GB2427634A - Method for catching drop balls - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for selectively retaining drop balls in a tool string is disclosed, the method comprising the steps: (a) inserting in a tool string 12 a ball catcher 10 including a first bore 26 having retaining means and a second bore 28b passing therethrough, the bores including an overlapping portion to provide a channel therebetween; (b) dropping a first ball 50 of a first diameter through the tool string; (c) directing the first ball 50 into the first bore 26; and (d) retaining the first ball 50 in the first bore 26. The method may also include the steps (a) dropping a second ball of a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter through the tool string; (b) directing the second ball into the first bore 26; (c) passing the second ball through the channel into the second bore 28; and (d) releasing the second ball from the ball catcher 10 into the tool string.

Description

1 Downhole Tool 3 The present invention relates to downhole tools for use

4 in oil and gas wells and in particular, though not exclusively, to a downhole tool for selectively catching 6 drop balls in a well bore.

8 It is well known in the art to use drop balls to perform 9 functions within a well bore. Resilient balls, typically made of rubber, have been used to wipe the inner surface 11 of the well bore or tool string as the ball moves 12 downwardly or to separate fluids. Hard balls, typically 13 made of steel, are used to reset tools by blocking flow 14 through the tool and by a build up of pressure, causing movement of one part of the tool in relation to another.

16 An example of such a tool is a circulation tool, wherein 17 radial ports are provided in the tool body and in a 18 sleeve within the tool body. The sleeve is fixed in 19 position with the ports misaligned so that fluid flow is initially through a central bore of the tool. A drop ball 21 is released into the tool string and by sealing against 22 the sleeve, causes the sleeve to move relative to the 23 body. On movement the radial ports align and fluid is now 1 jetted radially from the tool. Improvements to these 2 tools have been on providing mechanisms where the ball 3 can fall through the tool so that the tool can be cyclic 4 in operation.

6 Once a drop ball is released from a tool or has completed 7 its function in a well bore it is necessary to catch or 8 retain the drop ball in the tool string so that it may be 9 brought back up to the surface. Simple ball catchers merely comprise a bar or pin extending across the central 11 bore of the tool string providing a bypass for fluid but 12 preventing the balls from travelling any further. The 13 main disadvantage of such catchers are that after a 14 number of balls are caught fluid flow is impeded as the fluid has to travel in a tortuous path around the balls.

17 US 5,127,472 discloses a ball catcher which allows fluid 18 flow around the balls, by providing a tube within the 19 tool string into which the balls locate. The tube includes radially ports so that fluid can flow from the 2]. central bore out of the tube, into an annulus between the 22 tube and the tool string. This ball catcher is limited to 23 operating only with resilient balls. Further this ball 24 catcher cannot be used in a tool string where a tool located below the ball catcher requires to be operated by 26 a ball.

28 Applicants co-pending UK Patent Application 0308080.1 29 discloses an actuating mechanism wherein drop balls can actuate a first tool in a tool string, then be released 31 and actuate a second tool below the first tool. The main 32 disadvantage of this mechanism is that the second tool 33 must be operated at the time the drop ball is released 1 from the first tool. This limits the Application to use 2 in sequentially operated tools.

4 It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball catcher for use in a tool string which selectively 6 retains drop balls or allows them to pass through the 7 catcher.

9 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ball catcher for use in a tool string which 11 includes a bypass for fluid and allows selected drop 12 balls to pass therethrough.

14 It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a ball catcher for use in a 16 tool string which includes a bore which a wireline or 17 tubing deployed tool can pass therethrough.

19 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ball catcher for selectively 21 retaining drop balls in a tool string, the ball catcher 22 comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a main 23 bore running axially therethrough, at least a portion of 24 the main bore being restrained to a first and a second bore running axially therethrough, the first and second 26 bores being parallel and wherein the first bore includes 27 restriction means at an end thereof.

29 Preferably the first and second bores are partially overlapping to provide a channel therebetween.

32 Thus a ball of a first diameter falling into the first 33 bore will be retained if the diameter is greater than the 1 width of the channel. If the first diameter is equal to 2 or less than the width of the channel it will move to the 3 second bore and be released from the catcher. The second 4 bore provides free passage through the catcher for fluid, and selected drop balls.

7 Preferably the main bore is located centrally on the 8 body. In this way the first and second bores can be 9 provided on a cylindrical insert, held by a pin or other retaining means.

12 Preferably the portion of the main bore includes an entry 13 port. More preferably the entry port has a first aperture 14 equal to the diameter of the first bore and a second aperture having a diameter less than the diameter of the 16 first bore, the apertures being aligned with the first 17 and second bores respectively. In this way larger balls 18 are directed towards the first bore for retention in the 19 catcher, while smaller balls can fall through the second bore.

