Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18741708 | ELECTROMAGNETIC REVERSAL DOWNHOLE PRESSURE INTENSIFIER | June 2024 | December 2024 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18654706 | PLUNGER LIFT WITH AN ADJUSTABLE AND VARIABLE CLUTCH | May 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18654734 | SAFETY VALVE, METHOD, AND SYSTEM | May 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18602944 | ELECTRIC AUTO-CATCHER | March 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 13 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18433809 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARTIFICIAL LIFT, AND IMPROVED DOWNHOLE ACTUATOR FOR SAME | February 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18402855 | SLICKLINE LUBRICATION DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME | January 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18529881 | CASING SHOE ASSEMBLY | December 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18528633 | BOREHOLE SAND CATCHER | December 2023 | April 2025 | Abandon | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18484900 | DOWN-THE-HOLE DRILL HAMMER HAVING A RIBBED EXHAUST TUBE | October 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18475928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVE CENTRALIZATION OF DOWNHOLE WELL TOOLS | September 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18473364 | DOWNHOLE WET-MATE SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING WET-MATE DEPLOYMENT CARRIER | September 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18239964 | MODULAR FRACTURING SYSTEM | August 2023 | February 2025 | Abandon | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18216339 | Environmental Sensing Wireline Standoff | June 2023 | March 2024 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18340709 | DRILL BIT FOR DOWNHOLE ELECTROCRUSHING DRILLING | June 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18310392 | PUSH ON AND PULL OFF CONFIGURABLE RETRIEVING SYSTEM FOR INTERCEPT RETRIEVABLE BRIDGE PLUG | May 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18140607 | Adaptive Fluid Switches having a Temporary Configuration | April 2023 | June 2024 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18033977 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR USE WITH REVERSE CIRCULATION OVERSHOT SYSTEMS | April 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18183535 | FLEXIBLE PIPE CONNECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS | March 2023 | October 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18042823 | ANNULAR BLOWOUT PREVENTER | February 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18167492 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING MEASUREMENTS OF DOWNHOLE PROPERTIES IN A SUBTERRANEAN WELL | February 2023 | March 2024 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18007316 | Methods for Determining a Position of a Droppable Object in a Wellbore | January 2023 | October 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18160025 | FRANGIBLE DISK ARRANGEMENT, METHOD, AND SYSTEM | January 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18101643 | DOWNHOLE GAS VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR ARTIFICIAL LIFT APPLICATIONS | January 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18153809 | HYDRAULIC SLIDING SLEEVE FOR ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP APPLICATIONS | January 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18095413 | Volumetric Compensation For Sealing Performance Under Large Temperature Swing Conditions | January 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 29 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18010721 | DOWNHOLE TOOL AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME | December 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18076770 | Float Valve Insert | December 2022 | August 2023 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18007941 | Pulling tool | December 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17990190 | SWAB RESISTANT SEAL TOOL AND SYSTEM | November 2022 | August 2024 | Abandon | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17989674 | DOWNHOLE BIPARTITE DATA TRANSMISSON ASSEMBLY | November 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17924782 | ACTIVATING A REFERENCE POINT | November 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17981945 | TUNNELING AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING CONTROLLER CONFIGURED TO DETERMINE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC | November 2022 | June 2025 | Allow | 31 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17971878 | DRILL BIT FOR DOWNHOLE ELECTROCRUSHING DRILLING | October 2022 | October 2023 | Abandon | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17962788 | DOWNHOLE TUBING DISCONNECT TOOL | October 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17995611 | MULTI-TRIP WELLBORE COMPLETION SYSTEM WITH A SERVICE STRING | October 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17911791 | Apparatus for, and Method of, Controlling Sand Production from an Oil Well | September 2022 | August 2023 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17895501 | MECHANICAL STEPPER | August 2022 | January 2023 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17820626 | Determining Asphaltene Onset | August 2022 | June 2024 | Abandon | 22 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17819839 | POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY WITH CIRCUMFERENTIAL MAGNETIC COUPLING FOR WELLBORE OPERATIONS | August 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17883081 | DOUBLE BARRIER GAS LIFT FLOW CONTROL DEVICE | August 2022 | January 2023 | Allow | 5 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17816893 | SHEAR PIN FOR DEACTIVATING A STEERING PAD OF A ROTARY STEERABLE SYSTEM | August 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17796202 | DOWNHOLE CONTROL ARRANGEMENT, VALVE ARRANGEMENT, SIDE POCKET MANDREL, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DOWNHOLE VALVE ARRANGEMENT | July 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17869167 | Adaptive Fluid Switches for Autonomous Flow Control | July 2022 | December 2022 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17865730 | FLUID ENERGIZED METAL-TO-METAL SEAL WITH RETRIEVAL CAPABILITIES | July 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 23 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17840606 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ARTIFICIAL LIFT, AND IMPROVED DOWNHOLE ACTUATOR FOR SAME | June 2022 | November 2023 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17780921 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLED BAILER | May 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17746060 | Gas lift valve with two simultaneous mechanical stops | May 2022 | March 2023 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17735977 | Environmental Sensing Wireline Standoff | May 2022 | January 2023 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17726066 | FLOW RESTRICTOR METHOD AND APPARATUS | April 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17720030 | WELLBORE CLEANOUT MAGNET TOOL | April 2022 | March 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17716728 | METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A LINER SYSTEM | April 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17656331 | SELECTIVE INFLOW CONTROL DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD | March 2022 | February 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17654132 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CEMENTED OPEN HOLE INTELLIGENT COMPLETIONS IN MULTILATERAL WELLS REQUIRING FULL ISOLATION OF GAS CAP, FRACTURES AND / OR WATER BEARING BOUNDARIES | March 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 33 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17687089 | MODULAR SOLUTION MINING SYSTEM AND METHODS | March 2022 | April 2024 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17651287 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVE CENTRALIZATION OF DOWNHOLE WELL TOOLS | February 2022 | August 2023 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17668562 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A LATERAL WELL | February 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 29 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17649121 | PRESSURE-PULSING FOR EFFECTIVE MUDCAKE REMOVAL | January 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17575528 | DEBRIS COLLECTION TOOL | January 2022 | February 2023 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17556539 | Steering System For Use With A Drill String | December 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17541608 | VALVE WITH PUMP ROTOR PASSAGE FOR USE IN DOWNHOLE PRODUCTION STRINGS | December 2021 | February 2023 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17531363 | DOUBLE BARRIER GAS LIFT FLOW CONTROL DEVICE | November 2021 | June 2022 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17520649 | Redistribution of Mass on the Earth's Surface to Offset Induced Earth Axis Wobble | November 2021 | November 2022 | Abandon | 12 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17510820 | Intelligent Well Control System and Method for Surface Blow-Out Preventer Equipment Stack | October 2021 | March 2025 | Abandon | 41 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17506178 | FLOW CONTROL DEVICE, METHOD, AND SYSTEM | October 2021 | April 2023 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17500988 | MANIFOLD IMPLEMENTED IN MULTI-CHANNEL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF FLUIDS IN OIL WELL | October 2021 | November 2023 | Abandon | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17449210 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GAS LIFT OF A RESERVOIR FLUID | September 2021 | December 2023 | Allow | 27 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17483430 | TORPEDO PLUNGER | September 2021 | March 2023 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17479032 | MANAGED PRESSURE DRILLING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION | September 2021 | March 2024 | Allow | 30 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17474230 | TAPERED MULTISTAGE PLUNGER LIFT WITH BYPASS SLEEVE | September 2021 | August 2022 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17460923 | Methods for In-Situ Multi-Temperature Measurements Using Downhole Acquisition Tool | August 2021 | March 2023 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17412397 | MODULAR ANTI-ROTATION DRILLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS | August 2021 | September 2022 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17399800 | BUMPER SPRING | August 2021 | March 2023 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17384386 | Degradable Plug Device For A Pipe | July 2021 | January 2023 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17376220 | LUBRICATING ELEMENT FOR DRAG REDUCTION IN PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF WATER-CUT HEAVY OIL IN WELLBORE | July 2021 | February 2023 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17370587 | MINING BIT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE BIT | July 2021 | January 2023 | Abandon | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17368286 | VENTURI ACTIVATED DOWNHOLE TORQUE LIMITER | July 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17363590 | DOWNHOLE RECONFIGURATION OF PULSED-POWER DRILLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS DURING PULSED DRILLING OPERATIONS | June 2021 | January 2022 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17353125 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED FLOATS FOR USE IN A DOWNHOLE ENVIRONMENT | June 2021 | September 2023 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17352155 | GAS-PHASE SOLVENT MANAGEMENT DURING PRODUCTION OF IN-SITU HYDROCARBONS | June 2021 | January 2024 | Allow | 31 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17349318 | Gas lift valve with dual fortress seal | June 2021 | December 2021 | Allow | 6 