum rate of
penetration of the overburden 22, and overall smoothness of the profile of the
borehole 30, 5 among others” (Specification 4:1-5). The Specification further
notes, “[i]t is possible that drill bits selected and/or designed to optimize a
production performance parameter will provide inferior drilling performance as
compared to drill bits selected and/or designed to optimize a drilling performance
parameter in any particular formation” (Specification 7:1-3).
Goldman discloses a method and apparatus for predicting performance of a
drilling system for the drilling of a well bore in a given formation (Goldman,
Abstract). Goldman uses a hole cleaning efficiency model as part of its method to
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Last modified: September 9, 2013