# US 10,246,965 B2 · Telemetry operated ball release system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,965 B2 - Document ID: US10246965B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/386,929 - Filed: 2016-12-21 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-18 - Assignees: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Rocky A. Turley; Robin L. Campbell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246965B2 ## CPC - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B 23/08: Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems - E21B 23/10: Tools specially adapted therefor - E21B 33/10: in the borehole {(sealing the junction between main bore and laterals E21B41/0042)} - E21B 34/142: {unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons} - E21B 43/10: Setting of casings, screens, liners {or the like} in wells - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes - E21B 33/16: using plugs for isolating cement charge; Plugs therefor {(stage cementing E21B33/146; spacer compositions C09K8/424)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract In one embodiment, a ball release system for use in a wellbore includes a tubular housing, a seat disposed in the housing and comprising arcuate segments arranged to form a ring, each segment radially movable between a catch position for receiving a ball and a release position, a cam disposed in the housing, longitudinally movable relative thereto, and operable to move the seat segments between the positions, an actuator operable to move the cam, and an electronics package disposed in the housing and in communication with the actuator for operating the actuator in response to receiving a command signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catch and release system for catching and releasing an object in a wellbore, comprising: a tubular housing; a seat disposed in the tubular housing and movable between a catch position for receiving an object and a release position; a cam disposed in the tubular housing, longitudinally movable relative thereto, and operable to move the seat from the catch position to the release position; and an electronics package disposed in the tubular housing, comprising: a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure in a bore of the tubular housing, wherein the seat is movable to the release position at a predetermined pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operable to move the cam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catch and release system of claim 2, wherein the actuator further comprises: a shaft at least partially disposed in the cam; and a motor configured to rotate the shaft relative to the cam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The catch and release system of claim 2, wherein the electronics package is configured to operate the actuator in response to receiving a command signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, wherein the object includes a wireless identification tag configured to transmit a command signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catch and release system of claim 5, further comprising an antenna disposed in the tubular housing and configured to receive the command signal from the object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The catch and release system of claim 5, wherein the wireless identification tag is a radio frequency identification tag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, wherein the cam is longitudinally movable relative to the seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the bore of the tubular housing above the seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, wherein the seat is radially movable relative to the bore of the tubular housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a tubular mandrel disposed in the tubular housing, the tubular mandrel configured to restrict longitudinal movement of the seat relative to the tubular housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The catch and release system of claim 1, the seat comprising segments configured to form a ring in the catch position. ### Claim 13 A method of hanging an inner tubular string on an outer tubular string, comprising: running the inner tubular string and a deployment assembly into a wellbore using a deployment string, wherein the deployment assembly comprises a catch and release system for catching and releasing an object in a wellbore; pumping an object down the deployment string to a seat of the catch and release system; increasing pressure in a bore of the deployment assembly to hang the inner tubular string on the outer tubular string; and moving the seat of the catch and release system with a cam to release the object in response to reaching a predetermined pressure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring the pressure in the bore of the deployment string. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising sending a command signal to the catch and release system from the object. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the object includes a wireless identification tag. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a catch and release system in a wellbore, comprising: landing an object in a seat of the catch and release system; increasing pressure in a bore of the catch and release system to hang an inner tubular string on an outer tubular string; monitoring the pressure in the bore of the catch and release system with a pressure sensor; and moving the seat of the catch and release system with an actuator having a cam from a catch position to a release position to release the object in response to detecting a predetermined pressure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising sending a command signal to the catch and release system from the object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the object includes a wireless identification tag. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising sending a signal from an electronics package of the catch and release system to operate the actuator of the catch and release system.