SUBTERRANEAN BARRIER, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE
First Claim
1. A barrier for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the barrier comprising:
- a body; and
a projection connectable with the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An orientable frac ball for substantially sealing a subterranean formation. Desired orientation can be accomplished by altering the geometry of the ball with one or more features that can be molded with or added to the ball. A projection of any shape on a ball with a length plus ball diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the well bore will prevent the ball from orienting in an undesired position on the seat. This projection can be made of various materials that break or disintegrate when desired to remove the ball from the well bore. During the pump back process in which the balls will need to move through the progressively larger sealing seats, the projection should not hinder the removal process. It will break away or off the ball during this process. Break up features can easily be added to these tail sections. These balls can be dropped with the tail down or tail up. Alternatively, a magnet placed in the frac ball can orient the ball on a metal seat by magnetic attraction.
22 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A barrier for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the barrier comprising:
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a body; and a projection connectable with the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 56)
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20. A system for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
a barrier, wherein the barrier comprises a body and a projection connectable with the body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising at least one seat, the method comprising the steps of:
orienting a barrier comprising a body and a projection connectable with the body so that the barrier is substantially sealingly receivable in the seat. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising at least one seat and a magnet associated with the seat, the method comprising the steps of:
orienting a barrier comprising a body and a magnet so that the barrier is substantially sealingly receivable in the seat. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A barrier for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the barrier comprising:
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a body; and a magnet connectable with the body. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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57. A system for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
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a body; and a magnet connectable with the body. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66)
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67. A composite fracturing ball comprising bismaleimide resin.
Specification