For the whole decision click here: o34207
Summary
The application relates to the oil industry and in particular to the simulation of oil reservoirs and surface distribution facilities. The invention itself is all to do with the coupling of multiple reservoir and surface facility models, the conversion between different types of model and the exchange of data there between. The application deals specifically with the use of black oil simulators and compositional models. The invention essentially provides a new method of converting between black oil and compositional models using, for example, look tables associating well pressure with liquid and vapor component mole fractions.
The hearing officer held that the invention having failed the third step of the Aerotel/Macrossan [2006] EWCA Civ 1371 test was excluded, as the contribution, related to no more than a mathematical method and a computer program as such. The application was refused.