Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18881223 | OIL WELL OPTICAL FIBER MULTI-PARAMETER TESTING METHOD AND APPARATUS | January 2025 | October 2025 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15621568 | Method For Developing Oil And Gas Fields Using High-Power Laser Radiation For More Complete Oil And Gas Extraction | June 2017 | October 2017 | Allow | 4 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15326746 | DRILL ROD HAVING INTERNALLY PROJECTING PORTIONS | January 2017 | January 2018 | Allow | 12 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 15347189 | GAS SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY FOR GENERATING ARTIFICIAL SUMP INSIDE WELL CASING | November 2016 | October 2017 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15293955 | FORMATION-ENGAGING ASSEMBLIES, EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING SUCH ASSEMBLIES, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS | October 2016 | September 2017 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15129766 | ROD MANIPULATOR FOR A MINING DRILL RIG | September 2016 | November 2017 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15243251 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DRILLING DIRECTIONS OF A DRILL BIT BY A ROTARY STEERABLE DRILLING TOOL | August 2016 | March 2018 | Abandon | 19 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15242251 | DISINTEGRATING PLUG FOR SUBTERRANEAN TREATMENT USE | August 2016 | September 2017 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15117584 | LANDFILL WELL LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL PUMP | August 2016 | October 2016 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15209377 | HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR GENERATING PRESSURE PULSES IN A DRILLING FLUID | July 2016 | January 2018 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15035449 | Underbalanced Drilling Through Formations With Varying Lithologies | May 2016 | June 2017 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15099059 | COILED TUBING DOWNHOLE TOOL | April 2016 | August 2017 | Allow | 16 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15078991 | BIDIRECTIONAL STABILIZER WITH IMPACT ARRESTORS AND BLADES WITH WRAP ANGLES | March 2016 | June 2016 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15077508 | Automated Fluid Fraction Sampling System | March 2016 | January 2018 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15073821 | BRANCH PATCH ARRAY FOR REAL TIME MONITORING OF SURFACE MICRO-SEISMIC WAVES | March 2016 | December 2017 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15021623 | Self-Lubricating Seal Element for Rotating Control Device | March 2016 | May 2017 | Abandon | 14 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14917284 | SHOCK WAVE MODIFICATION IN PERCUSSION DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD | March 2016 | February 2017 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14981376 | BIDIRECTIONAL STABILIZER WITH IMPACT ARRESTORS | December 2015 | August 2016 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14967757 | HELIX NOZZLE OSCILLATING DELIVERY SYSTEM | December 2015 | November 2017 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14958205 | SHALE GAS EXTRACTION SYSTEM | December 2015 | October 2016 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14894322 | MUD MOTOR WITH INTEGRATED ABRASION-RESISTANT STRUCTURE | November 2015 | July 2017 | Allow | 20 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14771594 | DRILLING TOOL | August 2015 | September 2017 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14802104 | BIDIRECTIONAL STABILIZER | July 2015 | November 2015 | Allow | 4 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14745038 | FLUID PRESSURE PULSE GENERATING APPARATUS WITH PRIMARY SEAL ASSEMBLY, BACK UP SEAL ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE COMPENSATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME | June 2015 | August 2016 | Allow | 14 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14730365 | FACILITY FOR ASSEMBLY OF WELL HEATERS | June 2015 | January 2018 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14730366 | METHOD FOR ASSEMBLY OF WELL HEATERS | June 2015 | December 2015 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14715478 | Multi-Frac Tool | May 2015 | June 2016 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14439316 | BARRIER TESTING METHOD | April 2015 | September 2017 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14439599 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COAXIALLY JOINING COMPONENTS TO RESIST RELATIVE ROTATIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT | April 2015 | October 2016 | Allow | 18 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14698478 | DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS FOR ACTUATING WELLBORE TOOLS WITH A PRESSURIZED GAS | April 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14438550 | Rupture Disc Secondary Seal Assembly and Related Methods | April 2015 | November 2017 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14661837 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING HOLE IN GROUND | March 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14429024 | METHOD FOR CONNECTING A DRILL HEAD TO A DRILL PIPE, AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING A DRILL HEAD | March 2015 | December 2017 | Allow | 32 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14661397 | WELL SCREEN-OUT PREDICTION AND PREVENTION | March 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 29 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14661630 | DRILL HEAD AND DEVICE WITH A SLIDING CONTACT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR DRILLING A BORE IN THE GROUND | March 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14660070 | SELECTOR VALVE FOR HIGH PRESSURE HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION OPERATIONS | March 2015 | October 2017 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14658929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE