초록 ▼

A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer.

A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A downhole apparatus for use in a well, the apparatus comprising: a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said mandrel defining a longitudinal central opening for allowing flow therethrough, said mandrel defining a ball seat; a sealing element disposed about said mandrel for sealingly eng

1. A downhole apparatus for use in a well, the apparatus comprising: a mandrel having an upper end and a lower end, said mandrel defining a longitudinal central opening for allowing flow therethrough, said mandrel defining a ball seat; a sealing element disposed about said mandrel for sealingly engaging the well; an upper end cap disposed above said ball seat; a ball cage connected to said upper end of said mandrel, said ball cage having a body portion extending upwardly from said upper end of said mandrel, said upper end cap being connected to said body portion of said ball cage, wherein said ball cage defines flow ports for permitting flow therethrough into said longitudinal central opening; and a sealing ball trapped between said upper end cap and said ball seat for sealingly engaging said ball seat.