22 Advantageously the entry port is inclined with respect to 23 the main bore. In this way balls can run into the first 24 aperture.

26 Preferably the second aperture has a diameter 27 substantially equal to the width of the channel.

29 Preferably the restraining means is a third bore coaxially aligned with the first bore and having a 31 diameter less than the diameter of the first bore.

1 Advantageously the second bore is located centrally on 2 the body. Thus the main bore and second bore may be 3 coaxial. Such an embodiment provides for passage of a 4 wireline or other tubing deployed tool through the ball catcher.

7 According to a second aspect of the present invention 8 there is provided a method of selectively retaining drop 9 balls in a tool string, comprising the steps: 11 (a) inserting in a tool string a ball catcher including 12 a first bore having retaining means and a second 13 bore passing therethrough, the bores including an 14 overlapping portion to provide a channel therebetween; 16 (b) dropping a first ball of a first diameter through 17 the tool string; 18 (c) directing the first ball into the first bore; and 19 (d) retaining the first ball in the first bore.

21 Preferably the method further includes the steps of: 23 (a) dropping a second ball of a second diameter, the 24 second diameter being smaller than the first diameter through the tool string; 26 (b) directing the second ball into the first bore; 27 (c) passing the second ball through the channel into the 28 second bore; and 29 (d) releasing the second ball from the ball catcher into the tool string.

32 Optionally the method may further include the steps: 1 (a) dropping a second ball of a second diameter, the 2 second diameter being smaller than the first 3 diameter through the tool string; 4 (b) passing the second ball through the second bore; and (c) releasing the second ball from the ball catcher into 6 the tool string.

8 Further the method may include the step of passing a tool 9 through the second bore into the tool string below the ball catcher.

12 Preferably the method includes the step of actuating a 13 tool above the ball catcher with the first ball.

14 Preferably also the method includes the step of actuating a tool below the ball catcher with the second ball.

17 Preferably also the steps may be repeated in any 18 sequence. Thus a first tool located above a second tool 19 can be actuated after the second tool is actuated.

21 It will be appreciated that although reference is made in 22 relative terms to upper and lower, top and bottom, that 23 the present invention could be used in a well bore which 24 is vertical, inclined or horizontal wherein the drop balls are carried by fluid pressure.

27 An embodiment of the present invention will now be 28 described, by way of example only, with reference to the 29 following drawings of which: 31 Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a ball 32 catcher according to an embodiment of the present 33 invention; 2 Figure 2 is a view through the ball catcher of 3 Figure 1 from above; Figure 3 is a sectional view through the ball 6 catcher of Figure 1 at line B-B; 8 Figure 4 is a sectional view through a ball catcher 9 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 12 Figure 5 is a schematic view of a tool string 13 including the embodiment of a ball catcher as in 14 Figure 4.

16 Reference is initially made to Figure 1 of the drawings 17 which illustrates a ball catcher, generally indicated by 18 reference numeral 10, in accordance with an embodiment of 19 the present invention. Tool 10 includes a cylindrical body 12 having an upper end 14, a lower end 16 and a 21 cylindrical bore 18 running therethrough. In this 22 embodiment, bore 18 is located centrally through the tool 23 10. The body 12 has a box section 20 located at the 24 upper end 14 and a pin section 22 located at the lower end 16 for connecting the tool 10 in a tool string, work 26 string or drill string (not shown).

28 Within the cylindrical bore 18 there is located an inner 29 cylindrical body 24. The inner body 24 fills the bore 18.

The inner body 24 is held in place by abutting a shoulder 31 23 in the bore 18 on the body 12. Within the body 24 are 32 two cylindrical bores, a first bore 26 and a second bore 33 28. Referring now to Figure 3 where the bores are shown 1 more clearly in cross-section. The second bore 28 has a 2 greater diameter than the first bore 26. The bores 26,28 3 overlap to provide a channel 30 between them. Thus an 4 object having a diameter smaller than the width of the channel 30 can pass between the bores 26,28.

7 At the upper end 14 of the tool there is located a plate 8 32. Plate 32 can further be seen with the aid of Figure 9 2. Plate 32 is located across the top of the first and second bores 26, 28. Plate 32 is inclined to the central 11 bore 18. The angle of inclination is approximately 45 12 degrees. The low side 34 of the plate 32 is above the 13 first bore 26 and the high side 36 of the plate is above 14 the second bore 28. In this way any drop ball landing on the plate 32 will fall towards the low side 34 and the 16 first bore 26. Plate 32 includes two circular apertures 17 38,40. Aperture 38 is aligned with the first bore 26 and 18 has a diameter equal to the diameter of the first bore 19 26. Aperture 40 is smaller in diameter than aperture 38 and smaller in diameter than the first bore 26. Thus only 21 drop balls having a diameter equal to or less than the 22 diameter of the second aperture 40 can pass through it.

