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US 2013/0153237 A1Published application
Ball drop wellhead control apparatus
AssigneeStinger Wellhead Protection, Inc.
InventorBob McGuire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball drop wellhead control apparatus provides a ball controller between a frac ball drop or frac ball injector used to drop frac balls into a frac fluid stream being pumped into a subterranean well.
Claims20
A ball drop wellhead control apparatus, comprising:
- a control body having a central passage;
- a ball controller housed by the control body and obstructing the central passage, the ball controller providing fluid communication through the central passage when the ball controller is in a ball receiving position, but inhibiting any frac ball dropped from a frac ball drop or a frac ball injector connected directly or indirectly to the control body from being released from the central passage until the ball controller is moved to a ball release position;
- and
- an actuator that moves the ball controller from the ball receiving position to the ball release position.
1 more element
A ball drop wellhead control apparatus, comprising:
- a control body adapted to be mounted below a frac ball drop or a frac ball injector so that any frac balls released from the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector enter a central passage of the control body before the frac balls can enter a frac fluid stream being pumped into a well;
- a ball controller housed by the control body and obstructing the central passage, the ball controller providing fluid communication through the central passage between the fluid stream and the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector when the ball controller is in a ball receiving position, while inhibiting any frac ball dropped from the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector from being released from the central passage until the ball controller is moved to a ball release position;
- and
- an actuator adapted to move the ball controller from the ball receiving position to the ball release position.
1 more element
A ball drop wellhead control apparatus, comprising:
- a control body adapted to be mounted in a frac stack below a frac ball drop or a frac ball injector such that all frac balls released from the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector enter a central passage of the control body;
- a ball controller housed by the control body and obstructing the central passage, the ball controller enabling fluid communication between a fluid stream being pumped through the frac stack and into a well and the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector when the ball controller is in a ball receiving position in which the frac balls are received in a ball pocket that prevents any frac ball dropped from the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector from being released from the central passage until the ball controller is moved to a ball release position in which the frac ball is released through a ball release port from the ball pocket;
- and
- a hydraulic actuator adapted to move the ball controller from the ball receiving position to the ball release position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.