IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0245287
(2008-10-03)
|
등록번호 |
US-8403063
(2013-03-26)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Inglis, Peter Derek Walter
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
A downhole tool including a ball valve having a pivotal ball and providing full drift clearance through a fluid pathway of the valve over a portion of a pivotal range of the ball is described. An internal bore of the ball includes a first opening larger than a second opening, and the internal bore t
A downhole tool including a ball valve having a pivotal ball and providing full drift clearance through a fluid pathway of the valve over a portion of a pivotal range of the ball is described. An internal bore of the ball includes a first opening larger than a second opening, and the internal bore transitions between the first and second openings. The first opening overlays or encompasses an opening formed by a first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, and the second opening may be fully encompassed by an opening formed by a second bore portion over a pivotal range when the internal bore is not centrally aligned with the first or second bore portions.
대표청구항
▼
1. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a fir
1. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position; the ball having an internal bore in the ball that extends from a first opening of the internal bore in the ball to a second opening of the internal bore in the ball, the first and second openings substantially aligned with a lengthwise axis of the internal bore in the ball;the first opening being larger than the second opening and the first opening encompassing an opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, an opening defined by the second bore portion sized to encompass the second opening of the internal bore over a range of pivot of the ball. 2. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first opening of the internal bore is elliptical having a minor axis at least as large as a width of the opening defined by the first bore portion and a major axis greater than a height of the opening defined by the first bore portion to encompass the opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball. 3. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the range of pivot of the ball is four degrees. 4. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein a pivotal range of the ball between the first position and the second position is 92 degrees. 5. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the internal bore transitions between the first opening and the second opening. 6. The downhole tool of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the internal bore transitions parabolically, conically, or in a step-wise manner. 7. The downhole tool of claim 5, wherein the internal bore transitions over a length of the internal bore. 8. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein an opening defined by the second bore portion adjacent the ball is flared and wherein the flared opening encompasses the second opening over a range of pivot of the ball. 9. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the internal bore comprises one of a smooth bore or a faceted bore. 10. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first opening is coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening is coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball. 11. The downhole tool of claim 10, wherein the first and second portions of the outer surface of the ball are approximately 180 degrees apart on the outer surface of the ball. 12. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the internal bore comprises a tapered portion extending between the first opening of the internal bore and the second opening of the internal bore. 13. The downhole tool of claim 12, wherein the tapered portion of the internal bore comprises at least one of: a conical taper extending between the first opening of the internal bore and the second opening of the internal bore;a parabolic taper extending between the first opening of the internal bore and the second opening of the internal bore; ora stepped transition extending between the first opening of the internal bore and the second opening of the internal bore. 14. The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the first opening comprises an inlet of the internal bore in the ball, and the second opening comprises an outlet of the internal bore of the ball. 15. A downhole tool for performing an operation within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising: a fluid pathway; anda ball disposed in the fluid pathway,the ball pivotable in the fluid pathway and having an internal bore in the ball, the internal bore comprising a first opening of the internal bore in the ball larger than a second opening of the internal bore in the ball, such that the first opening fully encompasses an opening of the fluid pathway adjacent the first opening over a range of pivot of the ball, the first and second openings substantially aligned with a lengthwise axis of the internal bore in the ball, an opening of the fluid pathway adjacent the second opening of the ball is flared and the flared opening of the fluid pathway fully encompasses the second opening of the ball over the range of pivot of the ball. 16. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the range of pivot of the ball is four degrees. 17. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the ball is pivotable over a full range of pivot and wherein the full range of pivot is 92 degrees. 18. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the first opening of the bore is elliptical, a minor axis of the elliptical first opening being at least as large as a width of the opening of the fluid pathway and the major axis of the first opening being greater than a height of the opening of the first bore portion to fully encompass the opening of the fluid pathway over the range of pivot of the ball. 19. The downhole tool of claim 18, wherein the second opening of the bore is circular and wherein the bore transitions from the elliptical first opening to the circular second opening over a length of the bore. 20. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein a transition of the bore from the first opening to the second opening is at least partially parabolic, conical, or stepped. 21. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the bore comprises one of a smooth bore or a faceted bore. 22. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the first opening is coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening is coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball. 23. The downhole tool of claim 22, wherein the first and second portions of the outer surface of the ball are approximately 180 degrees apart on the outer surface of the ball. 24. The downhole tool of claim 15, wherein the bore comprises a tapered portion extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore. 25. The downhole tool of claim 24, wherein the tapered portion of the bore comprises at least one of: a conical taper extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore;a parabolic taper extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore; anda stepped transition extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore. 26. A method of controlling fluid flow through a downhole tool disposed downhole, the method comprising: providing downhole a downhole tool including a ball disposed within a fluid pathway of the downhole tool, the ball including an internal bore in the ball and extending therethrough, the internal bore in the ball comprising a first opening larger than a second opening, the first and second openings substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the internal bore in the ball; andpivoting the ball within the fluid pathway to permit full communication down the fluid pathway, full communication permitted over a range of pivot of the ball, drift clearance through the ball and the fluid pathway are substantially maximized at full communication, the first opening positioned upstream of the second opening when the ball is pivoted within the fluid pathway to permit full communication down the fluid pathway. 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising pumping a fluid through the fluid pathway, the fluid comprising a proppant. 