23 The second aperture 40 is aligned with the second bore 24 28. In a preferred embodiment the diameter of aperture 40 is equal to the width of the channel 30.

27 Towards the lower end 16, at the bottom 42 of the first 28 bore 26, there is located a third bore 44. Third bore 44 29 is located co-axially with the first bore 26. Third bore 44 has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of 31 the first bore 26. An upper surface 46 of the third bore 32 44 is also inclined, but with a low side 48 directed 33 towards the second bore 28. The surface 46 may provide a 1 keyhole profile to aid the passage of fluid through the 2 ball catcher 10.

4 Though the bores 26,28 are shown parallel to, but off-set from the axis of the central bore 18, it will be 6 appreciated that the bores 26,28 can be located anywhere 7 in the central bore 18. Thus in a further embodiment the 8 second bore 28 is located centrally and co-axially with 9 the central bore 18 to provide a central passage running axially through the ball catcher. This is illustrated in 11 Figure 4, this embodiment provides for the passage of 12 tools through the ball catcher 10.

14 Referring to Figure 4, like parts to those of Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference numeral with the 16 suffix "a". The second bore 28a is located centrally to 17 the body 12a. This has resulted in the insert 24a 18 extending over part of the bore and having a semi- 19 cylindrical or scalloped portion removed to provide the first bore 26a. The first bore 26a extends eccentrically 21 into the wall of the body 12a. This is required due to 22 the dimensions of the ball (s)/wireline tools to be used.

23 The insert 24a is now held in place by an 24 orientating/locking pin 15 located through the body l2a and screwed into the insert 24a. A teflon plug 17 is 26 located behind the pin.

28 In this embodiment, the channel 30a is insufficient for 29 balls to pass therebetween and, as a result, this embodiment is limited to providing a central bore 28a for 31 the passage of tools and/or balls having a diameter equal 32 to or less than the diameter of the second bore 28a.

33 Balls of a larger diameter enter the first bore 26a and 1 will be held in this bore by restriction means at an end 2 (not shown) 4 In use, ball catcher 10 is located in a tool string using the box section 20 and the pin section 22. Fluid can pass 6 through the ball catcher 10 using bores 18, 28, 28 and/or 7 44, thus an unimpeded flow path is provided.

9 When a ball 50 enters the ball catcher 10 at the upper end 14, it will be forced against plate 32. As the 11 diameter of the ball 50 is greater than the diameter of 12 the aperture 40, the ball 50 will slide down the face of 13 plate 32 and fall through aperture 38. The ball 50 then 14 falls through the first bore 26 and is prevented from moving across the channel 30 to second bore 28 as its 16 diameter is greater than the width of the channel 30. At 17 the end 42 of the first bore 26, the ball 50 will be 18 stopped at the upper surface 46 of the third bore 44 as 19 the diameter of the ball 50 is greater than the diameter of the third bore 44. The ball 50 is thus retained in the 21 ball catcher 10. As can be seen in Figure 1, a number of 22 balls having a similar diameter to ball 50 can be 23 retained in the ball catcher 10.

When a ball 52 enters the ball catcher 10 at the upper 26 end 14, it will be forced against plate 32. As the 27 diameter of the ball 52 is equal to the diameter of the 28 aperture 40, the ball 52 will fall through aperture 40 if 29 it meets plate 32 on the high side 36. However, if the ball 52 meets the plate 32 on the low side 34, it will 31 fall through the larger aperture 40. If the ball 52 has 32 fallen through the aperture 40 it will enter the second 33 bore 28 where it has an unimpeded path through the ball 1 catcher 10 for release out of the ball catcher 10 at the 2 lower end 16. If the ball 52 falls through the aperture 3 38 it will pass into the first bore 26. From the first 4 bore 26 it may move through the channel 30 as its diameter is smaller than the width of the channel 30, and 6 enter the second bore 28. From here the it has an 7 unimpeded path through the ball catcher 10 for release B out of the ball catcher 10 at the lower end 16. If the 9 ball 52 rests in the first bore 26, it can be urged into the second bore by rotating the ball catcher 10 by virtue 11 of rotation of the tool string.

13 Thus the passage of a ball through the ball catcher is 14 selectively determined from the diameter of the ball relative to the diameter of the smaller aperture 40 and 16 the width of the channel 30.

