throbber
US008776893B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Donald et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,776,893 B2
`Jul. 15, 2014
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`PROCESSING FLUIDS FROM A WELL
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors:
`
`Ian Donald, Aberdeenshire (GB); John
`Reid, Dundee (GB)
`
`(73) Assignee: Cameron International Corporation,
`Houston, TX (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 13/591,443
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 22, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0312541Al
`
`Dec. 13, 2012
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`filed as
`(62) Division of application No. 12/515,729,
`application No. PCT/US2007/084884 on Nov. 15,
`2007, now Pat. No. 8,297,360.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 18,2006
`
`(GB) ................................. .. 0625526.9
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`E213 7/12
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S.Cl.
`USPC ......... .. 166/347,166./"338;166/341,166/344;
`166/351
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ...... .. 166/339, 345, 351, 352, 358, 367, 85.1,
`166/85.5, 78.1, 241.6; 175/5, 7, 10
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`1,758,376 A
`1,944,573 A
`1,944,840 A
`1,994,840 A
`2,132,199 A
`2,233,077 A
`2,276,883 A
`
`5/1930 Sawyer
`1/1934 Williams et al,
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`10/1938 Yancey
`2/194] Gillespie et al.
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`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`AU
`BR
`
`498216
`10415841
`
`4/1999
`3/2007
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`European Decision to Grant dated Mar. 15, 2012; European Appli-
`cation No. 019807379 (1 p.).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Matthew Buck
`Assistant Examiner — Aaron Lembo
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Conley Rose, P.C.
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Provided is a system, including a first module (3517) config-
`ured to process fluid from a well, wherein the first module
`(3519) has an extension conduit (Sb), having a connection that
`is eoupleable lo a central mandrel ofa manifold (5), a pro-
`ces sing device arranged in a region surrounding the extension
`conduit (Sb), a processing input (18a), and a processing out-
`put (19a). Further provided is a method of processing well
`fluids, including diverting fluids from a bore of a manifold (1)
`to a processing module (35b), wherein the processing module
`(3517) is coupled to a mandrel of the manifold (5), processing
`the fluids in the processing module (35b_), and retuming the
`fluids to a flowpatl1(l9a) for recovery.
`
`38 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`FMC 1009
`
`

`
`US 8,776,893 B2
`Page2
`
`(56)
`
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`2
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`US 8,776,893 B2
`Page 3
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`US 8,776,893 B2
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`2,526,714 (3 p.).
`EP Preliminary Examination Report & Written Opinion dated Sep. 4,
`2001; PCT/GB00/01785 (17 p.).
`Supplemental Notice ofAllowance dated Jul. 7, 2011; U.S.Appl.No.
`10/558,593 (7p.).
`Provisional Application filed Feb. 26, 2004; U.S. Appl. No.
`60/548,727 (36 p.).
`U.S. OfficeAction dated Mar. 25, 2004;U.S.Appl.No. 10/415,156(6
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`Response to Office Action dated Mar. 25, 2004; U.S. Appl. No.
`10/415,156 (9 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Jul. 26, 2004; U.S. Appl. No. 10/415,156
`(4 P-)-
`U.S. OfficeAction dated Dec. 20, 2005; U.S. Appl. No. 10/651,703 (8
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`Response to Office Action dated Dec. 20, 2005; U.S. Appl. No.
`10/651,703 (13 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Apr‘. 26, 2006.; U.S.App1. No. 10/651,703
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`Response to Notice ofAllowance datedApr. 26, 2006; U.S. Appl. No.
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`Provisional Application filed Nov. 19, 2007; U.S. Appl. No.
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`U.S. Office Action (Restriction Requirement) dated Feb. 11, 2008;
`U.S. Appl. No. 10/558,593 (7 p.).
`Response to Office Action (Restriction Requirement) dated Feb. 11,
`2008;U.S.App1. No. 10/558,593 (12 p.).
`U.S. Office Action (Restriction Requirement) dated Jul. 10, 2008;
`U.S. Appl. No. 10/558,593 (6 p.).
`Response to Office Action (Restriction Requirement) dated Jul. 10,
`2008; U.S. Appl. No. 10/558,593 (12 pf}.
`U.S.Ofl"1ce Action dated Jan. 8, 2009; U.S. Appl. No. 10/558,593 (8
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`Response to ()ffcc Action dated .Jan. 8, 2009; U.S. Appl. No.
`10/558,593 (31 p.).
`Final Office Action dated Jul. 7, 2009; U.S.Appl. No. 10/558,593 (6
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`
`Response to Final Office Action dated Jul. 7, 2009; US. Appl. No.
