Ball catcher apparatus for use in fracturing of formations surrounding horizontal oil and gas wells, and method for using same

Abstract

Following the treatment of formations surrounding an oil, gas or water well, various diameter ceramic balls are retrieved from the downhole equipment by creating a suction force at the earth's surface to cause such balls to be moved into a ball catcher at the earth's surface from which the balls can be collected. The suction force is created by a high pressure fluid intersecting a fluid path between the downhole equipment and the ball catcher. The high pressure fluid is preferably operated at, at least 1,000 psi, and even more preferably, between 5,000 and 10,000 psi.

1 . A method for retrieving one or more balls from downhole equipment used in the treatment of formations surrounding oil, gas and water wells, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a first fluid path between the earth's surface and the downhole equipment for moving said one or more balls from the earth's surface to said downhole equipment;   establishing a second fluid path between the interior of a ball catcher apparatus at the earth's surface and the downhole equipment for lifting said on or more balls from said downhole equipment to the ball catcher; and   establishing a third fluid path for injecting a high pressure fluid into the interior of said ball catcher, whereby the said second fluid path and the said third fluid path intersect within the interior of said ball catcher, thereby providing a lifting force to suck up said one or more balls from the downhole equipment into the ball catcher apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said second fluid path and said third fluid path intersect at an angle of 90° within the interior of said ball catcher apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said second fluid path and said third fluid path intersect at an angle, less than 90°, causing fluid in said second and third paths to each be traveling in the same direction away from said downhole equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said high pressure fluid is operated at, at least 1,000 psi. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said high pressure fluid is operated at between 5,000 and 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         6 . A method for retrieving one or more balls from downhole equipment used in the treatment of formations surrounding oil, gas and water wells, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a first fluid path between the interior of a ball catcher apparatus at the earth's surface and the downhole equipment for lifting said one or more balls from said downhole equipment to the ball catcher apparatus; and   establishing a second fluid path for injecting a high pressure fluid into the interior of said ball catcher apparatus, whereby the said second fluid path and the said third fluid path intersect within the interior of said ball catcher, thereby providing a lifting force to suck up said one or more balls from the downhole equipment into the ball catcher apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said first fluid path and said second fluid path intersect at an angle of 90° within the interior of said ball catcher apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said first and second fluid path intersect at an angle of less than 90°, causing the fluid in said first and second paths to each be traveling in the same direction away from the downhole equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said high pressure fluid is operated at, at least 1,000 psi. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said high pressure fluid is operated at between 5,000 and 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         11 . A ball catcher system for retrieving and catching one or more balls from downhole equipment used in the treatment of formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising:
 a ball catcher having a central chamber at the earth's surface having an inlet portal leading to said central chamber, a high pressure portal leading to said central chamber and an outlet port from said central chamber;   a fluid path connected between said downhole equipment to said inlet portal of said ball catcher; and   a source of high pressure fluid connected to said high pressure portal, whereby the application of high pressure fluid to said high pressure portal creates a lifting force to at least one ball located in said downhole equipment to suck said at least one ball into the central chamber of said ball catcher.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one ball comprises a plurality of ceramic balls. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , where said plurality of ceramic balls each has a different diameter than the remainder of said balls. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said high pressure fluid is operated at, at least 1,000 psi. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said high pressure fluid is operated at between 5,000 and 10,000 psi.