18 Reference is now made to Figure 5 of the drawings which 19 illustrates a tool string, generally indicated by reference numeral 60, including a ball catcher 62 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention, 22 located in a well bore 64. Tool string 60 also includes a 23 drop ball activated circulation tool 66, a drop ball 24 activated packer 68 and a conventional ball catcher 70.

Ball catcher 62, part shown in cross-sectional view, is 26 located between the circulation tool 66 and the packer 27 68.

29 Ball catcher 62 is as described hereinbefore with reference to Figure 4 having the second bore 72 centrally 31 located on the longitudinal axis of the tool string 60.

32 First bore 74 is thus offset from the longitudinal axis.

1 Circulation tool 66 is a conventional drop ball 2 circulation tool having radially ports 76 which can 3 circulate fluid out of the tool when an inner sleeve 4 having matching radial ports is suitably aligned. The inner sleeve is moved by virtue of a drop ball, the drop 6 ball being expelled from the tool after the tool has been 7 actuated. The tool may further provide cyclic circulation 8 in an on-off or off-on configuration by repeated dropping 9 of balls of a diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of the first bore 74.

12 Packer 68 is as known in the art and operated by virtue 13 of a drop ball having a diameter equal to or smaller than 14 the diameter of the second bore 72.

16 In use, the tool string 60 is run in well bore 64. At any 17 desired location either the circulation tool 66 or the 18 packer 68 can be actuated by dropping a suitable sized 19 ball into the tool string 60. Packer 68 can be operated first if desired. Indeed either tool 66,68 can be 21 operated in any sequence by virtue of choice of diameter 22 of the drop ball chosen. The drop balls will be collected 23 in the ball catcher 62 if they have a diameter equal to 24 the diameter of the first bore 74 and have been used to actuate the circulation tool 66. The balls will be caught 26 in the lower ball catcher 70 if they have been used to 27 actuate the packer 68. Actuation of the packer is thus 28 done from the surface of the well bore and is independent 29 of the operation of the circulation tool 66. Further as the second bore 76 is located on the longitudinal axis a 31 wireline 78 can be passed through the tool string 60 to a 32 position below the ball catcher 62.

1 Wireline 78 could be a string including further tools.

2 For example, tools required to recover radioactive 3 sources, downhole monitoring tools, explosive deployment 4 tools and gyro tools for directional surveying.

6 The principal advantage of the present invention is that 7 it provides a ball catcher which can selectively retain 8 or allow balls to pass therethrough. A further advantage 9 of the present invention is that it may provide a ball catcher in which a wireline or tool deploying string can 11 pass therethrough. A yet further advantage of the present 12 invention is that it provides a ball catcher which 13 permits a drop ball actuated tool located below it to be 14 operated before a drop ball actuated tool located above it.

17 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 18 modifications may be made to the invention 19 hereindescribed without departing from the scope thereof.

In particular the diameter of the second bore can be of 21 any diameter to suit the flow path required through the 22 ball catcher. The ball catcher may also be incorporated 23 as an integral part of a tool to allow selective 24 operation of the tool without interrupting operation of other tools located at any point on the tool string.

Claims (7)

1 CLAIMS 3 1. A method of selectively retaining drop balls in a 4 tool

string, comprising the steps: 6 (a) inserting in a tool string a ball catcher 7 including a first bore having retaining means 8 and a second bore passing therethrough, the 9 bores including an overlapping portion to provide a channel therebetween; 11 (b) dropping a first ball of a first diameter 12 through the tool string; 13 (c) directing the first ball into the first bore; 14 and (d) retaining the first ball in the first bore.

17

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the method 18 further includes the steps of: (a) dropping a second ball of a second diameter, 21 the second diameter being smaller than the 22 first diameter through the tool string; 23 (b) directing the second ball into the first bore; 24 (c) passing the second ball through the channel into the second bore; and 26 (d) releasing the second ball from the ball catcher 27 into the tool string.

29

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the method further includes the steps: 1 (a) dropping a second ball of a second diameter, 2 the second diameter being smaller than the 3 first diameter through the tool string; 4 (b) passing the second ball through the second bore; and 6 (c) releasing the second ball from the ball catcher 7 into the tool string.

9

4. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the method includes the step of passing a tool 11 through the second bore into the tool string below 12 the ball catcher.

14

5. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the method includes the step of actuating a tool 16 above the ball catcher with the first ball.

18

6. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, 19 wherein the method includes the step of actuating a tool below the ball catcher with the second ball.

22

7. A method of selectively retaining drop balls 23 substantially as described herein, with reference to 24 and as shown in the accompanying drawings.