Method for dry injecting balls for wellbore operations

Abstract

Method, apparatus and a system is provided for dry launching balls. One releases a ball from the stored balls, stages the ball in a staging or launching block for exposure to fluids and then injects the dropped ball into the wellbore. Fluid in the isolated staging block is removed by pump or by drainage, minimizing risk of fluid reaching stored dry balls thereabove. This method can then be repeated for subsequent balls to be dropped into the wellbore. Further, a system for reducing the fall energy of a dropped ball comprises providing one or more impact energy dampeners along a ball drop path including providing an angled sidewall of the path bore, one more elements to periodically engage a dropped ball, or to provide a liquid sump to receive a dropped ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method dry launching one or more balls into a wellbore comprising:
 locating a launching block between the wellbore and a source of the one or more balls;   removing at least some fluids from the launching block;   dropping the ball into the open launching block;   isolating the open launching block from the source of balls;   opening the isolated launching block to the wellbore;   releasing the ball from the opened launching block into the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fluidly connecting a ball launcher, as the source of the one or more balls, to the launching block; and   wherein the dropping the ball into the launching block comprises dropping a selected ball from the ball launcher.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to opening the launching block to the source of balls further comprising equalizing the pressure the bail launcher to atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing at least some fluids from the launching block comprises removing fluids to a level below an isolation interface to the source of one or more balls. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing at least some fluids from the launching block comprises draining fluids therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing at least some fluids out of the launching block comprising pumping fluids therefrom. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising introducing dry gas to the launching block while removing the fluids. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasing the ball from the opened launching block into the wellbore further comprises pumping at least some fluid through the launching block at pressure at or greater than wellbore pressures. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to opening the launching block to the source of balls further comprising pressurizing the ball launcher with a dry gas. 
     
     
         10 . A system for dry launching balls into a fluid wellbore comprising:
 a ball launcher for storing one or more balls and having a release bore for receiving a stored ball;   a launching block having a staging bore fluidly connected intermediate the ball launcher and wellbore for receiving the stored ball from the release bore and retaining the ball therein as a dropped ball, the staging bore fluidly connected to the ball launcher for delivering the dropped ball to the wellbore;   a first isolation valve for fluidly isolating the release bore from the staging bore;   a second isolation valve for fluidly isolating the staging bore from the wellbore; and   a first port for fluid communication to and from the staging bore and operable to remove fluid from the staging bore above the first port.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a first pump connected to the first port to remove fluids from the launching block. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a second pump for delivering fluid to the launch block for displacing the dropped ball therefrom. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a frac header fluidly connected between the launching block and the wellbore for delivering stimulation fluid to the wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first pump is a reversible pump located between the launching block and second pump and operable to pump fluid to either remove fluid from the launching block or to deliver fluid to the second pump. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the ball launcher further comprises a bleed port for equalizing pressure of the release bore to atmosphere. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the launching block further comprises a second port for equalizing pressure of the staging bore to atmosphere. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the launching block further comprises a second port for inflow of dry gas to the launching block. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  wherein a drop path is formed along a path bore from the release bore and through the staging bore to the wellbore, the system further comprising one or more impact energy dampeners along the drop path to engage a dropped ball for reducing its fall energy. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the impact energy dampeners comprise a sidewall angled from vertical along at least a portion of the drop bore. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the angled sidewall further comprises an angled receiving bore. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein ball launcher is angled from vertical for forming the angled receiving bore. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the angled sidewall further comprises an angled staging bore. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a first isolation valve for fluidly isolating the release bore from the staging bore; 
 a second isolation valve for fluidly isolating the staging bore from the wellbore; and 
 wherein at least a portion of one of, or both of, the first or second isolation valves is angled from vertical for forming the angled path bore. 
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the impact energy dampeners comprise one or more obstructions spaced along and protruding radially inward from a sidewall along the drop bore for engaging and therefore reducing the fall energy of the dropped ball. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein each obstruction is an element installed at one or more of the fluid connections between the first and second isolation valves. 
     
     
         26 . A system for dry launching one or more balls into a fluid wellbore comprising:
 a ball launcher having a release bore for receiving a stored ball;   a launching block having a staging bore fluidly connected intermediate the ball launcher and the wellbore for receiving the stored ball from the release bore and retaining the ball therein as a dropped ball, the staging bore fluidly connected to the ball launcher for delivering the dropped ball to the wellbore, a drop path being formed along a path bore from the release bore, through the staging bore to the wellbore; and   one or more impact energy dampeners along the drop path to engage a dropped ball for reducing its fall energy.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the impact energy dampeners comprise a sidewall angled from vertical along at least a portion of the drop bore. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the angled sidewall further comprises an angled receiving bore. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the angled sidewall further comprises an angled staging bore. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising:
 a first isolation valve for fluidly isolating the release bore from the staging bore; 
 a second isolation valve for fluidly isolating the staging bore from the wellbore; and 
 wherein at least a portion of one of, or both of, the first or second isolation valves is angled from vertical for forming the angled path bore. 
 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the impact energy dampeners comprise one or more obstructions spaced along and protruding radially inward from a sidewall along the drop bore for engaging the dropped ball. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein each of the one or more obstructions comprises an insert installed at one or more of the fluid connections between the first and second isolation valves.