# US 9,435,168 B2 · Downhole activation assembly and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,168 B2 - Document ID: US9435168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/165,202 - Filed: 2014-01-27 - Published: 2014-08-07 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-03 - Assignees: National Oilwell DHT, L.P. - Applicants: National Oilwell DHT, L.P. - Inventors: Khoi Trinh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435168B2 ## CPC - E21B 23/0413: {using means for blocking fluid flow, e.g. drop balls or darts (using balls or the like for actuating downhole valves E21B34/142)} - E21B 10/322: {cutter shifted by fluid pressure (E21B10/345 takes precedence)} - E21B 23/0412: {characterised by pressure chambers, e.g. vacuum chambers} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A downhole activation assembly for activating a downhole component of a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The activation assembly includes a housing operatively connectable to the downhole tool, a spring-loaded sleeve, and a ball catcher. The sleeve slidably positionable in the housing, and having a flow channel therethrough and an outer surface defining a chamber between the sleeve and the housing. The sleeve having inlets therethrough about a sleeve end thereof to permit fluid from the flow channel to pass therethrough. The ball catcher slidably positionable in the housing, and having a catcher end engageable with the sleeve end to selectively divert the fluid thereabout and a ball seat therein to receivingly engage a ball passing through the sleeve whereby the ball catcher selectively moves the downhole component between activation positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole activation assembly for activating a downhole component of a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the activation assembly comprising: a housing operatively connectable to the downhole tool; a spring-loaded sleeve slidably positionable in the housing, the sleeve having a flow channel therethrough and an outer surface defining a chamber between the sleeve and the housing, the chamber divided into an upper variable volume chamber and a lower variable volume chamber, the upper and lower variable volume chambers in fluid isolation from each other, the sleeve having therethrough about a sleeve end thereof to permit fluid from the flow channel to pass therethrough; and a ball catcher slidably positionable in the housing, the ball catcher having a catcher end engageable with the sleeve end to selectively divert the fluid thereabout and a ball seat therein to receivingly engage a ball passing through the sleeve whereby the ball catcher selectively moves the downhole component between activation positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the ball catcher are positionable to prevent fluid flow between the flow channel and the chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid is passed through the ball catcher when the ball is unseated from the ball catcher. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid is diverted between the ball catcher and the housing when the ball is seated in the ball catcher. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, wherein the ball catcher has paths therethrough to permit the fluid to pass from between the housing and the ball catcher to the downhole component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The activation assembly of claim 5, wherein the downhole component has channels to pass the fluid from the paths therethrough. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, further comprising seals positioned between the sleeve and the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The activation assembly of claim 7, wherein the seals comprise an uphole seal at an uphole end, a downhole seal at the sleeve end, and an intermediate seal between the uphole and the downhole seals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, further comprising a blade engageable by the outer surface of the sleeve and selectively extendable from the housing thereby. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The activation assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer surface is tapered. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The activation assembly of claim 1, wherein the ball catcher comprises an elastomeric material along an inner surface thereof engageable with the ball. ### Claim 12 A downhole tool positionabie n a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole tool comprising: a conveyance; a bottom hole assembly deployable into the wellbore by the conveyance, the bottom hole assembly carrying a downhole component; a downhole activation assembly positionable about the bottom hole assembly, the activation assembly comprising: a housing operatively connectable to the downhole tool; a spring-loaded sleeve slidably positionable in the housing, the sleeve having a flow channel therethrough and an outer surface defining a chamber between the sleeve and the housing, the chamber divided into an upper variable volume chamber and a lower variable volume chamber, the upper and lower variable volume chambers in fluid isolation from each other, the sleeve having inlets therethrough about a sleeve end thereof to permit fluid from the flow channel to pass therethrough; and a ball catcher slidably positionable in the housing, the ball catcher having a catcher end engageable with the sleeve end to selectively divert the fluid thereabout and a ball seat therein to receivingly engage a ball passing through the sleeve whereby the ball catcher selectively moves the downhole component between activation positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the downhole component is an indexer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The downhole tool of claim 12, further comprising reamer with a blade, the sleeve engageable with the blade whereby the blade is selectively extendable therefrom. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The downhole tool of claim 12, further comprising a controller. ### Claim 16 A method of activating a downhole component of a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the method comprising: deploying an activation assembly into the wellbore via the downhole tool, the activation assembly comprising a spring-loaded sleeve and a ball catcher slidably positionable in a housing, the sleeve having a flow channel therethrough and an outer surface defining a chamber between the sleeve and the housing, the chamber divided into an upper variable volume chamber and a lower variable volume chamber, the upper and lower variable volume chambers in fluid isolation from each other, the sleeve having inlets therethrough about a sleeve end thereof to permit fluid from the flow channel to pass therethrough, the ball catcher having a catcher end and a ball seat therein; and selectively moving the downhole component between activation positions by deploying a ball through the sleeve and into the ball catcher and selectively engaging the sleeve end with the catcher end such that the fluid is selectively diverted about the ball catcher. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the selectively moving comprises diverting fluid through the ball catcher when the ball is unseated therein. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the selectively moving comprises diverting fluid between the ball catcher and the housing when the bail is seated therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising passing the fluid through paths in the ball catcher and channels in the downhole component. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising passing the fluid from the flow channel to the chamber via the inlets.