28. The method of claim 26 further comprising positioning the ball in a closed position to prevent or substantially prevent communication through the fluid pathway. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the range of pivot of the ball is between approximately two degrees and approximately ten degrees. 30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first opening is coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening is coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball. 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the internal bore comprises a tapered portion extending between the first opening of the internal bore and the second opening of the internal bore. 32. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position; the ball having an internal bore extending from a first opening of the internal bore to a second opening of the internal bore;the first opening being larger than the second opening and the first opening encompassing an opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball,wherein the first opening of the internal bore is elliptical having a minor axis at least as large as a width of the opening defined by the first bore portion and a major axis greater than a height of the opening defined by the first bore portion to encompass the opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball. 33. A downhole tool for performing an operation within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising: a fluid pathway;a ball disposed in the fluid pathway,the ball pivotable in the fluid pathway and having a bore, the bore comprising a first opening larger than a second opening such that the first opening fully encompasses an opening of the fluid pathway adjacent the first opening over a range of pivot of the ball,wherein the first opening of the bore is elliptical, a minor axis of the elliptical first opening being at least as large as a width of the opening of the fluid pathway and the major axis of the first opening being greater than a height of the opening of the first bore portion to fully encompass the opening of the fluid pathway over the range of pivot of the ball. 34. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position; the ball having an internal bore that extends contiguously between a first opening of the internal bore and a second opening of the internal bore;the first opening being larger than the second opening and the first opening encompassing an opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, the first opening coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball, an opening defined by the second bore portion sized to encompass the second opening of the internal bore over a range of pivot of the ball. 35. The downhole tool of claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the internal bore transitions parabolically, conically, or in a step-wise manner. 36. The downhole tool of claim 35, wherein the internal bore transitions over a length of the internal bore. 37. The downhole tool of claim 34, wherein an opening defined by the second bore portion adjacent the ball is flared and wherein the flared opening encompasses the second opening over a range of pivot of the ball. 38. A downhole tool for performing an operation within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising: a fluid pathway; anda ball disposed in the fluid pathway,the ball pivotable in the fluid pathway and having a bore that extends contiguously between a first opening of the bore and a second opening of the bore, the first opening larger than the second opening such that the first opening fully encompasses an opening of the fluid pathway adjacent the first opening over a range of pivot of the ball, the first opening coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball, an opening defined by the fluid pathway is sized to encompass the second opening of the bore over a range of pivot of the ball. 39. The downhole tool of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of the internal bore transitions parabolically, conically, or in a step-wise manner. 40. The downhole tool of claim 38, wherein the internal bore transitions over a length of the internal bore. 41. The downhole tool of claim 40, wherein an opening defined by the second bore portion adjacent the ball is flared and wherein the flared opening encompasses the second opening over a range of pivot of the ball. 42. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position; the ball having an internal bore in the ball that extends from a first opening of the internal bore in the ball to a second opening of the internal bore in the ball, the first and second openings substantially aligned with a lengthwise axis of the internal bore in the ball;the first opening being larger than the second opening and the first opening encompassing an opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, an opening defined by the second bore portion adjacent the ball is flared and the flared opening encompasses the second opening over a range of pivot of the ball. 43. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position; the ball having an internal bore in the ball that extends from a first opening of the internal bore in the ball to a second opening of the internal bore in the ball, the first and second openings substantially aligned with a lengthwise axis of the internal bore in the ball;the first opening being larger than the second opening and the first opening encompassing an opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, the internal bore comprising one of a smooth bore or a faceted bore. 44. A downhole tool for performing an operation within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising: a fluid pathway; anda ball disposed in the fluid pathway,the ball pivotable in the fluid pathway and having an internal bore in the ball, the internal bore comprising a first opening of the internal bore in the ball larger than a second opening of the internal bore in the ball, such that the first opening fully encompasses an opening of the fluid pathway adjacent the first opening over a range of pivot of the ball, the first and second openings substantially aligned with a lengthwise axis of the internal bore in the ball,the bore comprising a tapered portion extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore, the tapered portion of the bore comprising at least one of: a conical taper extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore, a parabolic taper extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore, or a stepped transition extending between the first opening of the bore and the second opening of the bore. 45. A downhole tool for performing an operation downhole, the downhole tool comprising: a tool portion defining a bore, the bore comprising: a first bore portion; anda second bore portion; anda ball disposed between the first bore portion and the second bore portion and adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position; the ball having an internal bore that extends contiguously between a first opening of the internal bore and a second opening of the internal bore;the first opening being larger than the second opening and the first opening encompassing an opening defined by the first bore portion over a range of pivot of the ball, the first opening coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball, an opening defined by the second bore portion adjacent the ball is flared and the flared opening encompasses the second opening over a range of pivot of the ball. 46. A downhole tool for performing an operation within a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising: a fluid pathway; anda ball disposed in the fluid pathway,the ball pivotable in the fluid pathway and having an internal bore that extends contiguously between a first opening of the bore and a second opening of the bore, the first opening larger than the second opening such that the first opening fully encompasses an opening of the fluid pathway adjacent the first opening over a range of pivot of the ball, the first opening coterminous with a first portion of an outer surface of the ball, and the second opening coterminous with a second portion of the outer surface of the ball, the bore transitions over a length of the internal bore and an opening defined by the fluid passageway adjacent the ball is flared and the flared opening encompasses the second opening over a range of pivot of the ball.
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