Flow Controlled Ball Release Tool for Horizontal Wellbore Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the oil and gas industry, it is challenging to achieve the necessary flow rates to carry wellbore projectiles through extended horizontal wellbores with tight surrounding formations, making it difficult to actuate sliding sleeves for hydraulic fracturing.
Innovation Solution
A ball release tool that includes a body with a flow passageway and releasable flow ports, allowing a ball to be carried downhole and released at a target baffle, using increased fluid pressure to actuate the sliding sleeve from a closed to an open position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fluid flow rate is increased to carry wellbore projectiles through extended horizontal wellbores, then the ability to reach target baffles improves, but the difficulty of achieving sufficient flow rates in tight formations worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ball release tool as an intermediary device that holds the wellbore projectile (ball) and releases it at the precise location of the target baffle. This mediator allows the ball to be transported through the challenging horizontal section without requiring high flow rates throughout the entire wellbore, as the ball is released close to the target rather than being carried the full distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball release tool performs preliminary action by pre-positioning and holding the ball at the release location before it is needed. The ball is carried to the vicinity of the target baffle on the ball release tool and held there until release, rather than being carried all the way to the target through the challenging formation. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for high flow rates through the tight formation section.
2Ease of operation
If conventional ball drop systems are used to sequentially drop projectiles from surface, then zone isolation and stimulation is achieved, but the difficulty of achieving necessary flow rates in tight formations worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The ball release tool serves as an intermediary that eliminates the need for high flow rates through tight formations while maintaining the ability to isolate and stimulate zones. By releasing the ball at the target location rather than dropping it from surface, the system achieves zone isolation capability without being constrained by formation resistance to high flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical ball drop system (which relies on high flow rates to carry balls from surface) with a controlled release mechanism. Instead of relying on fluid flow to transport the ball through the entire wellbore, the system uses a mechanical release tool that positions and releases the ball at the precise location, substituting the flow-dependent transport mechanism with a controlled release mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective actuation of sliding sleeves in horizontal wellbores, even in tight formations, by ensuring the ball is released and seated on the target baffle, allowing for proper fluid communication and hydraulic fracturing operations.
Implementation Method 1
pressure of a fluid introduced into the flow passageway is increased to release the ball from the body
Implementation Method 2
The flow ports may be used to circulate a flow of a fluid through the ball release tool at a relatively low pressure while running the ball release tool downhole
Data Source
AI summary
A ball release tool includes a body providing a first end and a second end, and defining a flow passageway extending between the first and second ends. A ball is releasably coupled to the body at the second end. One or more flow ports are defined in the body and in fluid communication with the flow passageway, wherein pressure of a fluid introduced into the flow passageway is increased to release the ball from the body.