START TIME OF A PRESSURE PULSE FROM A DOWNHOLE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE | March 2015 | December 2017 | Abandon | 33 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14659197 | RETRIEVABLE DOWNHOLE TOOL SYSTEM | March 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14425477 | EXPANDABLE DROP DEVICE | March 2015 | December 2017 | Allow | 33 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14636126 | Multi-Tasking Rod Guide Having Backflow Reducer | March 2015 | February 2017 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14423058 | Resettable Remote and Manual Actuated Well Tool | February 2015 | January 2016 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14625279 | CABLE-BASED WELL HEATER | February 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14606155 | MODULAR COMPACTION BORING MACHINE SYSTEM | January 2015 | August 2017 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14606869 | Subsurface Deployment for Monitoring Along a Borehole | January 2015 | August 2017 | Abandon | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14606503 | METHOD OF LINING AN OIL WELL PIPE IN SITU | January 2015 | July 2017 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14606530 | Down-Hole Gas and Solids Separator Utilized in Production Hydrocarbons | January 2015 | May 2017 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14606749 | Compact Bail Supported Fill Up and Circulation Tool | January 2015 | June 2017 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14417490 | Near-Bit Borehole Opener Tool and Method of Reaming | January 2015 | July 2017 | Abandon | 30 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14605467 | Downhole Cutting and Jacking System | January 2015 | March 2017 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14415350 | INTELLIGENT CORING SYSTEM | January 2015 | September 2017 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14588473 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER MANAGEMENT OF PUMPING SYSTEM | January 2015 | February 2017 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14412638 | DISPLACEABLE COMPONENTS IN DRILLING OPERATIONS | January 2015 | November 2017 | Allow | 35 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14412639 | DEVICE FOR COVERING A PIPELINE FROM A WELLBORE | January 2015 | June 2017 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14588795 | DOWNHOLE ACTIVATION ASSEMBLY WITH OFFSET BORE AND METHOD OF USING SAME | January 2015 | April 2017 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14588261 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING SAND AND OTHER SOLIDS FROM OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS | December 2014 | June 2017 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14587850 | CONTROL LINE PROTECTION SYSTEM | December 2014 | June 2017 | Allow | 29 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14412226 | WAVE SPRING FLAPPER CLOSURE MECHANISM | December 2014 | October 2017 | Abandon | 34 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14587895 | RADIALLY ENERGIZED HANGER SYSTEM | December 2014 | June 2017 | Allow | 29 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14587598 | ENERGIZED SEAL SYSTEM AND METHOD | December 2014 | July 2017 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14586565 | Rotary Isobaric Pressure Exchanger System with Flush System | December 2014 | April 2017 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14585397 | High-Rate Injection Screen Assembly with Checkable Ports | December 2014 | February 2017 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14586357 | BACK PRESSURE VALVE | December 2014 | July 2017 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14585883 | METHOD OF BALANCING RESOURCE RECOVERY FROM A RESOURCE BEARING FORMATION | December 2014 | March 2017 | Allow | 26 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14586463 | Activation Ring for Wellhead | December 2014 | December 2017 | Allow | 35 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14586545 | Rotary Isobaric Pressure Exchanger System with Lubrication System | December 2014 | July 2017 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 14584877 | DRILL ROD HANDLING SYSTEM FOR MOVING DRILL RODS TO AND FROM AN OPERATIVE POSITION | December 2014 | October 2016 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14581621 | PROGRESSING CAVITY PUMP SYSTEM WITH FLUID COUPLING | December 2014 | May 2017 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14398054 | Downhole Control Device | October 2014 | April 2017 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14495793 | Method and System for Hydraulic Fracture Diagnosis with the use of a Coiled Tubing Dual Isolation Service Tool | September 2014 | May 2017 | Allow | 32 | 5 | 0 | No | No |
| 14384291 | OUTWARD VENTING OF INFLOW TRACER IN PRODUCTION WELLS | September 2014 | June 2017 | Abandon | 33 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14472006 | DEVICE THAT UNDERGOES A CHANGE IN SPECIFIC GRAVITY DUE TO RELEASE OF A WEIGHT | August 2014 | August 2017 | Abandon | 36 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14380020 | APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING DRILLING MACHINES | August 2014 | August 2017 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14446918 | Downhole Ball Dropping Systems and Methods with Redundant Ball Dropping Capability | July 2014 | July 2016 | Allow | 23 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14328335 | Casing Valve | July 2014 | November 2016 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14371244 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING WELLBORE VIBRATIONS AT THE SURFACE | July 2014 | November 2016 | Allow | 28 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14327123 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING TUBING CASING ANNULUS PRESSURE COMMUNICATION | July 2014 | September 2016 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 14371017 | A DRILL BIT FOR A PERCUSSIVE HAMMER AND SHANK