Ball seat apparatus and method
View Patent ↗A ball seat assembly includes a tubular having a bore therethrough; an entry port in fluid communication with the bore; a plurality of exit ports in fluid communication with the entry port; a ball seat disposed in the each of the plurality of exit ports, wherein the ball seat is configured to receive a ball to block fluid flow through the respective exit port; and a diverter configured to block fluid flow through the bore and direct fluid flow from the bore to the entry port.
1. A ball seat assembly, comprising:
a tubular having a bore therethrough;
an entry port in fluid communication with the bore;
a plurality of exit ports in fluid communication with the entry port;
a ball seat disposed in each of the plurality of exit ports, wherein the ball seat is configured to receive a ball to block fluid flow through the respective exit port and wherein the ball seat is configured so that the ball occupying the ball seat is situated to guide a next ball to land in an unoccupied ball seat; and
a diverter configured to block fluid flow through the bore and direct fluid flow from the bore to the entry port.
2. The ball seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the total flow area of the plurality of exit ports is more than the flow area of the entry port.
3. The ball seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a flow tube disposed in the bore, wherein the flow tube includes a tube port for communicating with the entry port.
4. The ball seat assembly of claim 3 , wherein the diverter is disposed in the flow tube.
5. The ball seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flow tube is selectively connected to the tubular.
6. The ball seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the diverter is selectively connected to the flow tube.
7. The ball seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the entry port is formed in a wall of the tubular.
8. The ball seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diverter is releasable from the tubular to allow fluid flow through the bore.
9. An apparatus for controlling fluid flow through a tubular, comprising:
the tubular having a bore therethrough;
an inlet in fluid communication with the bore;
a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the inlet;
a flow tube disposed in the bore, wherein the flow tube includes a tube port for communicating with the inlet;
a flow tube disposed in the bore and releasably connected to the tubular, wherein the flow tube includes a tube port for communicating with the inlet and wherein the flow tube is releasable from the tubular to close communication between the tube port and the inlet; and
a diverter releasably connected to the tubular and configured to block fluid flow through the bore and direct fluid flow through the inlet, wherein the total flow area of the plurality of outlets is more than the flow area of the inlet, wherein the diverter is releasable from the tubular to allow fluid flow through the bore.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the inlet is formed in a wall of the tubular.
11. A method of controlling fluid flow through a tubular, comprising:
flowing a fluid through a bore of the tubular;
directing the fluid in the bore to flow through an entry port;
flowing the fluid out of the entry port through a plurality of exit ports; and
blocking flow through each of the plurality of exit ports by landing a ball in each of the plurality of exit ports, thereby blocking fluid communication through the entry port.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising opening the bore for fluid flow after blocking each of the plurality of exit ports.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of exit ports are sequentially blocked.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising guiding a second ball into an un-occupied exit port.
15. A method of operating a motor assembly having a power section, comprising:
flowing a fluid through a bore of the power section;
blocking fluid flow through the bore to cause the fluid in the bore to flow through an entry port;
flowing the fluid out of the entry port through a plurality of exit ports; and
operating the power section using the fluid from the plurality of exit ports.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
blocking fluid flow through each of the plurality of exit ports;
increasing pressure to open the bore for fluid flow therethrough.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein blocking each of the plurality of exit ports comprises landing a ball in each of the plurality of exit ports.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising guiding a second ball into an un-occupied exit port.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein fluid flowing through the bore after opening comprises cement.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein fluid directed into the entry port comprises drilling fluid.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the entry port is formed in a wall of the tubular.