CA2876453A1

CA2876453A1 - Apparatus for ball catching

Info

Publication number: CA2876453A1
Application number: CA2876453A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Matthew Webster; Cameron Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-06
Filing date: 2015-01-06
Publication date: 2016-07-06
Also published as: CA2914394A1; CA2914394C

Abstract

An apparatus for ball catching is provided. The apparatus includes a body, a chamber, a diverter, a check valve, a bypass line, a filter screen and a three-way valve.
The apparatus is generally configured to separate and collect balls into a chamber and allow for the removal of collected balls without stopping fluid flow.

Description

Attorney Ref: P4894CA00 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, Attorney Ref P4894CA00 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 Attorney Ref P4894CA00 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 Attorney Ref: P4894CA00 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 Attorney Ref P4894CA00 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.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for ball catching, the apparatus comprising:
a body having an inlet for receiving fluid and at least one ball, a first outlet for delivering the fluid, and a second outlet for delivering the at least one ball;
a chamber in communication with the second outlet, the chamber for receiving the at least one ball;
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;
a check valve disposed downstream of the first outlet for preventing the fluid from flowing into the body via the first outlet; and a bypass line configured to direct the fluid around the body;
a filter screen for preventing the passage of the at least one ball through the bypass line; and a three-way valve configured to direct the fluid to one of the bypass line or the inlet of the body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the check valve is a swing valve.

3. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the chamber includes a drain valve for relieving pressure.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chamber includes a cleanout port for removing the at least one ball.