IP Library Granted Patent US 12,281,549
Granted Patent B2
US 12,281,549 · App. 18/092,752 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Methods and systems for fracing

Inventor: Chris Reed (Canton, TX)
Assignee: Greenwell Engineering, LLC
E21B43/119E21B17/042E21B23/14E21B43/116E21B43/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,281,549
App. No.
18/092,752
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pump down assist sub that utilizes a universal thread pattern that is directly coupled to a setting tool firing head that is coupled to the bottom of a conventional perforating gun system, wherein the pump down assist sub eliminates the need for a setting tool and setting sleeve which reduces the length and weight of the overall tool string.

Claims (22)

1. A pump down assist sub comprising:

a body formed of a single piece of metal, a lower chamber positioned on a distal end of the body, the lower chamber extending from the distal end of the body towards a proximal end of the body;

an upper chamber positioned on the proximal end of the body, the upper chamber extending from the proximal end of the body towards the distal end of the body, the upper chamber includes a threaded inner diameter that is configured to couple directly to threads on a firing head that is coupled to perforating gun system;

a solid middle portion extending from the lower chamber to the upper chamber.

2. The pump down assist sub of claim 1 , wherein the lower chamber includes sidewalls that extending in parallel to a central axis of the pump down assist sub.

3. The pump down assist sub of claim 1 , wherein the lower chamber includes at least one port extending from an inner diameter of the lower chamber to the outer diameter of the lower chamber.

4. The pump down assist sub of claim 1 , wherein a first inner diameter of the upper chamber is larger than a second inner diameter of the lower chamber.

5. The pump down assist sub of claim 4 , wherein the second inner diameter of the lower chamber is larger than a first inner diameter of the upper chamber.

6. The pump down assist sub of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the bottom assist sub does not include any additional tools or radially expandable elements.

7. The pump down assist sub of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the bottom includes a tapered portion.

8. The pump down assist sub of claim 1 , wherein the pump down assist sub is configured to replace a conventional frac plug.

9. A method associated with downhole tools comprising:

coupling an upper chamber positioned on a proximal end of a pump down assist sub directly to threads on perforating gun;

running wire line, the perforating gun, and the pump down assist sub downhole together, the pump down assist sub including a body formed of a single piece of metal, a lower chamber positioned on a distal end of the body, the lower chamber extending from the distal end of the body towards the proximal end of the body, wherein the upper chamber positioned on the proximal end of the body extends from the proximal end of the body towards the distal end of the body, and a solid middle portion extending from the lower chamber to the upper chamber.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wire line, the perforating gun, and the pump down assist sub are pulled out of the hole together.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the perforating gun and the pump down assist sub are run downhole to a lowermost interval in a cased hole.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the perforating gun and the pump down assist sub are run downhole before a frac plug isolates a first area of a cased hole from a second area of the cased hole.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the perforating gun and the pump down assist sub are run downhole directly after a frac gun misfire.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lower chamber includes sidewalls extending in parallel to a central axis of the pump down assist sub.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lower chamber includes at least one port extending from an inner diameter of the lower chamber to the outer diameter of the lower chamber.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the bottom assist sub does not include any additional tools or radially expandable elements.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the bottom assist sub includes a tapered portion.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 25, 2025
From: GREENWELL ENGINEERING LLC
To: GREENWELL ENGINEERING INC.
Reel/Frame 072526/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2023
From: REED, CHRIS
To: GREENWELL ENGINEERING LLC
Reel/Frame 062263/0278 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240218763A1 · Jul 4, 2024
References Cited (8)
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US 11047216B2 · Hardesty et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11828115B1 · Thomas · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20150330211A1 · Kabatek · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20200224508A1 · Chapman · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220090458A1 · Porter · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230047958A1 · Jones · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240218763A1 · Reed · 2024 [cited by examiner]