DEEP WATER SLENDER WELLS, LTD. v. SHELL OIL COMPANY
Civil Action H-12-1166.
Deep Water Slender Wells, Ltd., et al., Plaintiffs, v. Shell Oil Company, et al., Defendants.
United States District Court, S.D. Texas.
November 22, 2013.
Opinion on Summary Judgment
LYNN N. HUGHES, District Judge.
1. Introduction.
Beginning in 1998, James G. Wood told Shell Oil Company about designs to use smaller-diameter equipment for drilling in deep water. In 2004, the United States Patent Office awarded Peter Azancot a patent on drilling a small-bore well in deep water. Wood asserts that he is the sole inventor of the technology in Azancot’s patent. Shell responds that both Wood’s delay in bringing this claim and having brought other suits against Shell preclude his claim for inventorship. Shell will prevail.