Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02876603 2015-01-06
Attorney Ref P4892CA00
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
rotatable plug disposed
within the body, the rotatable plug having at least three channels in
communication with each
other, wherein each of the three channels is configured to mate with the
inlet, the first outlet and
the second outlet. The apparatus further includes a screen disposed within one
of the at least
three channels, the screen for preventing the passage of the at least one
ball. The rotatable
plug is rotatable between a first position for collecting the at least one
ball and delivering the
fluid, a second position for stopping flow, and a third position for isolating
the chamber and
delivering the fluid.
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;
[0008] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the
embodiment shown
in figure 1 in a second position; and
[0009] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the
embodiment shown
in figure 1 in a third position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0010] 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. The apparatus 50
includes a body 52,
a chamber 54, a rotatable plug 56, and a screen 58.
[0011] 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 generally delivered
to testers; 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
delivering the
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Attorney Ref P4892CA00
ball 100.
[0012] 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
relievegessure
within the chamber 54. The chamber further optionally includes a cleanout
portIvenerally
configured to allow for removal of the ball 100 from the chamber 54.
[0013] The rotatable plug 56 is disposed within the body 52. In the present
embodiment,
the rotatable plug has three channels in fluid communication with each other
forming a "T"
connection. Each of the channels are generally configured to mate with the
inlet 60, and the
outlets 62 and 64 by aligning a channel with one or more of the inlet 60, and
the outlets 62 and
64. It is to be appreciated by a person of skill in the art that in the
present embodiment, the
body 52 and the rotatable plug 56 form a three-way plug valve where the
rotatable plug 56 can
freely rotate within the body guided by a plurality of valve seats 70. It is
to be appreciated that
the rotatable plug 56 is not particularly limited and that variations are
contemplated. For
example, the rotatable plug 56 can include more or less than three channels,
and the channels
need not be at 90 degrees in respect with each other.
[0014] The screen 58 is disposed within one of the three channels and
generally configured
to prevent the passage of the ball 100 while allowing fluid to flow through.
The screen 58 is not
particularly limits and can be integral with the rotatable plug (i.e. non-
removable, such as
welded), or can be a separate part inserted into the channel. In addition, it
is to be appreciated
that the screen 58 can be inserted into other portions of the rotatable plug
56 or the body 52. In
addition, the screen 58 can be modified to be any other part for preventing
the ball 100 from
passing while allowing fluid to flow through.
[0015] It is to be appreciated by a person of skill in the art with the
benefit of this description,
that by preventing the passage of the ball 100 in one of the three channels,
the screen 58 can
be used to direct the movement of the ball 100 through the rotatable plug 56.
For example, in
the position illustrated in figure 1, the apparatus 50 is configured to
receive the ball 100 along
with fluid via the inlet 60 such that the fluid passes through the apparatus
via the outlet 62 and
the ball 100 falls 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 rotatable plug 56 is in the position shown in figure 1 to collect the
ball 100 and
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delivering fluid.
[0016] In the present embodiment, the apparatus 50 also includes an
optional diverter
screen 72 to further facilitate diverting the ball 100 into the chamber 54.
The diverter screen
extends into the outlet 62 and is generally configured to divert the ball 100
away from the outlet
62 and through the outlet 64.
[0017] In the present embodiment, the apparatus 50 also optionally includes
a wing valve
74 for controlling the flow of the fluid. The wing valve is generally disposed
upstream of the
body 52 and can be used to limit or stop the flow of fluid into the body 52.
[0018] Referring to figure 2, the apparatus 50 is illustrated with the
rotatable plug 56 in a
second position for cutting off flow through the apparatus 50. In this
position, the channels of
the rotatable plug 56 are aligned with the inlet 60 and the outlet 64. The
third channel is
directed into the body 52 and effectively plugged. Since the chamber 54 does
not have an open
outlet during use, the fluid would have not outlet and thus the apparatus 50
has stopped the
fluid flow. It is also to be appreciated that in this position, the screen 58
is aligned above the
chamber 54. Accordingly, the ball 100 would be trapped in the rotatable plug
56 and not able to
fall into the chamber 54. In other embodiments, the wing valve 74 can be
omitted and the
position shown in figure 2 can be used to limit flow.
[0019] Referring to figure 3, the apparatus 50 is illustrated with the
rotatable plug 56 in a
third position for preventing the ball 100 from entering the rotatable plug
and isolating the
chamber 54. In this position, the channels of the rotatable plug 56 are
aligned with the inlet 60
and the outlet 62. The third channel is directed into the body 52 and
effectively plugged and the
outlet 64 is effectively plugged isolating the chamber 54 from the fluid flow.
It is also to be
appreciated that in this position, the screen 58 is aligned with the inlet 60
to prevent the ball 100
from entering the rotatable plug. Accordingly, the ball 100 would be blocked
and fluid will flow
pass directly from the inlet 60 to the outlet 62. Furthermore, it is to be
appreciated that in this
position, since the chamber 54 is isolated from the fluid flow, the chamber 54
can be opened at
the cleanout port to remove any balls that may have fallen in without stopping
the flow of fluid.
[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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