Free Trial Brief - District Court of Colorado - Colorado

Case 1:03-cv-02579-RPM

Document 187-2

Filed 08/15/2008

Page 1 of 4

EXHIBIT 1

Case 1:03-cv-02579-RPM

Document 187-2

Filed 08/15/2008

Page 2 of 4

CLAIM 1 Claim 1 "1. An automatic drilling system for automatically regulating the release of the drill string of a drilling rig during the drilling of a borehole, comprising: a drilling fluid pressure sensor; a drilling fluid pressure regulator coupled to said drilling fluid pressure sensor, said drilling fluid pressure regulator measuring changes in drilling fluid pressure and outputting a signal representing those changes; Pason's Infringement Pason has stipulated that the Pason AutoDriller system includes this element of Claim 1.

a relay coupled to said drilling fluid pressure regulator, said relay responsive to the output signal of said drilling fluid pressure regulator to supply a drill string control signal at an output thereof; and a drill string controller coupled to said relay wherein a decrease in drilling fluid pressure results in said relay supplying a drill string control signal that operates said drill string controller to effect an increase in the rate of release of said drill string and an increase in drilling fluid pressure results in said relay supplying a drill string control signal that operates said drill string controller to effect a decrease in the rate of release of said drill string."

Pason has stipulated that the Pason AutoDriller system includes this element of Claim 1. Pason's AutoDriller system includes a computer processor that operates as a drilling fluid pressure regulator (e.g., a device that is capable of detecting and responding to electrical signals); the regulator is connected to the drilling fluid pressure sensor and finds out, determines, calculates, or ascertains measurements of changes over time in drilling fluid pressure and also compares them to a set reference point; the regulator also produces, delivers, transfers, generates, and/or transmits a signal that is directly related to or a reasonable proxy for those changes over time in drilling fluid pressure; Pason's AutoDriller system includes a stepper motor driver device that communicates, conveys, or imparts an electrical signal to control the movement (neutral, up or down) of the stepper motor; the stepper motor driver is connected to the drilling fluid pressure regulator; this relay device acts in response to the signal produced, delivered, transferred, or generated by the drilling fluid pressure regulator and supplies a signal used to control the rate of release of the drill string at an output thereof; and Pason's AutoDriller system includes a stepper motor (drill string controller) used to control the rate of release of the drill string that is connected to the relay (i.e., the stepper motor driver) so that a decrease (e.g., to become less than) in drilling fluid pressure results in the relay supplying a drill string control signal that operates the drill string controller (i.e., the stepper motor) to effect an increase (e.g., to become greater than) in the rate (i.e., speed or change over time) of release of the drill string, and an increase in drilling fluid pressure results in the relay (i.e., the stepper motor driver) supplying a drill string control signal that operates the drill string controller (i.e., the stepper motor) to effect a decrease in the rate of release of the drill string.

Case 1:03-cv-02579-RPM

Document 187-2

Filed 08/15/2008

Page 3 of 4

CLAIM 11 Claim 11 "11. A method for automatically regulating the release of the drill string of a drilling rig drill,comprising the steps of: measuring drilling fluid pressure; producing a signal in response to changes in drilling fluid pressure, said signal representing the changes in drilling fluid pressure; Pason's Infringement Pason has stipulated that Pason's AutoDriller system performs this step of Claim 11.

Pason has stipulated that Pason's AutoDriller system performs this step of Claim 11. Pason's AutoDriller system includes a computer processor with an algorithm that performs the step of producing a signal in response to the measurement of changes in drilling fluid pressure (over time which will also be compared to a set reference point); the signal is a sign or symbol for, or stands for, symbolizes, is the equivalent of, corresponds to, is indicative of, directly relates to, or is a reasonable proxy for the changes in drilling fluid pressure (over time which will also be compared to a set reference point); Pason's AutoDriller system includes a device referred to as the stepper motor driver which conveys or transmits (i.e., passes on or passes through) the signal to a device referred to as the stepper motor that controls the rate of release of the drill string; and Pason's AutoDriller system performs the step of exercising authority over, directing, or commanding the release (e.g., the lowering) of the drill string by the stepper motor to increase (e.g., to become greater than) the rate (i.e., speed or change over time) of release (lowering) of the drill string when the signal is a sign or symbol for, stands for, symbolizes, corresponds to, is indicative of, directly relates to, or is a reasonable proxy for a decrease (e.g., to become less) in drilling fluid pressure and to decrease (e.g., to become less) the rate of release of the drill string when the signal represents an increase in drilling fluid pressure.

relaying said signal to a drill string controller; and

controlling said drill string controller to increase the rate of release of said drill string when said signal represents a decrease in drilling fluid pressure and to decrease the rate of release of said drill string when said signal represents an increase in drilling fluid pressure."

Case 1:03-cv-02579-RPM

Document 187-2

Filed 08/15/2008

Page 4 of 4

CLAIM 14 Claim 14 "14. A method for automatically regulating the release of the drill string of a drilling rig drill, comprising the steps of: measuring drilling fluid pressure and bit weight; Pason's Infringement Pason has stipulated that Pason's AutoDriller system performs this step of Claim 14.

Pason has stipulated that Pason's AutoDriller system performs the step of measuring drilling fluid pressure.

Pason's AutoDriller system also performs the step of finding out, determining, calculating, or ascertaining the sensed weight of the drill string placed upon the drill bit; producing a first signal in Pason's AutoDriller system includes a computer processor with response to changes in drilling an algorithm for producing a first signal in response to fluid pressure, said first measurement of changes in drilling fluid pressure (over time signal representing the which will also be compared to a set reference point); the first changes in drilling fluid signal is a sign or symbol for, stands for, symbolizes, is the pressure; equivalent of, corresponds to, is indicative of, is directly related to, or is a reasonable proxy for the changes in drilling fluid pressure (over time which will also be compared to a set reference point); producing a second signal in Pason's AutoDriller system's computer processor and algorithm response to changes in bit further perform the step of producing a second signal in weight, said second signal response to changes in bit weight (over time which will also be representing the changes in compared to a set reference point); the second signal is a sign or bit weight; symbol for, stands for, symbolizes, is the equivalent of, corresponds to, is indicative of, is directly related to, or is a reasonable proxy for the changes in bit weight; selecting any one of said first Pason's AutoDriller system's computer processor and algorithm signal, said second signal, and further perform the step of selecting (i.e. the automatically both said first and second performed conflict resolution process that occurs between signals to control the release controlling parameters), whereby any one or both (i.e., first or of said drill string; and second, or first and second) signals are chosen to exercise authority over, direct, or command the release (e.g. the lowering of said drill string); and relaying said selected signal or Pason's AutoDriller system includes a device referred to as a signals to a drill string stepper motor driver that performs the step of conveying or controller which regulates the transmitting (i.e., passing on or passing through) the chosen release said drill string in signal or chosen signals to a device referred to as a stepper response to said selected motor that controls the rate of release of the drill string and that signal or signals." adjusts (increases or decreases) the rate (i.e., the speed) of the lowering of the drill string in response to (e.g., a reaction to) the selected signal or signals.
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