Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR BALL CATCHING
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for oil and
gas recovery, and
more particularly relates to an apparatus for ball catching during oil and gas
recovery
operations.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Hydraulic fracturing (also referred to as fracking) is a technique
used to improve
recovery rates in oil and gas wells. Typically, fracking involves pumping a
fluid containing a
proppant (e.g. sand, plastic beads) down the well and into the formation from
which oil or gas is
to be recovered. The fluid creates or enlarges fissures in the formation, and
the proppant
prevents the fissures from closing when pumping of the fluid ceases. After the
pumping of
fracking fluid down the well ceases, oil or gas is allowed to flow up the well
for recovery.
[0003] In some drilling operations, it is desirable to isolate different
zones of the formation
through which the well extends before pumping fracturing fluid down the well,
in order to fracture
only a particular zone. The above-mentioned isolation is often achieved by
inserting frac balls
into the well. The frac balls, carried down the well by the fracturing fluid,
seal against seats
within the well casing, preventing fracturing fluid from reaching the portion
of the well beyond
the seats. Once the fracking operation is complete, the oil or gas flowing up
the well carries the
frac balls with it.
[0004] When the oil or gas and frac balls reach the frac tree connected to
the top of the well,
they are directed to a ball catcher mechanism, which generally includes a long
horizontal pipe
extending from the well, and a vertical chamber depending from the horizontal
pipe. The oil, gas
and frac balls flow from the well through the horizontal pipe, and the frac
balls fall into the
vertical chamber while the oil or gas flows on to downstream equipment. The
ball catcher can
then be isolated from the horizontal pipe and the balls can be recovered.
SUMMARY
[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus for ball
catching. The apparatus includes a body having an inlet for receiving fluid
and at least one ball,
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a first outlet for delivering the fluid, and a second outlet for delivering
the at least one ball. The
apparatus also includes a chamber in communication with the second outlet, the
chamber for
receiving the at least one ball. In addition, the apparatus includes a
diverter screen disposed
within the first outlet, the diverter screen for preventing the passage of the
at least one ball and
diverting the at least one ball toward the second outlet. The apparatus
further includes a check
valve disposed downstream of the first outlet for preventing the fluid from
flowing into the body
via the first outlet. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a bypass line
configured to direct the
fluid around the body. Also, the apparatus includes a filter screen for
preventing the passage of
the at least one ball through the bypass line. The apparatus also includes a
three-way valve
configured to direct the fluid to one of the bypass line or the inlet of the
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the
accompanying drawings
in which:
[0007] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus in a first
position in
accordance with an embodiment; and
[0008] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the
embodiment shown
in figure 1 in a second configuration
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0009] Referring now to figure 1, an apparatus for ball catching is shown
generally at 50. It
is to be understood that the apparatus 50 is purely exemplary and that it will
be apparent to
those skilled in the art that variations are contemplated. In the present
embodiment, the
apparatus 50 is generally configured to receive fluid from a cross 40 on a
frac tree. The
apparatus 50 includes a body 52, a chamber 54, a three-way valve 56, a
diverter screen 58, a
check valve 80, a bypass line 82, and a filter screen 84.
[0010] in the present embodiment, the body 52 includes an inlet 60 for
receiving fluid flow A
and at least one ball 100 carried by the fluid. The body 52 also includes an
outlet 62 for
delivering fluid. In the present embodiment, the fluid is ultimately delivered
to testers via the tee
86; however, it is to be appreciated by a person of skill in the art that the
fluid can be delivered
to any other piece of downstream equipment. The body 52 further includes an
outlet 64 for
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delivering the ball 100.
[0011] The chamber 54 is in communication with the outlet 64. In the
present embodiment,
the chamber 54 is configured to receive the ball 100 delivered via the outlet
64. The chamber
54 is not particularly limited and can be constructed of any material or from
any design that can
provide sufficient mechanical properties to sustain the pressure. In the
present embodiment,
the chamber also optionally includes a drain valve 66 generally configured to
relieve pressure
within the chamber 54. The chamber further optionally includes a cleanout port
68 generally
configured to allow for removal of the ball 100 from the chamber 54.
[0012] The diverter screen 58 is disposed within the outlet 62 and
generally configured to
prevent the passage of the ball 100 while allowing the fluid to flow through.
