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US 9,957,763 B2Granted
Flow controlled ball release tool
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsAimee Kathleen Greening, Brian Keith Ogle, Tina Denise Hawkins, Pedro Alfredo Sors, Carlos Daniel Wild
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball release tool includes a body providing a first end and a second end, and defining a flow passageway extending between the first and second ends. A ball is releasably coupled to the body at the second end. One or more flow ports are defined in the body and in fluid communication with the flow passageway, wherein pressure of a fluid introduced into the flow passageway is increased to release the ball from the body.
Claims23
A ball release tool, comprising:
- a body providing an uphole end and a downhole end, the body defining a flow passageway extending between the uphole and downhole ends;
- a ball releasably coupled to the body at the downhole end and releasably sealing the flow passageway at the downhole end, wherein the ball further comprises a bulb and a stem that extends from the bulb, and wherein the body further defines an opening at the second end to receive the stem;
- and
- one or more flow ports defined in the body and in fluid communication with the flow passageway, wherein increasing pressure of a fluid introduced into the flow passageway past a predetermined threshold releases the ball from the downhole end.
1 more element
A well system, comprising:
- a work string extendable into a wellbore and having a target baffle positioned within the work string;
- and
- a ball release tool extendable into the work string on a conveyance, the ball release tool including:
- a body that provides an uphole end, a downhole end, and a flow passageway that extends between the uphole and downhole ends, wherein the conveyance is coupled to the uphole end and the flow passageway is in fluid communication with the conveyance;
- a ball releasably coupled to the body at the downhole end and releasably sealing the flow passageway at the downhole end wherein the ball defines a bulb and a stem that extends from the bulb, and wherein the body further defines an opening at the second end to receive the stem;
- and
- one or more flow ports defined in the body and in fluid communication with the flow passageway and the conveyance,
- wherein increasing a pressure of a fluid introduced into the flow passageway via the conveyance releases the ball from the body, and wherein the ball is sized to engage the target baffle upon being released from the downhole end.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- introducing a ball release tool into a work string arranged within a wellbore, the ball release tool being coupled to a conveyance and including:
- a body that provides an uphole end, a downhole end, and a flow passageway that extends between the uphole and downhole ends, wherein the conveyance is coupled to the uphole end and the flow passageway is in fluid communication with the conveyance;
- a ball releasably coupled to the body at the downhole end wherein the ball defines a bulb and a stem that extends from the bulb, and the body further defines an opening at the second end to receive the stem;
- and
- one or more flow ports defined in the body and in fluid communication with the flow passageway and the conveyance;
- releasably sealing the flow passageway at the downhole end via the ball;
- pumping a fluid through the conveyance and to the ball release tool and thereby generating a backpressure within the body and the conveyance;
- locating the ball release tool at a target baffle positioned within the work string;
- increasing a pressure of the fluid to increase the backpressure and thereby release the ball from the downhole end;
- and
- landing the ball on the target baffle.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.