Downhole ball release device
A downhole sealing device includes a ball, a collet coupled to the ball, a release device, and an electrical control board. The device is configured to release the ball and collet onto a downhole plug seat during hydraulic fracturing. In operation, an electrical signal is sent to the release device, actuating the release of collet fingers. Pressure equalization occurs through ports in the ball before the ball and collet are released to seal the plug seat. The device may be used to enable relocation of a hydraulic fracture monitoring cable when high-risk conditions are detected. After sealing is achieved, the cable and monitoring equipment may be moved to a safer location without halting the fracturing operation. The ball and collet may later be milled to restore wellbore access. The system supports real-time actuation and may be compatible with addressable command signals for selective downhole operation.
1 . A method of sealing a downhole plug seat, the method comprising:
providing a device, the device comprising:
a ball,
a collet attached to the ball,
a release device attached to the collet, and
an electrical control board attached to the release device;
sending an electrical command signal to the release device;
releasing the collet attached to the release device;
equalizing pressure in the device via at least one pressure port in the ball; and
releasing the ball and the collet onto the downhole plug seat.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising milling the released ball and the released collet at a later time.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collet is attached to the release device via collet fingers.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical control board is powered using one of:
simple voltage; or
an addressable switch.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the electrical control board is powered using the addressable switch, and wherein the addressable switch is activated with the electrical command signal.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ball is made up of dissolvable materials.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure-equalization port further facilitates fluid exchange as the ball descends.
8 . A system for sealing a downhole plug seat, the system comprising:
a tool comprising:
a ball;
a collet attached to the ball;
a release device attached to the collet; and
an electrical control board attached to the release device;
a processor;
memory accessible to the processor;
processor-executable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to instruct the system to perform stages comprising:
sending an electrical command signal to the release device;
releasing the collet attached to the release device;
equalizing pressure in the tool via at least one pressure port in the ball; and
releasing the ball and the collet onto the downhole plug seat.
9 . The system of claim 8 , the stages further comprising milling the released ball and the released collet at a later time.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the collet is attached to the release device via collet fingers.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the electrical control board is powered using one of:
simple voltage; or
an addressable switch.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the electrical control board is powered using the addressable switch, and wherein the addressable switch is activated with the electrical command signal.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the ball is made up of dissolvable materials.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pressure-equalization port further facilitates fluid exchange as the ball descends.