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17339050 | STANDING VALVE ASSEMBLY AND RELATED SYSTEMS FOR DOWNHOLE RECIPROCATING PUMP | June 2021 | October 2022 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17325880 | GAS LIFT SYSTEMS, FLOW REGIME MODIFIERS, AND RELATED METHODS | May 2021 | November 2023 | Allow | 29 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17324549 | MANIFOLD IMPLEMENTED IN MULTI-CHANNEL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF FLUIDS IN OIL WELL | May 2021 | August 2023 | Abandon | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17291709 | METHOD OF GRAVEL PACKING OPEN HOLES | May 2021 | November 2023 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17220987 | DOWNHOLE TOOL SECURABLE IN A TUBULAR STRING | April 2021 | November 2022 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17281133 | NOZZLE FOR GAS CHOKING | March 2021 | July 2024 | Abandon | 39 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17205318 | SETTING AND RETRIEVAL MECHANISM | March 2021 | April 2023 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17276495 | EXPANDABLE LINER AND METHOD FOR RUNNING THE SAME | March 2021 | August 2023 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17200207 | AUTOMATED GEOSTEERING BASED ON A DISTANCE TO OIL-WATER CONTACT | March 2021 | April 2024 | Allow | 37 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17164067 | ORIENTING A DOWNHOLE TOOL IN A WELLBORE | February 2021 | November 2023 | Allow | 34 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17162743 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF WELL OPERATIONS USING A VIRTUAL PLUNGER | January 2021 | March 2022 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17154508 | High Power Laser Completion Drilling Tool and Methods for Upstream Subsurface Applications | January 2021 | April 2022 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17143690 | Deep Horizontal Water Well | January 2021 | March 2022 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17142574 | MODULAR FRACTURING SYSTEM | January 2021 | October 2023 | Abandon | 33 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17127169 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OBTAINING MEASUREMENTS OF DOWNHOLE PROPERTIES IN A SUBTERRANEAN WELL | December 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17124577 | WEIGHT AND DENSITY STABLE MATERIALS FOR FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FLOAT BODIES | December 2020 | March 2023 | Abandon | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16972057 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR A GAS LIFT VALVE | December 2020 | June 2022 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17108765 | DRILL BIT FOR DOWNHOLE ELECTROCRUSHING DRILLING | December 2020 | June 2022 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17091509 | Method and Apparatus for Low Displacement, Hydraulically-Suppressed and Flow-Through Shock Dampening | November 2020 | December 2022 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17051894 | BOREHOLE SAND CATCHER | October 2020 | August 2023 | Allow | 34 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner GRAY, GEORGE STERLING.
With a 28.6% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is below the USPTO average, indicating that appeals face more challenges here than typical.
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, 34.5% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting reconsideration.
⚠ Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.
✓ Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.
Examiner GRAY, GEORGE STERLING works in Art Unit 3676 and has examined 670 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 77.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.
Examiner GRAY, GEORGE STERLING's allowance rate of 77.8% places them in the 37% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by GRAY, GEORGE STERLING receive 1.77 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 53% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by GRAY, GEORGE STERLING is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 38% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +11.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by GRAY, GEORGE STERLING. This interview benefit is in the 50% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 29.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 49% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show below-average effectiveness with this examiner. Carefully evaluate whether an RCE or continuation is the better strategy.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 38.2% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 51% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows above-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. If your amendments clearly overcome the rejections and do not raise new issues, consider filing after-final amendments before resorting to an RCE.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 42.9% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 37% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 54.8% of appeals filed. This is in the 21% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 23.5% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner rarely withdraws rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. If you file an appeal, be prepared to fully prosecute it to a PTAB decision. Per MPEP § 1207, the examiner will prepare an Examiner's Answer maintaining the rejections.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 32.7% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 26% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 1.2% of allowed cases (in the 70% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments more often than average to place applications in condition for allowance (MPEP § 1302.04).
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 36% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions less often than average. Allowances may come directly without a separate action for formal matters.
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.