The complaint
The case is Tech Energy Products, L.L.C. v. Worldwide Oilfield Machine, Inc. and Worldwide Oilfield Machine Valves & Controls, Inc., No. 7:26-cv-00417 (W.D. Tex., Midland-Odessa Division), filed October 12, 2026, ECF No. 1. Tech Energy says it is a Louisiana limited liability company based in Bossier City, Louisiana. The complaint alleges, on information and belief, that both defendants are Texas corporations based in Houston with a facility in Midland, Texas, and it pleads venue under 28 U.S.C. 1400 on that facility and on the defendants' Texas residence. The docket shows the case assigned to Judge David Counts. After clerk's deficiency notices about the signature block, a corrected complaint was filed as an attachment on October 13, 2026.
The patent and accused products
The complaint asserts U.S. Patent 10,156,106, titled Pressure Balanced Drilling Choke, which issued December 18, 2018, and says Tech Energy owns it by assignment. It accuses WOM's "Pressure Balanced Adjustable Chokes," including choke Models WPB-30 and WBP-40 as the complaint lists them, citing a WOM catalog that describes those chokes as reducing operating torque by balancing the pressure across the gate. It alleges, on information and belief, that WOM achieved that reduced torque by implementing the '106 patent's invention.
Claim 1 of the '106 patent covers a drilling choke with a choke body having an internal region and inlet and outlet passages, a seat in the outlet passage, a nose with a recessed region, a plug in that recess with an axial internal passage that engages the seat to restrict flow, a seal between the nose and the plug, and a stem with its own internal passage that moves the plug against the seat. When the plug is seated, the stem's passage connects the nose's recessed region to the outlet passage so that the plug is pressure balanced, which the claim says makes it easier to disengage the plug from the seat afterward.
The letter and the counts
The complaint alleges that Tech Energy sent WOM a cease-and-desist letter on June 4, 2026, identifying Models WBP-30 and -40 as infringing claim 1 and enclosing a claim chart, and asked for a written response by June 18. It alleges that WOM acknowledged the letter on July 14 and said it would respond after reviewing the patent and product, that Tech Energy followed up on July 30 and August 9, and that WOM has not provided the promised response.
The first claim for relief alleges direct infringement of at least claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. 271(a) and that the infringement has been and continues to be willful. The second alleges induced infringement under section 271(b), and the third alleges contributory infringement under section 271(c), each with knowledge since at least June 4, 2026. The prayer asks for a judgment of infringement, a permanent injunction, damages with interest, a declaration that the infringement is willful, and an exceptional-case finding with attorney fees under 35 U.S.C. 285. Tech Energy demands a jury.
What to watch next
The docket shows the summonses returned executed. Watch for the defendants' answer or first motion. The case can end at any time, including by settlement or voluntary dismissal.