THEREFORE | July 2014 | May 2017 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14326223 | POSITIVE LOCK SYSTEM | July 2014 | March 2017 | Allow | 33 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14323172 | MULTI-ZONE SINGLE TREATMENT GRAVEL PACK SYSTEM | July 2014 | July 2016 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14322483 | SELF-STABILIZING GAS LIFT VALVE | July 2014 | June 2016 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14320789 | DRILLING DEVICE AND DRILLING METHOD | July 2014 | March 2016 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14369531 | RETENTION OF MULTIPLE ROLLING CUTTERS | June 2014 | October 2016 | Allow | 27 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 14369543 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STORING CORE SAMPLES AT HIGH PRESSURE | June 2014 | September 2017 | Allow | 39 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14316644 | PRODUCTION STRING PRESSURE RELIEF SYSTEM | June 2014 | April 2016 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14316544 | EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE STABILIZER | June 2014 | May 2017 | Allow | 35 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 14315179 | NON-ROTATING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ISOLATING WELLHEAD PRESSURE | June 2014 | January 2017 | Allow | 31 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 14313546 | Multi-Lateral Well System | June 2014 | April 2016 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14313088 | Downhole Ball Dropping Systems and Methods | June 2014 | July 2016 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14312538 | DOWNHOLE COUPLING | June 2014 | December 2016 | Allow | 29 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 14367699 | Handling Device for Drill Rods and So-Called Top Drive Having Such a Handling Device | June 2014 | March 2016 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14309498 | FIXED-CUTTER DRILL BITS GENERATING CORES | June 2014 | January 2017 | Abandon | 31 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 14309599 | Packer Setting Method Using Disintegrating Plug | June 2014 | December 2016 | Allow | 30 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14302119 | CUTTING STRUCTURES AND STRUCTURES FOR RETAINING THE SAME | June 2014 | June 2016 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14353517 | DRILL AND PRODUCTION METHOD FOR A DRILL | June 2014 | September 2016 | Abandon | 29 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 14362906 | ANNULAR BARRIER WITH AN EXPANSION DETECTION DEVICE | June 2014 | April 2016 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 14293935 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIRECTIONAL DRILLING | June 2014 | March 2016 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14289433 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WELLBORE CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION | May 2014 | December 2016 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 14287393 | HIGH-SPEED CAMERA TO MONITOR SURFACE DRILLING DYNAMICS AND PROVIDE OPTICAL DATA LINK FOR RECEIVING DOWNHOLE DATA | May 2014 | January 2017 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14360714 | EXCAVATING TOOL | May 2014 | April 2016 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 14127216 | UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A DRILLING TOOL TO THE END OF A DRILLING COLUMN AND A DRILLING SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH AN UNCOUPLING DEVICE | May 2014 | March 2017 | Abandon | 39 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner BOMAR, THOMAS S.
With a 50.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.
Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.
In this dataset, 18.2% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.
✓ Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.
⚠ Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.
Examiner BOMAR, THOMAS S works in Art Unit 3676 and has examined 469 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 75.7%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 30 months.
Examiner BOMAR, THOMAS S's allowance rate of 75.7% places them in the 41% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by BOMAR, THOMAS S receive 1.95 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 48% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by BOMAR, THOMAS S is 30 months. This places the examiner in the 62% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a -3.7% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by BOMAR, THOMAS S. This interview benefit is in the 6% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 33.3% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 73% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 59.4% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 85% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 66.7% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 56% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 83.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 77% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 50.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1207.01, all appeals must go through a mandatory appeal conference. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration even before you file an Appeal Brief.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 32.6% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 20% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are rarely granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing a petition, as the Technology Center Director typically upholds this examiner's decisions.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 10.7% of allowed cases (in the 94% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.6% of allowed cases (in the 56% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.
No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.
Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.
Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.