Low impact ball-seat apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus for restricting fluid flow includes: a ball receiving element disposed in a first fluid conduit and configured to receive a ball that has been advanced through the first fluid conduit and at least partially restrict a fluid flow in the first fluid conduit; and at least one second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit at an upstream location relative to the ball receiving element, the at least one second fluid conduit configured to divert a portion of the fluid from the first fluid conduit and reduce an impact between the ball and the ball receiving element.

1 . An apparatus for restricting fluid flow, comprising:
 a ball receiving element disposed in a first fluid conduit and configured to receive a ball that has been advanced through the first fluid conduit and at least partially restrict a fluid flow in the first conduit; and   at least one second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit at an upstream location relative to the ball receiving element, the at least one second fluid conduit configured to divert a portion of the fluid from the first fluid conduit and reduce an impact between the ball and the ball receiving element.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier including the fluid conduit and configured to be disposed in a borehole. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream location is proximate to the ball receiving element. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diverted portion causes a fluid flow rate in the first fluid conduit to be reduced. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ball receiving element is attached to a moveable component, the moveable component configured to move relative to the first fluid conduit in response to the impact. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable component is selected from at least one of a sliding sleeve and a piston. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second fluid conduit is configured to return the diverted portion of the fluid to the fluid conduit at a downstream location relative to the ball receiving element. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid conduit includes at least one mechanism configured to restrict fluid flow within the second fluid conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one mechanism includes at least one of a valve, a bend in the second fluid conduit and a restriction in a cross-sectional area of the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing including the fluid conduit therein. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second fluid conduit is formed within a wall of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A method of restricting fluid flow, comprising:
 releasing a ball into the first fluid conduit, the first fluid conduit having a fluid flow therein;   receiving the ball in a ball receiving element disposed at the first fluid conduit and at least partially restricting fluid flow; and   diverting a portion of the fluid from the first fluid conduit at an upstream location relative to the ball receiving element via a second fluid conduit to reduce an impact between the ball and the ball receiving element.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing a carrier in a borehole, the carrier configured to include the ball receiving element and the first fluid conduit therein. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the upstream location is proximate to the ball seat. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein diverting the portion of the fluid causes a fluid flow rate in the first fluid conduit to be reduced. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ball receiving element is attached to a moveable component, the moveable component configured to move relative to the first fluid conduit in response to the impact. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising returning the diverted portion of the fluid to the fluid conduit at a downstream location relative to the ball receiving element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein diverting includes controlling a diverted fluid flow rate within the second fluid conduit to control the fluid flow rate in the first conduit between at least the upstream location and the ball receiving element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the diverted fluid flow rate is controlled by at least one of a valve, a bend in the second fluid conduit and a restriction in a cross-sectional area of the second fluid conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second fluid conduit is formed within a wall of a housing that includes the first fluid conduit.