The patent application was filed by WellWorx Energy Solutions, LLC for a "Fluid and gas separator." It was filed on Aug. 23, 2021 before being approved on Sept. 6.
Though patents are required for inventions and products, the granting of a patent is not a guarantee for success. Dennis Crouch, co-director of the Center for Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship said roughly 50 percent of patents expire prematurely due to costs.
Midland has a long history of being home to wonderful inventions which have helped US citizens and the economy. Jim Hall created what’s known as the “most extreme race car” at a track in Midland, and Ken Nolan invented a way to boost oil well productivity.
Across the US, the number of approved patents grew steadily for 10 years, from roughly 225,000 in 2009 to more than 285,000 in 2019, before dipping slightly in 2020.
Gene Quinn with IPWatchdog said the system used for patent approval has become unwieldy, specifically for medical innovations.
| Applicant Name | Filing Date | Granted Date |
|---|---|---|
| WellWorx Energy Solutions, LLC | 2021-08-23 | 2022-09-06 |
| Frederic M. Newman | 2022-04-05 | 2022-09-20 |
| Frederic M. Newman | 2022-04-25 | 2022-09-20 |