Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An improved ball drop apparatus including an atmosphere-to-pressure frac ball injection chamber. A ball is first inserted into the atmosphere-to-pressure ball injection chamber from a ball feeding apparatus. The ball is then pushed into a pressure equalization section through a first seal pack. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure equalization section is connected to a pressure equalization apparatus and also to the wellbore through a second seal pack. Once the ball is injected into the pressure equalization section, the pressure equalization apparatus applies pressure, thereby causing the pressure of the pressure equalization section to increase until it reaches close to wellbore pressure. Once the pressures of the pressure equalization section and the wellbore are close, the atmosphere-to-pressure frac ball injection chamber and the frac ball are pushed through the second seal pack and into the wellbore, where the frac ball can be pumped downhole. The atmosphere-to-pressure ball injection chamber is then retracted into the pressure equalization section. The pressure equalization section can then be returned to atmospheric or close to atmospheric pressure by the pressure equalization apparatus. The ball injection chamber is then returned to a ball loading position where it may again be loaded by a ball feeding apparatus.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim