Fracturing ball retrieval device and method
View Patent ↗A method and system for retrieving a fracturing ball in a wellbore casing. The system includes a wellbore retrieval tool comprising a tool body that is inserted into and transported along the wellbore casing. The tool is sized and configured to trap and hold the fracturing ball. When a hydraulic lock happens in the wellbore casing, the retrieval tool is lowered in a vertical section and the ball is flowed back along a horizontal section and captured by a trap in the retrieval tool. The retrieval tool may also be run in conjunction with a setting tool with a ball-in-place fracturing plug. In case of the hydraulic lock, the injection is tested following perforation with the retrieval tool still a location proximal to the ball, and the ball is immediately retrieved.
1. A wellbore plugging system for use in a wellbore casing comprising: a wellbore setting tool, a wellbore retrieval tool and a ball-in-place plug; said wellbore retrieval tool operatively coupled to said wellbore setting tool on an upstream end of said wellbore retrieval tool; said wellbore retrieval tool operatively coupled to said ball-in-place plug on a downstream end of said wellbore retrieval tool; a restriction element is configured to be conveyed with said ball-in-place plug; said wellbore retrieval tool sized and configured to trap and hold said restriction element; wherein, said restriction element is drawn by well flow back into a trap in said wellbore retrieval tool for retrieval; and further wherein said restriction element is configured to be deployed to seat against said ball-in-place plug upon separation of said wellbore setting tool from said plug.
2. The wellbore plugging system of claim 1 , wherein said wellbore retrieval tool is configured to allow passage of fluid.
3. The wellbore plugging system of claim 1 , wherein said plug is configured to be in fluid communication downstream of said ball-in-place plug.
4. The wellbore plugging system of claim 1 , wherein said restriction element is a fracturing ball.
5. The wellbore plugging system of claim 1 , wherein said plug is set by transmitting a force from said wellbore setting tool to said plug through said wellbore retrieval tool.
6. The wellbore plugging system of claim 4 , wherein said wellbore retrieval tool is armed to trap said restriction element when said ball-in-place plug is set.
7. The wellbore plugging system of claim 1 , wherein said restriction element is configured to be deployed to seat against said ball-in-place plug by pumping fluids into said wellbore casing.
8. A wellbore plugging method for use in a wellbore casing in conjunction with a wellbore plugging system comprising a wellbore setting tool, a wellbore retrieval tool and a ball-in-place plug with a restriction element, said method comprising the steps of:
( 1 ) transporting said wellbore plugging system along said wellbore casing;
( 2 ) setting said ball-in-place plug at a desired plug location;
( 3 ) deploying said restriction element to seat against said plug and isolating a stage;
( 4 ) testing for a wellbore condition;
( 5 ) checking if said wellbore condition is good, if so, proceeding to step ( 10 );
( 6 ) flowing back said wellbore so that said restriction element is drawn by well flow back into said wellbore retrieval tool;
( 7 ) trapping and holding said fracturing ball in said wellbore retrieval tool;
( 8 ) retrieving said wellbore retrieval tool along with said restriction element, said wellbore setting tool to a surface;
( 9 ) performing a remediation operation with said ball-in-place plug in place and proceeding to step ( 11 );
( 10 ) retrieving said wellbore retrieval tool along with said wellbore setting tool and leaving said restriction element seated against said ball-in-place plug; and
( 11 ) performing downhole operations in said stage and proceeding to step ( 1 ).
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said restriction element is a fracturing ball.
10. The wellbore plugging method of claim 8 , wherein setting said ball-in-place plug step ( 2 ) and deploying said restriction element step ( 3 ) are performed simultaneously.
11. The wellbore plugging method of claim 8 , wherein deploying said restriction element step ( 3 ) is performed upon separation of said wellbore setting tool from said ball-in-place plug.