`10/558,593 (26 p.).
`Office Action (Restriction Requirement) dated Jan. 7, 2010; U.S.
`Appl. No. 12/541,934 (5 p.).
`Response to Office Action dated Jan. 7, 2010; U.S. Appl. No.
`12/541,934 (6 p.).
`U.S. OfficeAction datedJul. 21, 2010; U.S.Appl.No. 10/558,593 (10
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`Response to Office Action dated Jul. 21, 2010; US. Appl. No.
`10/558,593 (9 p.).
`Office Action dated Aug. 12, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 12/441,119 (14
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`Response to Office Action dated Aug. 12, 2010; U.S. Appl. No.
`12/441,119; Response filed Nov. 8, 2010 (12 p.).
`U.S. Office Action dated Aug. 31, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 10/590,563
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`Response to Office Action dated Aug. 31, 2010; US. Appl. No.
`10/590,563; Response filed Nov. 29, 2010 (8 p.).
`U.S. Oflice Action dated Oct. 6, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 12/541,938 (7
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`Response to Office Action dated Oct. 6, 2010; U.S. Appl. No.
`12/541,938; Response filed Jan. 11,2011 (8 p.).
`Office Action dated Dec. 7, 2010; U.S. Appl. No. 12/541,936 (12 p.).
`Response to Office Action dated Dec. 7, 2010; U.S. Appl. No.
`12/541,936; Response filed Jan. 20, 2011 (9 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Jan. 6, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 10/558,593
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`l~'inal()1‘fice Action dated Feb. 3, 2011; U.S.App1. No. 12/441,119
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`Office Action dated Feb. 16, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 12/541,937 (7 p.).
`Final Office Action dated Mar. 2, 2011;U.S.Appl. No. 10/590,563 (7
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`Response to Final Office Action dated Mar. 2, 2011; U.S. Appl. No.
`10/590,563; Response filed Apr. 26, 2011 (8 p.).
`Norwegian Office Action dated Mar. 28, 2011; Application No.
`20015431 (3 p.).
`Response to Final Office Action dated Feb. 3, 2011; U.S. Appl. No.
`12/441,119; Response filed Mar. 30,2011 (11p.).
`Final Office Action dated Mar. 30, 2011; U.S.Appl. No. 12/541,938
`(5 p.).
`Response to Final Office Action dated Mar. 30, 2011; U.S. Appl. No.
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`Notice ofAllowance dated Apr. 1, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 12/541,936
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`Office Action Dated Apr. 14, 2011;U.S.Appl. No. 12/768,324 (7 p.).
`Office Action Dated Apr. 28, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 12/768,332 (6 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance Dated May 6, 2011; U.S.Appl. No. 12/541,938
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`U.S. Office Action/Advisory Action dated May 6, 2011; U.S. Appl.
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`U.S. Office Action dated May 25, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 12/515,534
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`Supplemental Notice of Allowance dated Jun. 8, 2011; U.S. Appl.
`No. 12/541,936 (2p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Jun. 28, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 10/590,563
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`Response to Office Action dated Dec. 6, 2010.; Canadian Application
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`Response to Search Opinion; EuropeanApplication No. 101856128;
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`European International Search Report dated Mar. 4, 2002; PCT/
`GB01./04940 (3 p.).
`European Official Communication dated Mar. 5, 2003; Application
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`European Response to Ollicial Communication; Application No.
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`European Official Communication dated Aug. 29, 2003; Application
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`
`4
`
`

`
`US 8,776,893 B2
`Page 5
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`European Examination Report dated Apr. 28, 2004; Application No.
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`European Response to Examination Report; Application No.
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`European Communication dated Sep. 19, 2006; Application No.
`01980737.9 (1 p.).
`European Response to EPO Communication; Application No.
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`European Article 96(2) Communication dated Feb. 5, 2007.; Appli-
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`European Search Report dated Apr. 16, 2007; Application No.
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`European Examination Report dated Jun. 15, 2007; Application No.
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`Response to European Examination Report dated Jun. 15, 2007;
`Application No. 01980737.9; Response filed Oct. 9, 2007 (12 p.).
`European Examination Report dated Nov. 22, 2007; Application No.
`04735596.1 (3 p.).
`European Response to Examination Report dated Nov. 22, 2007;
`Application No. 04735596.1; Response filed Feb. 19, 2008 (101 p.).
`European Examination Report dated Dec. 13, 2007; Application No.
`060240017 (1 p.).
`Response to European Examination Report dated Dec. 13, 2007;
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`European Search Report dated Mar. 28, 2008; Application No.
