IP Library Granted Patent US 9,045,963
Granted Patent B2
US 9,045,963 · App. 13/091,988 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

High pressure and high temperature ball seat

Inventors: Piro Shkurti (The Woodlands, TX); John C. Wolf (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
E21B33/1204E21B2034/002E21B33/1216E21B33/1285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,045,963
App. No.
13/091,988
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An isolation device for a frac plug, the isolation device including a ball seat having a seating surface and a ball configured to contact the seating surface, wherein a profile of the seating surface corresponds to a profile of the ball. A frac plug including a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, a sealing element disposed around the mandrel, and a ball seat disposed within a central bore of the mandrel, wherein the ball seat includes a seating surface having a non-linear profile. A method of isolating zones of a production formation, the method including setting a frac plug between a first zone and a second zone, disposing a ball within the frac plug, and seating a ball in a ball seat of the frac plug, the ball seat including a seating surface having a profile that substantially corresponds to the profile of the ball.

Claims (21)

1. An isolation device for a frac plug, the isolation device comprising:

a ball seat having a seating surface, the seating surface having a first section and a second section; and

a ball configured to contact the seating surface;

wherein a profile of the first section comprises a liner profile that is uniformly tapered to guide the ball into the second section, and the second section comprises a plurality of discrete profile regions including a first profile region having a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to a radius of curvature of the ball and a second profile region having a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the first profile region.

2. The isolation device of claim 1 , wherein an angle of the first section with respect to a center axis of the ball seat is different from an angle of the second section.

3. The isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the first section is disposed axially above the second section.

4. The isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the ball comprises a phenolic resin and glass fiber.

5. The isolation device of claim 1 , wherein the ball seat is formed from aluminum.

6. A frac plug comprising:

a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end;

a sealing element disposed around the mandrel; and

a ball seat disposed within a central bore of the mandrel,

wherein the ball seat comprises a seating surface having a first uniformly tapered linear section to guide the ball and a second section having a plurality of discrete profile regions including a first profile region having a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to a radius of curvature of the ball and a second profile region having a second radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the first profile region.

7. The frac plug of claim 6 , wherein the second section comprises a discrete profile region having a linear profile.

8. A method of isolating zones of a production formation, the method comprising:

running a frac plug downhole to a determined location between a first zone and a second zone;

setting the frac plug between the first zone and the second zone;

disposing a ball within the frac plug; and

seating a ball in a ball seat of the frac plug, the ball seat comprising a seating surface having a first section, wherein the first section comprises a liners profile that is uniformly tapered to guide the ball, and a second section having a plurality of discrete profile regions comprising a first profile region that substantially corresponds to the profile of the ball and a second profile region having a radius of curvature greater than a radius of curvature of the ball.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second section comprises a discrete profile region comprising a linear discrete segment.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second section comprises a discrete profile region comprising a linear discrete segment.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO ADD ASSIGNOR, JOHN C. WOLF TO THE RECORDATION FORM COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 027453 FRAME 0965. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE AND BY THIS ASSIGHMENT DO SELL, ASSIGN, TRANSFER AND CONVEY. Recorded Dec 30, 2011
From: SHKURTI, PIRO; WOLF, JOHN C.
To: SMITH INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 027464/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2011
From: SHKURTI, PIRO
To: SMITH INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 027453/0965 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61327509 · Apr 23, 2010
Related Publication 20110259610A1 · Oct 27, 2011