12. The wellbore plugging method of claim 8 , wherein said wellbore condition is a hydraulic lockout condition.
13. The wellbore plugging method of claim 8 , wherein said wellbore plugging system is transported with a wireline.
14. The wellbore plugging method of claim 8 , wherein said wellbore casing is a horizontal wellbore casing.
15. The wellbore plugging method of claim 8 , wherein said wellbore casing is a vertical wellbore casing.
16. A wellbore completion system for use in a wellbore casing comprising: a wellbore setting tool, a wellbore retrieval tool, a ball-in-place plug and a perforating gun; said wellbore retrieval tool operatively coupled to said wellbore setting tool on an upstream end of said wellbore retrieval tool; said wellbore retrieval tool operatively coupled to said ball-in-place plug on a downstream end of said wellbore retrieval tool; said perforating gun is operatively coupled at an upstream end of said wellbore setting tool; a restriction element is configured to be conveyed with said ball-in-place plug; said wellbore retrieval tool sized and configured to trap and hold said restriction element; wherein, said restriction element is drawn by well flow back into a trap in said wellbore retrieval tool for retrieval.
17. The wellbore completion system of claim 16 , wherein said wellbore retrieval tool is configured to allow passage of fluid.
18. The wellbore completion system of claim 16 , wherein said plug is configured to be in fluid communication downstream of said ball-in-place plug.
19. The wellbore completion system of claim 16 , wherein said restriction element is a fracturing ball.
20. The wellbore completion system of claim 16 , wherein said plug is set by transmitting a force from said wellbore setting tool to said plug through said wellbore retrieval tool.
21. The wellbore completion system of claim 20 , wherein said wellbore retrieval tool is armed to trap said restriction element when said perforating gun perforates a stage.
22. The wellbore completion system of claim 16 , wherein said restriction element is configured to be deployed to seat against said ball-in-place plug after said perforating gun perforates a stage.
23. The wellbore completion system of claim 16 , wherein said restriction element is configured to be deployed to seat against said ball-in-place plug by pumping fluids into said wellbore casing.
24. A wellbore completion method for use in a wellbore casing in conjunction with a wellbore completion system comprising a wellbore setting tool, a wellbore retrieval tool, a perforating gun, and a ball-in-place plug with a restriction element, said method comprising the steps of:
( 1 ) transporting said wellbore completion system along said wellbore casing;
( 2 ) setting said ball-in-place plug at a desired plug location;
( 3 ) deploying said restriction element to seat against said plug and isolating a stage;
( 4 ) perforating said stage with said perforating gun;
( 5 ) testing for a wellbore condition;
( 6 ) checking if said wellbore condition is good, if so, proceeding to step ( 11 );
( 7 ) flowing back said wellbore so that said restriction element is drawn by well flow back into said wellbore retrieval tool;
( 8 ) trapping and holding said restriction element in said wellbore retrieval tool;
( 9 ) retrieving said wellbore retrieval tool along with said restriction element, said wellbore setting tool, and said perforating gun to a well surface;
( 10 ) performing a remediation operation with said ball-in-place plug in place and proceeding to step ( 12 );
( 11 ) retrieving said wellbore retrieval tool along with said wellbore setting tool and said perforating gun and leaving said restriction element seated against said ball-in-place plug; and
( 12 ) fracturing said stage and proceeding to step ( 1 ).
25. The wellbore completion method of claim 24 , wherein said restriction element is a fracturing ball.
26. The wellbore completion method of claim 24 , wherein setting said ball-in-place plug step ( 2 ) and deploying said restriction element step ( 3 ) are performed simultaneously.
27. The wellbore completion method of claim 24 , wherein deploying said restriction element step ( 3 ) is performed after said perforating step ( 4 ).
28. The wellbore completion method of claim 24 , wherein said wellbore condition is a hydraulic lockout condition.
29. The wellbore completion method of claim 24 , wherein said wellbore condition is an improper firing of said perforating gun in said perforating step ( 4 ).