Offshore staff
TRONDHEIM, Norway – Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) has filed claims against Petroleum Geo-Services ASA, PGS Exploration (UK), and PGS Geophysical in the High Court of Justice, Patent Court, in London.
EMGS asserts that PGS has used the towed streamer EM inUK and Irish waters in violation of both (i) European Patent EP (UK) 1 256 019 B2 - “Method for determining the nature of subterranean reservoirs” - and European Patent EP (IE) 1 256 019 B2 (the Irish Patent).
The company bases its evaluation on technical and commercial papers and other public documents published or issued by PGS.
EMGS has also sent a warning letter to PGS that it will file similar claims in Norwegian courts based on PGS’ use of the towed streamer EM offshore Norway, which it says infringes EMGS’ Norwegian patent NO 324454 8.
Additionally, EMGS has informed PGS that the patent, filed in February 2000 and valid through February 2020, has been granted in the following jurisdictions: Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Falkland Islands, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, USA, and Malaysia.
In July 2010, EMGS successfully defended its patent against claims of invalidity from Schlumberger Holding in the UK Court of Appeal, and also through several oppositions in the European Patent Office appeal division in December 2011.
Subsequently,Schlumberger and EMGS entered into a cross-license agreement that gives Schlumberger the right to use the method described in the patent.
12/18/2013
