# US 2013/0153237 A1 · Ball drop wellhead control apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153237 A1 - Document ID: US20130153237A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/331,903 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Stinger Wellhead Protection, Inc. - Inventors: Bob McGuire - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153237A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/068: having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) - E21B 33/05: Cementing-heads, e.g. having provision for introducing cementing plugs - Y10T 137/0435: Mechanical cleaning [e.g., pig, etc.] - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball controller comprises a ball pocket that is aligned with the central passage of the control body when the ball controller is in the ball receiving position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ball controller further comprises at least one through bore that provides the fluid communication through the central passage, the at least one through bore being located in a bottom of the ball pocket, the at least one through bore having a smaller internal diameter than an outer diameter of a smallest frac ball to be dropped by the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ball controller further comprises a ball release port through which the frac ball is released from the ball pocket when the ball controller is in the ball release position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ball release port is oriented at a right angle with respect to the ball pocket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an injection port in a sidewall of the control body, the injection port being aligned with the ball pocket when the ball controller is in the ball release position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the injection port is aligned with the ball release port when the ball controller is in the ball receiving position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an injection adapter connected to the injection port to permit a frac iron to be connected to the injection port to permit frac fluid to be pumped into the ball pocket when the ball controller is in the ball release position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball controller is a cylindrical plug having a stem end that extends through a sidewall of the control body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ball controller actuator comprises a 90° hydraulic actuator connected to the stem end of the cylindrical plug. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a position indicator connected to the hydraulic actuator that provides a visual indication of whether the ball controller is in the ball receiving position or the ball release position. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the ball controller comprises a ball pocket that is aligned with the central passage of the control body when the ball controller is in the ball receiving position, at least one through bore that provides the fluid communication between the central passage below the ball controller and a bottom of the ball pocket, the at least one through bore having a smaller internal diameter than an outer diameter of a smallest frac ball to be dropped by the frac ball drop or the frac ball injector, and a ball release port through which the frac ball is released from the ball pocket when the ball controller is in the ball release position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ball release port is oriented at a right angle with respect to the ball pocket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising an injection port in a sidewall of the control body, the injection port being aligned with the ball pocket when the ball controller is in the ball release position, and the injection port is aligned with the ball release port when the ball controller is in the ball receiving position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising an injection adapter connected to the injection port to permit frac fluid to be pumped into the ball pocket when the ball controller is in the ball release position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the ball controller is a cylindrical plug having a stem end that extends through a sidewall of the control body, and the ball controller actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator connected to the stem end of the cylindrical plug. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a position indicator connected to the hydraulic actuator that provides a visual indication of whether the hydraulic actuator has the ball controller in the ball receiving position or the ball release position. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The ball drop wellhead control apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a position indicator that provides a visual indication of whether the ball controller is in the ball receiving position or the ball release position.