Shearable Split Ball Seat for Frac Sleeve Port Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing frac sleeve systems face issues where the ball becomes cemented into the ball seat during dissolution, preventing the port from closing effectively, which hinders the controlled flow of fracking fluid in and out of the reservoir.
Innovation Solution
A frac sleeve assembly with a ball seat designed to separate into two halves, allowing the ball to pass through, and a ring assembly with a shifting pin that engages with a protrusion to release the ball from the seat, ensuring the ball can be disintegrated and removed without cementation, enabling proper closure of the port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball is retained at the ball seat to block fluid passage, then the port closure function is improved, but the ball becomes cemented into the ball seat during dissolution, preventing effective port closure
Solution Approach 1:
The ball seat is divided into two separate halves that can move relative to each other. During ball dissolution, the halves separate to prevent cementation, and then come together to securely retain the ball for port closure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the ball seat to transition between retention and prevention modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball seat halves are designed to be dynamically movable rather than fixed. The relative motion between halves is controlled by fluid pressure and mechanical engagement, allowing the system to adapt between securely holding the ball and separating to prevent cementation during dissolution.
2Reliability
If the ball seat is designed to securely retain the ball, then the port closure reliability is improved, but the ball cannot pass through the ball seat during dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the ball seat into two halves that can separate allows the ball to pass through during dissolution while maintaining secure retention capability when halves are engaged. This segmentation enables both ball passage and reliable retention without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball seat structure changes its retention parameters dynamically - when halves are engaged, retention strength is high; when halves separate during dissolution, the ball can pass through. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between secure retention and ball passage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ball seat remains intact during ball dissolution, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the ball becomes cemented and prevents port closure
Solution Approach 1:
The ball seat is segmented into two halves that can separate during dissolution to prevent ball cementation, while each half maintains its structural integrity. The segments re-engage after dissolution to restore full structural integrity for subsequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The relative motion between the two halves acts as an intermediary mechanism that prevents direct contact between the dissolving ball and the fixed ball seat structure, thereby preventing cementation while maintaining overall structural integrity through controlled separation and re-engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
A frac sleeve assembly and method of operation. The frac sleeve assembly includes a ball seat that retains a frac ball. The ball seat moves within a sleeve. The sleeve includes a profile that separates the first half and the second half to allow passage of the frac ball through the ball seat when the ball seat moves within the sleeve. Alternatively, the ball seat has a ring for receiving the frac ball and the sleeve has a protrusion that selectively engages a shifting pin to move the ring with respect to a ridge to release the ball from the ball seat when the ball seat moves within the sleeve.