World Oil exclusive: SLB prevails in frac technology patent lawsuit vs. Nitro Fluids, awarded $9 million
(WO/SLB) - On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, jury deliberations took only two hours after a week-long trial to find that both SLB Monoline™ fracturing fluid delivery technology patents (US Patents 9,932,800 and 10,385,645), as asserted, were valid and that Nitro Fluids LLC had willfully infringed both of the patents to award SLB (Cameron International Corporation, a subsidiary of SLB) nearly $9 million in past damages, based on reasonable royalty and lost profits. The finding of willful infringement could result in tripling of the jury award, thus further enhancing the damages to as much as $27 million.
Badri Mani, SLB’s surface production business line director, welcomed the verdict and stated that “SLB will continue to invest in new and existing technologies to drive safety and efficiency in the industry while we continue to work diligently to protect our technology investment.”
This technology investment runs across the extensive SLB frac fluid delivery system portfolio, which has significantly improved the safety and efficiency of customer operations through its patented Monoline™ and Monoflex™ fracturing fluid delivery technologies, both of which have become the industry standard in frac applications. While SLB has other court cases pending to enforce its Monoline™ patent rights, SLB has been, and remains willing, to entertain requests for a license to its Monoline™ and Monoflex™ technologies patent portfolios.
Lead image source: SLB
