| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 166318000 | Operated by dropped element | 24 |
| 20100116501 | BACKUP SAFETY FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONCENTRIC DRILL STRING - A technique is presented for providing a double-barrier to formation fluids during drilling operations with a concentric drill string having an inner bore and an annulus. A primary flow control system is used to provide a first barrier to formation fluids in the inner bore and annulus of the drill string. A backup flow control system is used to provide a second barrier to formation fluids. The backup flow control system comprises a backup inner bore shutoff valve and a backup annulus shutoff valve. The backup inner bore shutoff valve is dropped from the surface through the inner bore of the drill string. The backup inner bore shutoff valve has spring-biased tabs that are configured to extend outward to contact an inner surface profile of the inner bore of the drill string. The backup annulus shutoff valve may be provided with the profile to receive the spring-biased tabs from the backup inner bore shutoff valve. When the tabs of the backup inner bore shutoff valve are disposed opposite the profile, the tabs of the backup inner bore shutoff valve are extended outward into the profile by a spring assembly, securing the backup inner bore shutoff valve within the drill string. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20110132613 | Multiple Port Crossover Tool with Port Selection Feature - A crossover for gravel packing has multiple outlets that are selectively covered as they wear from erosion with the covering of an outlet exposing another for slurry flow to continue. Outlets are selected by a series of balls that get larger and land on progressively higher and larger seats on sleeves. As a sleeve shifts to cover a spent outlet it moves away from a new outlet for continuation of slurry flow to the outlet opened by virtue of the shifting sleeve. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110203800 | Step Ratchet Fracture Window System - The present invention is to an internal sleeve slidably received within a tubular housing. The sleeve and outer housing have windows that selectively align. Movement of the sleeve within the housing is controlled by a ball passing through the interior of the sleeve to activate a ratchet that allows the sleeve to move a set amount under the influence of a spring. A split seat at a lower end of the housing traps after a set number of balls have passed through the housing. A number of similar tools can be used to provide openings at various points that include coordinated ratchet steps so that only one tool at a time opens for fracturing or other purposes. A reverse flow causes a ball to impinge upon the next higher ball seat and thereby opening the seat to provide a full bore flow passage through the tool | 08-25-2011 |
| 20120061088 | SELF-RELEASING PLUG FOR USE IN A SUBTERRANEAN WELL - A flow control system for use in a subterranean well can include a flow chamber through which a fluid composition flows, and a plug which is released in response to an increase in a ratio of undesired fluid to desired fluid in the fluid composition. Another flow control system can include a flow chamber through which a fluid composition flows, a plug, and a structure which supports the plug, but which releases the plug in response to degrading of the structure by the fluid composition. Yet another flow control system can include a flow chamber through which a fluid composition flows, and a plug which is released in response to an increase in a velocity of the fluid composition in the flow chamber. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120279717 | CONTROLLED APERTURE BALL DROP - A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20130025871 | PLUG COUNTER, FRACING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A plug counter includes a seat receptive of a plug in a first position and capable of passing the plug in a second position. A first sleeve is in operable communication with the seat and is longitudinally movable in response to movement of the seat between the first position and the second position. A second sleeve is in operable communication with at least one of the first sleeve and the seat and is configured to index upon passage of the plug. A key is in operable communication with the seat and is configured to prevent movement of the seat to the second position after a selected number of plugs have passed the seat. A third sleeve is in operable communication with the first sleeve, and a release member is in operable communication with the third sleeve and is configured to move the third sleeve after it is released. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130153237 | BALL DROP WELLHEAD CONTROL APPARATUS - 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. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130161017 | Hydrostatically Powered Fracturing Sliding Sleeve - A series of sliding sleeves is actuated by a single ball that lands on a first ball seat and shifts the ball seat. The shifting of the ball seat also allows tubing pressure to communicate to a formerly atmospheric chamber on one side of a piston integrated into the back side of the sliding sleeve. The other side of the piston remains at atmospheric pressure so that the shifting of the ball seat not only releases the ball to go to the next ball seat but also puts a net force on the sliding sleeve to shift it against a travel stop to open a port to allow fracturing, even if there is cement in the annulus around the opened port. