THE PATENT INFORMATION FOR THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY: CASE STUDY OF DRILL BITS DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION BY REVERSE ENGINEERING

The aim of this paper is to show the results of a study originally conducted for an Algerian State-Owned Company ENSP (Manufacturing Branch / formerly ALDIM) specialized in drill bits manufacturing. We show innovation opportunities offered by the use of reverse engineering assisted by patent information in the oil industry. This applied research, mainly based on the useful and actionable information, is crowned by the implementation of a dynamic and evolving process of drilling tools production and based on a continuous process of practical learning. We outline the cognitive processes for knowledge capitalization during the technical process of reverse engineering and the contribution of patent information in a technology development survey, identifying promising valuable technologies in the field of drill bits design and manufacturing. We conclude with tangible results by exposing performance obtained by a drill bit manufactured by ENSP (formerly ALDIM) according to the process described in this paper, while drilling an oil well in the region of Hassi Berkine (Algeria).