# US 11,306,567 B2 · Ball lift sleeve and retrieval tool for oil and gas wells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,567 B2 - Document ID: US11306567B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/988,467 - Filed: 2020-08-07 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-07 - Applicants: Ron Elkins; Arthur Sullivan - Inventors: Ron Elkins; Arthur Sullivan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306567B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/121: {Lifting well fluids (monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008)} - E21B 23/00: Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) - F04B 47/12: having free plunger lifting the fluid to the surface - E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) ## Abstract A ball lift sleeve and retrieval tool comprising a sleeve for disposing in tubing of a well, the sleeve defining a first passage from a first proximal end to a first distal end, and a retrieval tool for disposing in the tubing of the well, the retrieval tool being separately moveable in the tubing between mated and unmated conditions with respect to the sleeve, the retrieval tool at least partially mating with the first distal end of the sleeve when in the mated condition and at least partially closing fluid communication through the passage of the sleeve when mated therewith. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plunger lift well comprising: a tubing extending inside a casing production string of a well and having a first end through which oil and gas enters the tubing from the well; a lift sleeve arranged inside the tubing and adapted to move inside the tubing; a ball lift sleeve arranged inside the tubing between the first end and the lift sleeve, the ball lift sleeve is adapted to move inside the tubing and defines a first passage extending from a first proximal end to a first distal end and a ball seat at the first distal end; and a ball disposed inside the tubing between the ball lift sleeve and the lift sleeve, wherein the ball is seated at the ball seat during a start of an operation of the well and the ball and the ball lift sleeve moves together towards the lift sleeve due to a pressure differential across the ball lift sleeve, wherein the ball is adapted to contact the lift sleeve and engages with the lift sleeve upon contacting the lift sleeve, and wherein the ball and the lift sleeve move together in a direction away from the first end of the tubing and the ball lift sleeve moves towards the first end upon engagement of the ball with the lift sleeve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plunger lift well of claim 1 further including a bumper spring arranged at the first end of the tubing, wherein the ball lift sleeve is adapted to contact the bumper spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The plunger lift well of claim 2, wherein the ball when seated on the ball seat seals a fluid flow through the first passage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plunger lift well of claim 1, wherein the ball lift sleeve comprises means for producing a pressure differential across the ball lift sleeve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plunger lift well of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the ball lift sleeve defines a catch groove arranged between the first proximal end and the ball seat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plunger lift well of claim 1 further including a retrieval tool adapted to be removably inserted inside the tubing and adapted to engage with the ball lift sleeve to facilitate a removal of the ball lift sleeve from the tubing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The plunger lift well of claim 6, wherein the retrieval tool includes a male receiver adapted to insert inside the first passage of the ball lift sleeve to enable the engagement of the retrieval tool with the ball lift sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plunger lift well of claim 7, wherein the ball lift sleeve includes a catch groove, and the retrieval tool includes a tool catch extending radially outwardly from the male receiver adapted to be inserted inside the catch groove to facilitate the engagement of the retrieval tool and the ball lift sleeve.