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130186633 | COUNTER DEVICE FOR SELECTIVELY CATCHING PLUGS - A counter assembly including an actuatable component. A counter component is disposed with the actuatable component and initially in a first position relative the actuatable component and movable with respect to the actuatable component. A lock member is engaged in a track formed between the actuatable component and the counter component. The lock member is operatively arranged for enabling relative movement between the actuatable component and the lock member in a first direction only and between the counter component and the lock member in a second direction only. At least one iteration of travel of the counter component to a second position relative the actuatable component and back to the first position progresses the lock member incrementally along the track. The actuatable component is immovably locked to the counter component by the lock member when the lock member has reached an end of the track. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130319678 | Multi-function surge reduction apparatus - A multi-function diverter tool is disclosed that allows positive-indication opening and closing of the tool in a downhole environment. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140151054 | FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM - A system and methodology facilitate flow control through actuation of valves individually along a plurality of zones. The system and methodology may be used in a variety of applications, including fracturing operations in which the valves are selectively actuated to control flow of fracturing fluid to specific zones of a formation. In fracturing applications, a well string is provided with a plurality of stages positioned sequentially along a plurality of surrounding zones, e.g. well zones. Each stage may be uniquely actuated relative to other stages by dropping a ball or balls down to the desired stage and actuating the valve via application of pressure. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140251628 | Anti-Rotation Assembly for Sliding Sleeve - A sliding sleeve has an inner sleeve that moves in a housing. For example, the inner sleeve can move open relative to a port in the housing when a deployed ball engages a seat in the inner sleeve. Because the seat and the ball (if remaining) are preferably milled out of the inner sleeve after use, the inner sleeve preferably does not rotate in the housing during milling operations. To accomplish this, an anti-rotation clutch assembly in the sliding sleeve helps prevent the inner sleeve from rotating. A wedged cone is formed on a distal end of the inner sleeve and press fits into a cupped shoulder on the inside of the sleeve's housing. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140251629 | Expandable Ball Seat for Hydraulically Actuating Tools - A downhole tool has a housing, a mandrel, a seat, and a piston. The housing defines a first bore, and the mandrel is movably disposed in the first bore and defines a second bore. The mandrel has first and second mandrel sections or upper and lower cones, and the first mandrel section defines a cross-port communicating the second bore with an annular space between the mandrel and the housing. The seat is disposed in the first bore of the housing between the first and second mandrel sections. The seat is movable to a constricted state in the first bore to catch a dropped ball and is movable to an expanded state in the first bore to pass a dropped ball. The piston is disposed in the annular space and at least temporality supports the seat in its constricted state. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140262302 | Ball Injector System Apparatus and Method - A ball launching system includes a ball launcher with a removable ball pod and sleeve assembly that retains balls prior to injection. An interchangeable ball pod with a chamber corresponding to the ball diameter, fits into a pod sleeve and comprise the ball pod and sleeve assembly. The ball launcher further includes a housing with a moveably disposed piston that engages with the ball thereby launching it. The housing also includes a thru hole through which the piston may travel to externally indicate its position within the housing. The ball launching system also includes a control system having control inputs, which may be located remote to the ball launcher. By applying a pre-determined sequence of control inputs, the piston may engage with the balls retained in the ball pod and sleeve assembly to force the balls to be launched from the ball launcher. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140352970 | TRIGGER MECHANISM - A trigger mechanism for a ball activated device comprises a seat sleeve with seat defining members forming a fluid seal between the ball and the seat in an initial state and allowing the ball to pass through the seat in a final state. An alternating member can move radially in an aperture through an inner sleeve and abuts an outer surface on the seat sleeve in the initial state, is received in a recess on the seat sleeve in an intermediate state, and is received in a groove in the outer sleeve in the final state. A protective sleeve may extend axially from the seat sleeve over a seat receiving area. The mechanism is suitable for cementing and fracturing as particles cannot penetrate to its moving parts. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150068757 | Downhole Tool with Expandable Seat - A downhole tool comprising a housing having at least one flow port disposed providing a communication path between the interior and exterior of the sleeve. A sleeve assembly has an expandable seat and an inner sleeve, and is moveable within the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the sleeve assembly is radially positioned between the flow ports and the flowpath to substantially prevent fluid communication. Shearable port inserts are positioned within the flow ports, with each port insert having a shearable portion extending into the interior of the housing and engaging the sleeve assembly when the inner sleeve is in said first position. