Frac-ball with structurally weakened region
AssigneeEnsign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company
InventorsAndrew Kochanek, Kurt Nelson, James Danyluk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frac-ball for use with a well casing segmentation device and a method of controlling fluid flow through a well casing segmentation device are provided. The frac-ball includes a body having a shell configuration defined by one or more walls, with each wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surfaces define an enclosed interior cavity. One or more structurally weakened regions are disposed in the one or more walls.
Claims20
A frac-ball for use with a well casing segmentation device, the frac-ball comprising:
- a body having a shell configuration defined by one or more walls, with each wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- wherein the interior surfaces define an enclosed interior cavity;
- and
- one or more structurally weakened regions disposed in the one or more walls.
A method of controlling fluid flow through a well casing segmentation device, comprising:
- disposing an impermeable frac-ball in a seat of a well casing segmentation device to close a fluid passage of the well casing segmentation device, wherein the frac-ball includes at least one structurally weakened region;
- and
- causing an elevated pressure event adequate to cause the at least one structurally weakened region to fail, thereby opening the fluid passage of the well casing segmentation device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.