Sliding sleeve having contracting, segmented ball seat
US9593553B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Mar 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/7781
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.