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150083428 | AUTO-FILLING OF A TUBULAR STRING IN A SUBTERRANEAN WELL - A system can include at least one check valve which prevents outward flow through a wall of a tubular string in a well, the wall surrounding a longitudinally extending flow passage of the tubular string. The check valve can include a ball or poppet which sealingly engages a seat. Another system can include multiple redundant check valves which prevent outward flow through a wall of a tubular string in a well. A well tool can include multiple redundant check valves which prevent flow in one direction through the wall, and which permit flow in an opposite direction through the wall. Each of the multiple redundant check valves can include a ball or poppet which sealingly engages a seat. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150136404 | LARGE BORE AUTO-FILL FLOAT EQUIPMENT - An auto-fill type float collar assembly is provided. The float collar assembly of the present invention has at least one curved flapper-style valve, preferably constructed of composite, non-metallic material. Each flapper of the present invention has a substantially 90° range of motion, and is closed via a torsion spring. Each flapper is held in the open (or “auto-fill”), position via an external shifting mechanism passing around, rather than through, the central flow bore of the assembly. A floatable actuation ball can be run with the tool, or pumped downhole, in order to selectively actuate the assembly and close the flappers when desired. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150330185 | MULTI-STAGE WELL ISOLATION AND FRACTURING - In a first aspect, a frac valve tool is taught, said tool comprising one or more ports a sleeve movable between a closed position in which the sleeve prevents fluid flow through said one or more ports and an open position in which the sleeve allows fluid flow through said one or more ports and a ball receiving seat removably connected to the sleeve wherein receipt of a ball on the ball receiving seat moves said seat and said sleeve from closed to open positions. In a second aspect, a frac valve tool is taught, said tool comprising a ball receiving seat removably received within said tool, said seat comprising a seating profile for receiving a ball; wherein said seating profile matches a radius of said ball to nondeformably grip said ball. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150345252 | STAGE TOOL WITH LOWER TUBING ISOLATION - A stage tool includes an isolation mechanism for isolating the lower bore of a completion string. The isolation mechanism is initially in a deactivated configuration until sufficient hydraulic pressure is applied, at which time, the isolating mechanism is activated to isolate the lower bore from cement ingress. Concurrently or subsequently, a stage tool may be opened to facilitate cementing of an annulus between the completion string and the wellbore. After cementing, the isolation mechanism, or portions thereof, may be drilled out to re-establish flow through the stage tool. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150354319 | INTERLOCKING SEGMENTED SEAT FOR DOWNHOLE WELLBORE TOOLS - Disclosed herein is a segmented seat for use in wellbore servicing systems, comprising an annular-shaped seat with an upward facing surface for receiving an obturator, the seat defining a central passageway. The segments are locked together at their faces by protrusions and matching recesses. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20160010426 | Method and Apparatus For Treating A Well | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160017690 | Pressure Activated Cyclical Valve Apparatus and Method - A bypass tool has a piston movable within the bore of a central housing. A control slot on an exterior wall of the piston engages a slot pin in the housing. Longitudinal movement of the piston is downward, in response to fluid pressure exerted on a ball seated on a ball seat on the piston; and spring biased upward. The control slot and slot pin rotate the piston as it moves longitudinally between a first, upper position in which bypass ports in the housing are closed, and a second, lower position in which the bypass ports are open. An intermediate longitudinal position has the ports closed, and permits pressuring up on a ball to force it through the ball seat and reset the tool in the flow through position. The ball and/or ball seat may be of resilient material to permit passage of the ball through the seat. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160115765 | PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR BALL ACTIVATED DEVICE - A protective sleeve for a ball activated device, the ball activated device comprising a seat sleeve axially movable between an initial state in which seat defining members are configured to form a fluid tight seal with a ball and a final state in which the seat defining members are allowed to enter into a seat receiving recess such that the ball is permitted to pass. In the initial state, the protective sleeve extends axially from the seat sleeve over the seat receiving recess. The protective sleeve can be connected in the extension of the seat sleeve through a rotation lock, and ensures that particles and scaling do not build up in the seat receiving recess. The invention prevents that particles are collected behind the seat defining members and prevent these and other movable parts from moving. The protective sleeve is thus particularly suitable for applications such as cementing or fracturing. | 04-28-2016 |
