Abrasion resistant frac head

• US 6,899,172 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Isolation Equipment Services Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jerry A. Johnson, Roderick D. Mcleod
• Inventors: Johnson, Jerry A., McLeod, Roderick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/461,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 166/90.1, 166/95.1, 166/85.4, 166/72, 166/383, 166/379, 166/77.4
• US Class Current: 166/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/068 having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells cementing-heads E21B33/05
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations

Abstract

A frac head comprising a main body with plural side entries oriented around the main body such that flow from each of the side entries meets flow from an opposing side entry in the internal bore. A replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve is secured in the internal bore of the main body downstream of the side entries and positioned to intercept flow from the side entries and prevent the flow from impacting directly on material of the main body. The side entries terminate at the internal bore equidistantly from the lower end of the main body, and are symmetrically arranged around the main body. The side entries are oriented at about 45° to the downstream direction. The replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve is held against movement downstream by abutment of a shoulder on the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve against a shoulder on the frac body, and has a tapered internal bore.

Claims

1. A frac head, comprising:

a main body having a lower end, an upper end, and an internal bore;

plural side entries oriented around the main body such that flow from each of the side entries meets flow from an opposing side entry in the internal bore;

the plural side entries being oriented to produce a flow in a downstream direction through the internal bore towards the lower end of the main body; and

a replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve secured in the internal bore downstream of the side entries and positioned to intercept flow from the side entries and prevent the flow from impacting directly on material of the main body.

2. The frac head of claim 1 in which the side entries terminate at the internal bore equidistantly from the lower end of the main body.

3. The frac head of claim 1 in which the side entries are symmetrically arranged around the main body.

4. The frac head of claim 1 in which the side entries are uniformly spaced around the main body.

5. The frac head of claim 1 in which the side entries are oriented at an angle of between 15°

and 60°

to the downstream direction.

6. The frac head of claim 5 in which the side entries are oriented at an angle of between 30°

and 45°

to the downstream direction.

7. The frac head of claim 1 in which the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve is held against movement downstream by abutment of a shoulder on the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve against a shoulder on the frac body.

8. The frac head of claim 1 in which the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve has a sleeve internal bore, and the sleeve internal bore is tapered, being narrower in the downstream direction.

9. The frac head of claim 7 in which the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve has an outer surface, and the outer surface has an inward step forming the shoulder on the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve.

10. The frac head of claim 8 in which the tapered sleeve internal bore is tapered at an angle between 10°

and 20°

to the downstream direction.

11. The frac head of claim 1 in which:

the main body has a face at the lower end that incorporates openings for receiving fasteners to secure the main body on a wellhead; and

the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve terminates downward flush with the face.

12. The frac head of claim 1 in which the side entries have internal channels and the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve terminates upwardly flush with lower edges of the internal channels of the side entries.

13. A frac head, comprising:

a main body having a lower end, an upper end, and an internal bore;

plural side entries distributed around the main body to provide flow into the internal bore;

the plural side entries being oriented to produce a flow in a downstream direction through the internal bore towards the lower end of the main body; and

a replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve secured in the internal bore downstream of the side entries and positioned to intercept flow from the side entries and prevent the flow from impacting directly on material of the main body.

14. The frac head of claim 13 in which the side entries are oriented at an angle of 45°

to the downstream direction.

15. The frac head of claim 14 in which the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve is held against movement downstream by abutment of a shoulder on the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve against a shoulder on the frac body.

16. The frac head of claim 15 in which the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve has a sleeve internal bore, and the sleeve internal bore is tapered, being narrower in the downstream direction.

17. The frac head of claim 16 in which the taper of the sleeve internal bore is between 10°

and 20°

to the downstream direction.

18. The frac head of claim 17 in which:

the main body has a face at the lower end that incorporates openings for receiving fasteners to secure the main body on a wellhead; and

the replaceable abrasion resistant wear sleeve terminates downward flush with the face.