IP Library Granted Patent US 12680416
Granted Patent B2
US 12680416 · App. 18/776,157 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Downhole tool and method of use

Inventors: Ryan Patrick Malone (Houston, TX); Carl Martin (Cypress, TX)
Assignee: The WellBoss Company, LLC
E21B33/1285E21B33/1208E21B33/129
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680416
App. No.
18/776,157
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A downhole tool suitable for use in a wellbore, the tool having a mandrel with an inner flowbore extending therethrough from a proximate end to a distal end. There is a ball seat in the inner flowbore, and a groove disposed in the inner flowbore in association with the ball seat. A compressible member is disposed in the groove.

Claims (50)

1 . A downhole tool for use in a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:

a mandrel comprising:

a distal end; a proximate end having a furthermost end; an outer surface; an inner flowbore extending therethrough from the proximate end to the distal end; a ball seat in the inner flowbore; a ball seat groove formed in the inner flowbore between the furthermost end and the ball seat; and a compressible member disposed in the ball seat groove,

a first slip disposed around the mandrel;

a first cone disposed around the mandrel; and

a sealing element disposed around the mandrel;

wherein the ball seat comprises a seat portion that results in a first inner diameter of a first portion of the inner flowbore differentiated in a size from a second inner diameter of a second portion of the inner flowbore,

wherein a ball is positioned within the ball seat in a manner to form a first contact point against the ball from the compressible member, and also a second contact point against the ball directly from the ball seat,

wherein on a first lateral reference, the ball seat groove comprises a groove midpoint,

wherein on a second lateral reference, the ball has a ball midpoint,

wherein during a pressurization sequence, the groove midpoint is offset from the ball midpoint, and

wherein a convergence gap is formed between the first contact point and the second contact point.

2 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is movable from a run-in configuration to a set configuration, and wherein the pressurization sequence occurs when the downhole tool is in the set configuration.

3 . The downhole tool of claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal length of distance between the groove midpoint and the furthermost end is in a length range of at least 0.1 inches to no more than 0.9 inches.

4 . The downhole tool of claim 3 , wherein the compressible member comprises an o-ring.

5 . The downhole tool of claim 4 , wherein the convergence gap is formed between a surface of the ball and a curvilinear portion of the ball seat that, the curvilinear portion ending at a radial seat surface having a radial.

6 . The downhole tool of claim 1 , wherein the compressible member comprises an o-ring.

7 . A downhole tool for use in a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:

a mandrel comprising:

a distal end; a proximate end; an outer surface; an inner flowbore extending therethrough from the proximate end to the distal end; a ball seat in the inner flowbore, and a ball seat groove formed in the inner flowbore proximate the ball seat; and a compressible member disposed in the ball seat groove,

a first slip disposed around the mandrel;

a first cone disposed around the mandrel; and

a sealing element disposed around the mandrel;

wherein the outer surface of the mandrel is void of threads, and

wherein the ball seat comprises a transition portion that results in a first inner diameter of a first portion of the inner flowbore differentiated in a size from a second inner diameter of a second portion of the inner flowbore, and wherein a ball is configured to be positioned within the ball seat in contact with the compressible member.

8 . The downhole tool of claim 7 , wherein on a first lateral reference, the ball seat groove comprises a groove midpoint, wherein on a second lateral reference, the ball has a ball midpoint, and wherein during a pressurization sequence, the groove midpoint is offset from the ball midpoint.

9 . The downhole tool of claim 8 , wherein the proximate end further comprises a furthermost end, wherein the first inner diameter is smaller than the second inner diameter, and wherein the first inner diameter of the first portion between a lower end of the ball seat and the distal end is constant.

10 . The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein any component of the downhole tool is made of a dissolvable metal-based material, and wherein a longitudinal length of distance between the groove midpoint and the furthermost end is in a length range of at least 0.1 inches to no more than 0.9 inches.

11 . The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the downhole tool is movable from a run-in configuration to a set configuration, and wherein the pressurization sequence occurs when the downhole tool is in the set configuration.

12 . The downhole tool of claim 7 , wherein a ball is positioned within the ball seat in a manner to form a first contact point against the ball, but not from the ball seat, and also a second contact point against the ball directly from the ball seat, and wherein a convergence gap is formed between the first contact point and the second contact point, and also formed between a surface of the ball and a curvilinear portion of the ball seat, the curvilinear portion ending at a radial seat surface having a radial.

13 . The downhole tool of claim 12 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a lower sleeve coupled with the first slip, wherein at least one of the lower sleeve, the first slip, and combinations thereof, are engaged with the mandrel in an unset position, and wherein the compressible member comprises an o-ring.

14 . The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein on a first lateral reference, the groove comprises a groove midpoint, wherein on a second lateral reference, the ball has a ball midpoint, and wherein during a pressurization sequence, the groove midpoint is offset from the ball midpoint.

15 . A downhole tool for use in a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:

a mandrel comprising:

a distal end; a proximate end having a furthermost end; an outer surface; an inner flowbore extending through the mandrel from the proximate end to the distal end; a ball seat in the inner flowbore; a ball seat groove formed in the inner flowbore between the furthermost end and the ball seat; and a compressible member disposed in the ball seat groove,

a first slip disposed around the mandrel;

a lower sleeve coupled with the first slip;

a first cone disposed around the mandrel; and

a sealing element disposed around the mandrel,

wherein a ball is configured to be positioned within the ball seat

wherein on a first lateral reference, the ball seat groove comprises a groove midpoint,

wherein on a second lateral reference, the ball has a ball midpoint,

wherein during a pressurization sequence, the groove midpoint is offset from the ball midpoint

wherein the downhole tool is movable from a run-in configuration to a set configuration, and

wherein the pressurization sequence occurs when the downhole tool is in the set configuration.

16 . The downhole tool of claim 15 , wherein any component of the downhole tool is made of a dissolvable metal-based material.

17 . The downhole tool of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the lower sleeve, the slip, and combinations thereof, are engaged with the mandrel in the run-in configuration, and wherein a longitudinal length of the downhole tool after being moved to the set configuration is in a set length range of at least 5 inches to no more than 15 inches.

18 . The downhole tool of claim 17 , wherein the outer surface of the mandrel is void of threads.

19 . The downhole tool of claim 18 , wherein the ball seat is defined by a first portion of the inner flowbore having a first inner diameter smaller than another portion of the inner flowbore having a second inner diameter, and wherein the first inner diameter of the first portion between the ball seat and the distal end is constant.

20 . A downhole tool of claim 19 , wherein for at least a portion of time during the pressurization sequence, the compressible member engages a ball as the ball seats thereagainst, and at the same time the ball also engages the mandrel at a contact point, with a convergence gap formed therebetween.