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`European Response to Written Opinion dated Aug. 8, 2008.; Appli-
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`European Examination Report dated Oct. 30, 2008; Application No.
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`European Response to Examination Report dated May 18, 2009;
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`Response to Article 94(3) and Rule 71(1) dated May 18. 2009;
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`European Examination Report dated May 4, 2010; Application No.
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`European Response to Examination Report dated May 4, 2010;
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`07864482.0 (3 p.).
`European Search Report dated Jun. 25, 2010; Application No.
`10161116 (2 p.).
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`European Search Report dated Jun. 25, 2010; Application No.
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`European Search Report dated Aug. 2, 2010; Application No.
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`European Response to Examination Report dated Aug. 2. 2010;
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`European Examination Report dated Aug. 2, 2010; Application No.
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`European Response to Examination Report dated Aug. 2, 2()l();
`Application No. 101611 16.8; Response filed Dec. 2, 2010 (13 p.).
`European Examination Report dated Aug. 4, 2010; Application No.
`10161120.0 (1 p.).
`
`European Response to Examination Report dated Aug. 4, 2010;
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`European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010; Application No.
`10167181.6 (3 p.).
`Response to European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010;
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`European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010; Application No.
`10167183.2 (3 p.).
`Response to European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010;
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`European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010; Application No.
`101671824 (3 p.).
`Response to European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010;
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`European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010; Application No.
`101671840 (3 p.).
`Response to European Examination Report dated Oct. 14, 2010;
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`European Examination Report dated Nov. 10, 2010; Application No.
`07842464.5 (3 p.).
`Response to European Examination Report dated Nov. 10, 2010;
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`European Search Report and Opinion dated Dec. 3, 2010; Applica-
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`L.S. Final Office Action Dated Dec. 24, 2012; US. Appl. No.
`13/164,291 (6 p.).
`L .S. Response to Office.-Xction Dated Oct. 12, 2012; U.S. Appl. No.
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`L .S. Response to Final Office Action Dated Mar. 6, 2013; U.S. Appl.
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`L .S. Response to Final Office Action Dated Mar. 6, 2013; U.S. Appl.
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`L .S. Response to Final Office Action Dated Apr. 8, 2013; U.S. Appl.
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`Canadian Notice ofAllowance dated May 30, 2013; Canadian Appli-
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`L.S. Notice of Allowance dated Jun. 20, 2013; US. Appl. No.
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`U.S. 0fliceAction Dated Jul. 17, 2013; U.S.Appl. No. 13/687,290 (6
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`European Response to Ofiice Action dated Sep. 10, 2012; Response
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`European Decision to Grant dated Jul. 15, 2013; European Applica-
`tion No. 101611 17.6 (5 p.).
`European Decision to Grant dated Jul. 15, 2013; European Applica-
`tion No. 101611200 (5 p.).
`U.S. Supplemental Notice ofAllowabi1ity dated Aug. 27, 2013; U.S.
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`U.S. Notice of Allowance dated Sep. 5, 2013; U.S. Appl. No.
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`
`5
`
`

`
`US 8,776,893 B2
`Page 6
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`(56)
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`References Cited
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`U.S. Final Office Action dated Sep. 12, 2013; U.S. Appl. No,
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`U.S. Final Office Action dated Sep. 16, 2013; US. Appl. No.
`13/267,039 (11 p.).
`European Decision to Grant dated Sep. 26, 2013; European Applica-
`tion No. 1()l67l8l.6 (2 p.).
`U.S. Supplemental Notice of Allowability dated Oct. 8, 2013; U.S.
`Appl. No. 13/205,284 (6 p.).
`U.S. Supplemental Notice of Allowability dated Oct. 11, 2013; US,
`Appl. No. 13/405,997 (6 p.).
`European Decision to Grant dated Sep. 19, 2013; European Applica-
`tion No, 10185612.8 (2 p.).
`European Decision to Grant dated Sep. 5, 2013; European Applica-
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`U.S. Response to Final OfficeAction Dated Sep. 12, 2013; U.S.Appl.
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`European Office Action dated Sep. 10, 2013; European Application
`No. 100131929 (1 p.).
`U.S. Response to Final OfficeAction Dated Sep. 16, 2013; U.S.Appl.
`No. 13/267,039; Response Filed Nov. 18, 2013 (11 p.).
`U.S. Response to Office Action Dated Jul. 19, 2013; U.S. Appl. No.
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`U.S. Response to Final Office Action Dated Sep. 12, 2013 and Advi-
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`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No,
`10161116.8 (2p.).
`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No.
`101611176 (2p.).
`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No.