In the present
embodiment, the diverter screen 58 is configured to divert the ball 100 into
the chamber 54 by
diverting the ball 100 away from the outlet 62 and through the outlet 64. The
screen 58 is not
particularly limited and can be integral (i.e. non-removable, such as welded),
or can be a
separate part inserted into the outlet 62. In addition, the design of the
diverter screen 58 can be
modified to be any other part capable of preventing the ball 100 from passing
through the outlet
62 while allowing fluid to flow through.
[0013] In the present embodiment, the check valve 80 is connected
downstream from the
first outlet 62 of the body 52 and generally configured to prevent the fluid
from flowing
backwards and into the body via the first outlet 62. It is to be appreciated
by a person of skill in
the art with the benefit of this description that when the bypass line is used
(as discussed
below), the fluid can flow toward the body 52 from the tee 86 since there is
no flow through the
body 52. The check valve 80 is not particularly limited and can be any valve
capable of limiting
fluid flow to one direction. For example, the check valve 80 can be a swing
valve, piston valve
or a wafer valve. In other embodiments, the check valve 80 can also be
substituted with a
manually operated valve that is opened and closed depending on whether the
bypass line 82 is
in use.
[0014] The bypass line 82 is generally configured to provide a fluid path
around the body
52. Although the bypass line 82 is shown be a straight pipe, it is not
necessarily limited and can
be modified to be any configuration capable of bypassing the body 52.
[0015] The filter screen 84 is disposed upstream of the bypass line 82 and
generally
configured to prevent the passage of the ball 100 while allowing the fluid to
flow through. In the
present embodiment, the filter screen 84 can be identical to the diverter
screen 58. Similar to
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the diverter screen 58, the filter screen 84 is not particularly limited and
can be integral (i.e. non-
removable, such as welded), or can be a separate part inserted into the fluid
path. In addition,
the design of the filter screen 84 can be modified to be any other part
capable of preventing the
ball 100 from passing into the bypass line 82 while allowing fluid to flow
through.
[0016] The three-way valve 56 is disposed upstream of the bypass line and
the inlet 60 of
the body 52 and generally configured to direct the fluid to one of the inlet
60 or the bypass line
82. In the present embodiment, three-way valve 56 includes a rotatable plug 57
having three
channels in fluid communication with each other forming a "T" connection that
can freely rotate
guided by a plurality of valve seats 70 into. It is to be appreciated that the
three-way valve 56 is
not particularly limited and that variations are contemplated. For example, it
is to be
appreciated with the benefit of this description that the three-way valve 56
can be substituted
with other types of valves, such as Y valve.
[0017] As shown in figure 1, the three-way valve 56 is positioned to allow
fluid to flow from
the cross 40 to the inlet 60 while preventing fluid or the ball from entering
the bypass line 82. It
is to be appreciated by a person of skill in the art with the benefit of this
description that as the
fluid and the ball 100 reach the diverter screen 58, the fluid will pass
through to the outlet 62
while the ball 100 will be preventing from passing the diverter screen 58 and
fall into the
chamber 54 via the outlet 64. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated by a person
of skill in the art
that the apparatus 50 operates to separate the ball 100 from the fluid when
the three-way valve
56 is in the position shown in figure 1 to collect the ball 100 and delivering
fluid.
[0018] Referring to figure 2, the apparatus 50 is illustrated with the
three-way valve 56 in a
second position for cutting off fluid flow to the body 52. In this position,
the fluid flow is directed
toward the filter screen 84 and into the bypass line 82. The filter screen 84
prevents the ball
100 from entering the bypass line 82. Accordingly, the ball 100 would remain
in the three-way
valve 56 or upstream of that while the fluid is allowed to flow through the
bypass line 82. Upon
reaching the tee 86, the fluid is prevented from flowing toward the body 52 by
the check valve
80 and is force to flow out of the apparatus downstream, such as to the
testers. Furthermore, it
is to be appreciated that when the three-way valve 56 in this position, the
chamber 54 is isolated
from the fluid flow by the three-way valve 56 and the check valve 80.
Accordingly, the chamber
54 can be opened at the cleanout port 68 to remove any balls that may have
fallen in without
stopping the flow of fluid.
[0019] In the present embodiment, it is to be appreciated that the three-
way valve 56 can be
configured into a third position where all three openings are in use.
Accordingly, the pressure
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from the cross 40 would provide fluid flow to both the bypass line 82 and the
body 52. Since the
ball 100 is prevented from flowing into the bypass line 82, this configuration
decrease the
resistance for the fluid flow and operate similar to the configuration shown
in figure 1.
[0020]
While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such
embodiments
should be considered illustrative only and should not serve to limit the
accompanying claims.
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