BALL SEAT SUB

• US 20100084146A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Inventors: Roberts, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/386
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/142 unsupported or free-falling elements, e.g. balls, plugs, darts or pistons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/10 Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells

Abstract

A downhole tool for providing a pressure differential between sub-assemblies, the downhole tool including an elongated body, a tubular assembly disposed within the elongated body, the tubular assembly including a central flowbore with an inner diameter and a central longitudinal axis, a camming device, an actuator member located below the tubular assembly, having a dual-bore configuration, the actuator member including a first bore, a second bore, and a concave seating surface formed within the second bore for receiving a obstructing device, wherein the first bore and the second bore are oriented 90 degrees to one another so that fluid may flow through the actuator while it is in either a first or a second position, and a stationary sleeve concentrically disposed between the actuator member and the elongated body is disclosed.

Claims

1. A downhole tool for providing a pressure differential between sub-assemblies comprising:

an elongated body;

a tubular assembly disposed within the elongated body, the tubular assembly comprising;

a central flowbore with an inner diameter, and

a central longitudinal axis;

a camming device;

an actuator member located below the tubular assembly, having a dual-bore configuration, the actuator member comprising;

a first bore;

a second bore; and

a concave seating surface formed within the first bore for receiving an obstructing device,

wherein the first bore and the second bore are oriented 90 degrees to one another so that fluid may flow through the actuator while it is in either a first or a second position; and

a stationary sleeve concentrically disposed between the actuator member and the elongated body.

2. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the camming device connects the actuator member to the stationary sleeve, wherein the actuator member is configured to rotate from the first position to the second position around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

3. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the obstructing device is a drop ball.

4. The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the camming device comprises:

a plurality of inwardly facing camming pins disposed on an inner surface of the stationary sleeve;

a plurality of corresponding cam slots disposed within the actuator member for slidably engaging the plurality of camming pins;

a plurality of outwardly facing protrusions oppositely disposed on an exterior of the actuator member; and

a plurality of holding grooves disposed within the stationary sleeve for mating with the protrusions.

5. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first bore further comprises:

an upper portion having a first inner diameter substantially equivalent to the inner diameter of the central flowbore;

a transition portion; and

a lower portion having a tapered inner diameter that tapers inwardly at an angle to form the seating surface.

6. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first bore further comprises:

an upper portion having a first inner diameter substantially equivalent to the inner diameter of the central flowbore;

a conical transition portion; and

a lower portion having a tapered inner diameter that tapers inwardly at an angle to form the seating surface.

7. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the concave seating surface is conical.

8. The downhole tool of claim 2, wherein the downhole tool further comprises:

a sliding sleeve disposed within the elongated body and located below the actuator member, and

a frangible connection configured to secure the actuator member in the first position.

9. The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein the frangible connection comprises a shearing device.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9, wherein a pressure differential caused by the obstructing device creates a force on the sliding sleeve that exceeds a predetermined set point of the shearing device.

11. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated body further comprises:

a first cylindrical housing in contact with a lower portion of an upper sub, wherein an energizer is disposed concentrically between the first cylindrical housing and a portion of the tubular assembly;

a second cylindrical housing; and

a coupler for coupling the first housing to the second housing.

12. The downhole tool of claim 11, wherein the tubular assembly further comprises:

a shoulder; and

a lower end in contact with an upper surface of the actuator member,

wherein the energizer comprises a spring configured to exert a downward force on the shoulder.

13. The downhole tool of claim 4, wherein the actuator member further comprises:

a mechanical stop configured to prevent over-rotation of the actuator member.

14. A method of operating a downhole tool for providing a pressure differential between sub-assemblies, the method comprising:

running a setting tool downhole tool to a desired location in a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising;

an elongated body;

a tubular assembly disposed within the elongated body, the tubular assembly further comprising;

a central flowbore with an inner diameter, and

a central longitudinal axis;

a camming device;

an actuator member having a dual-bore configuration, the actuator member further comprising;

a first bore;

a second bore;

a concave seating surface formed within the first bore for receiving an obstructing device; and

a stationary sleeve disposed between the actuator member and the elongated body, wherein the actuator member is aligned axially in a first position and located below the tubular assembly;

circulating a fluid through the central flowbore;

disposing the obstructing device into the fluid,

wherein the fluid guides the obstructing device into the seating surface; and

providing a pressure differential between an upper sub and a lower sub to activate the downhole tool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the camming device connects the actuator member to the stationary sleeve, wherein the actuator member is configured to rotate from the first position to a second position around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second bore further comprises:

an upper portion having a first inner diameter substantially equivalent to the inner diameter of the central flowbore;

a transition portion; and

a lower portion having a tapered inner diameter that tapers inwardly at an angle to form the seating surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the downhole tool further comprises:

a sliding sleeve disposed within the elongated body and located below the actuator member, and

a frangible connection configured to secure the actuator member in the first position.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising the further steps of:

actuating a second downhole tool.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second downhole tool is a liner hanger.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

increasing a pressure of the fluid in the central flowbore; and

rotating the actuator member from the first position to a second position.