`101611200 (2p.).
`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No.
`10167181.6 (2p.).
`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No.
`10167182.4 (2p.).
`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No.
`10167183.2 (2p.).
`Examination Report dated Jun. 30, 2011; European Application No.
`101671840 (2p.).
`Supplemental Notice of Allowance dated Jul. 7, 2011; Application
`No. 10/558,593 (7p.).
`Response to Office Action dated Apr. 14, 2011; U.S. Appl. No,
`12/768,324; Response filed Jul. 14, 2011 (7p.).
`Response to Office Action dated Apr. 28, 2011; U.S. Appl. No,
`12/768,332 (7 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Jul. 22, 2011; U.S. Appl. No. 12/441,119
`(15 p.).
`European Search Report dated Dec. 2, 2010; European Application
`No. 101856128 (4 p.).
`Norwegian Response to Office Action dated Jun. 22, 2011; Applica-
`tion No. 20015431 (19p.).
`European Response to Search Opinion; Application No. 10185 795 . 1;
`Response filed Aug. 3, 2011 (12 p.).
`U.S. Ofl"1ceAction datedlul. 21, 201 1;U.S.Appl.No. 12/515,729 (53
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`No. 12/441,119 (9 p.).
`Summons to Oral Proceedings dated Aug. 3, 2011; European Appli-
`cation No. 01980737.9 (3 p.).
`
`European Response to Search Opinion; European Application No.
`100131929; Response filed Aug. 10,2011 (10 p.).
`Notice of Allowability dated Aug. 26, 2011; US. Appl. No.
`10/590,563 (11 p.).
`European Office Action dated Aug. 22, 2011; Application No.
`10185612.8 (2 p.).
`U.S. Final Office Action dated Sep. 7, 2011; US. Appl. No.
`12/541,937 (13 p.).
`European Response to Oral Summons dated Sep. 22, 201 1; EP Appli-
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`Supplemental Notice of Allowance dated Oct. 11, 2011; U.S. Appl.
`No. 12/441,119 (8 p.).
`Office Action dated Oct. 17, 2011; U.S.Appl.No. 12/768,337(64 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Oct. 17, 2011;U.S.App1.No. 12/768,332
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`Office Action dated Oct. 17, 201 1; U.S. Appl. No, 12/768,324 (18 p.).
`Canadian Office Action dated Oct. 14, 2011.; Canadian Application
`No. 2,526,714 (3 p.).
`Notice ofAllowance dated Oct. 24, 2011; U.S.Appl. No. 12/515,534
`(7 p.)-
`Corrected Notice ofAllowance dated Oct. 26, 2011; U.S. Appl. No.
`12/541,938 (8 p.).
`European Exam Report dated Nov. 14, 2011.: European Application
`No. 057816852 (3 p.).
`European Decision to Grant dated Nov. 4, 2011; European Applica-
`tion No. 019807379 (4 p.).
`Supplemental Notice of Allowability dated Dec. 6, 201 1; U.S. Appl.
`No. 12/768,332 (10 p.).
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`Response to OfficeAction datedAug. 22, 2011; Response dated Dec.
`22,2011; European Application No. 101856128 (2 p.).
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`Examination Report dated Dec. 20, 2011; GB Application No.
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`Observations dated May 10, 2011; GB Application No. 08210726
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`European Response to Exam Report; European Application No.
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`Supplemental Notice of Allowability dated Ja.n. 9, 2012; U.S. Appl.
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`European Response to Office Action; European Application No.
`l0l85795.l; Response filed Jan. 23, 2012 (2 p.).
`European Response to Ofiice Action; European Application No.
`100131929; Response filed Jan. 23, 2012 (2 p.).
`Supplemental Notice of Allowance; U.S. Appl. No. 12/768,337 ( 10
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`Notice of Allowance dated Feb. 22, 2012.; NO Application No.
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`Response to Office Action dated Oct. 17, 2011 U.S. Appl. No.
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`Canadian Notice ofAllowance dated Feb. 23, 2012; Canadian Appli-
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`U.S. Response to Office Action Dated Dec. 22, 2011; Response filed
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`U.S. Corrected Notice of Allowability dated Mar. 29, 2012; U.S.
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`Canadian Response to Office Action dated Oct. 7, 2011; Response
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`European Ofljce Action Pursuant to Article 94(3) dated Dec. 29,
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`Norwegian Examination Report dated Aug. 19, 2005; Application
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`Norwegian Examination Report dated Mar. 22, 2010; Application
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`
`6
`
`

`
`US 8,776,893 B2
`Page 7
`
`(56)
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`International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 22,
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