Patent Application
20140083678
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a ball seat for a fracturing apparatus. More specifically, the bail seat is made of metal and rubber. The present disclosure also includes the fracturing apparatus that includes the bail seat and a method of making the ball seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, ball seats have been made of metal and the frac balls used to block flow through the ball seat have a diameter that is about 62 thousandths of an inch bigger than the internal diameter of the hole running through the ball seat. The need for the 62 thousandths of an inch overlap limits the number of production zones in a horizontally-drilled well. Accordingly, there is a need for a fracturing system that can provide more production zones in a horizontally-drilled well.
Various embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a device and apparatus for use in wellbore fracturing operations.
In accordance with some embodiments, a ball seat is disclosed. The ball seat having a ball side, a back side, and an inner diameter defining an opening in the ball seat, and an outside diameter. The ball seat is constructed of a metallic material and polymeric material.
In accordance with another embodiment, the disclosure is directed toward a downhole tool that includes the ball seat device. This tool includes a slotted body having at least one opening in an outer wall of the slotted body. The tool also includes a sleeve slidably disposed within the slotted body, the sleeve blocking the at least one opening in the slotted body. As stated above, the tool includes the ball seat, which is disposed within the sleeve. Finally, the tool includes a bail having a diameter to engage the ball seat wherein, when the ball engages the ball seat under fluid pressure, the force from the fluid applied to the ball and ball seat is transferred to the sleeve and the sleeve slides within the slotted body to unblock the opening in the slotted body and permit fluid to flow therethrough.
These and other features and advantages which may characterize various embodiments can be understood in view of the following detailed discussion and the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to a ball seat for a fracturing apparatus that allows for more a multi-stage or multi-area zones in a fracturing system (or production system). The disclosure also relates to a method of using and making the ball seat.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the slotted body 12 has at least one opening 20 to ultimately allow fluid to flow from within the tool 10 and outside of the tool 10 and to the casing/formation. It should be understood and appreciated that the slotted body 12 can have multiple openings disposed therein for fluid to escape. The sleeve 18 is disposed within the slotted body 12 and blocks the at least one opening 20 to prevent fluid from escaping the tool 10. The sleeve 18 can be secured within the slotted body 12 by any means known in the art, such as shear pins or screws. The ball seat 14 is disposed within the sleeve 18. In one embodiment, the ball seat 14 is frictionally disposed within the sleeve 18.
In another embodiment,
When the fracturing system 25 is in use, fluid will flow in the direction dictated by the dotted line 40. The second ball seat 34 has an opening 44 disposed therein and is positioned within the second sleeve 38 and the ball seat 14 has an opening 42 disposed therein and is positioned within the sleeve 18. The second ball 36 is sized such that it will pass through the opening 42 of the ball seat 14 but not pass through the opening 44 of the second ball seat 34. The second ball 36 also has to be sized such that the second ball 36 will not pass through the second ball seat 34 even at extremely high pressures. Likewise, the ball 16 must be sized such that the ball 16 will not pass through the ball seat 14 even at extremely high pressures. It should be understood and appreciated that while only two fracturing tools 10 and 30 are shown in
The ball seat 14 disclosed herein, and shown in more detail in
In one embodiment shown in
The metallic material 50 of the ball seat 14 can be any metallic material, or combination of metallic materials, that can handle the operating conditions of a downhole wellbore environment. Similarly, the polymeric material of the ball seat 14 can be any polymeric material, such as rubber, that can handle the operating conditions of a downhole wellbore environment.
The ball side 54 of the ball seat 14 can have a first angled surface 68 to facilitate larger frac balls positioned to block flow of fluid through the opening 42 of the ball seat 14. The first angled surface 68 slopes downward from the ball side 54 of the ball seat 14 toward the opening 42 of the ball seat 14. In another embodiment, the ball side 54 of the ball seat 14 can have a second angled surface 69 to facilitate smaller frac balls positioned to block fluid flow through the opening 42 of the ball seat 14. The second angled surface 69 slopes downward from where the first angled surface 68 ends toward the opening 42 of the ball seat 14. It should be understood and appreciated that the first and second angled surfaces 68 and 69 can be any angle such that they facilitate the ball positioning over the opening 42 of the ball seat 14.
The metallic material 50 and polymeric material 52 used to construct the ball seat 14 permits the use of a smaller difference in the diameter of the ball 16 versus the inner diameter 58 of the ball seat 14. The inner diameter 58 of the ball seat 14 can be less than about 62 thousandths of an inch smaller than the diameter of the ball 16. In one embodiment, the diameter of the frac ball 16 is about 40 thousandths of an inch larger than the diameter of the inner diameter 58 of the ball seat 14. The smaller difference in the opening 42 of the ball seat 14 and the ball 16 allows for more production zones to be used in the fracturing system over a predetermined length of wellbore.
In a further embodiment, the outer diameter portion 60 of the ball seat 14 decreases in diameter along its length as you travel from the ball side 54 of the ball seat 14 to the back side 56 of the ball seat 14, creating an angle of the outer diameter portion 60 of the ball seat 14. The angle can be any angle within the range of from about 0.1° to about 15°. In one embodiment, the angle is about 1°.
The sleeve 18 of the tool 10 is shown in more detail in
The ball seat 14 is constructed by machining the metallic portion 50 of the ball seat 14. In one embodiment, the metallic portion 50 of the ball seat 14 is casted first, and then machined. Once the metallic portion 50 is machined, the elastomeric material 52 is bonded to the metallic portion 50 via heat and compression. Once the elastomeric material 52 is bonded to the metallic portion 50, the angle of the outside perimeter portion 60 of the ball seat 14 is cut. The first and second angled surfaces 68 and 69 of the ball side 54 of the ball seat 14 are also cut/machined into the ball seat 14. Further, the ball side 54 of the ball seat 14 is machined, and the desired opening 42 is cut into the ball seat 14.
From the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure is well adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the disclosure. While present embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the disclosure.
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/539,513, filed Sep. 27, 2011, entitled “Ball Seat for a Well Fracturing System and Method of Making Same” which is hereby expressly incorporated herein in its entirety.
