Frac plug with caged ball
US6394180B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B33/167
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.