Method and apparatus for a well employing the use of an activation ball

Abstract

A system includes a tubular string that is adapted to be deployed downhole in a well and an activation ball. The activation ball is adapted to be deployed in the tubular string to lodge in a seat of the string. The ball includes a spherical body, which is formed from a metallic material that has a specific gravity less than about 2.0.

1 . A system comprising:
 a tubular string adapted to be deployed downhole in a well, the string comprising a seat; and   an activation ball adapted to be deployed in the tubular string to lodge in the seat, the ball comprising a spherical body formed from a metallic material having a specific gravity less than about 2.0.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool comprising the seat, wherein the ball is adapted to lodge in the seat to create an obstruction, where the tool is adapted to be activated in response to fluid pressure created due to the obstruction. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises one of a plurality of object catching seats of the string. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity is between about 1.00 and about 1.85. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic material comprises a metallic alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the metallic alloy is one selected from a group consisting of beryllium alloy, aluminum alloy, and magnesium alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ball further comprises a coating disposed over the spherical outer surface of the ball. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coating comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy copolymer resin, fluorinated ethylene propylene resin, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, an epoxy-based coating material, and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a thickness of the material is between about 0.001 and 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ball further comprises an anodized outer layer. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 deploying an activation ball in a downhole tubular string in a well, the activation ball comprising a spherical body formed from a metallic material having a specific gravity less than about 2.0;   communicating the ball through of the string until the ball lodges in a seat of the tubular string to form an obstruction; and   using the obstruction to pressurize a region of the tubing string.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising using the pressurization to activate a downhole tool. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the communicating comprises flowing the ball through at least one other seat associated with a ball size larger than a size of the ball. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 flowing the ball out of the seat and to the surface of the well.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the metallic material has a specific gravity between about 1.0 and about 1.9. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ball further comprises a coating material adapted to cover an outer surface of the spherical body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the specific gravity of the spherical ball with the coating material is between about 1.0 and about 1.9. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the spherical ball is surface treated. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of an anodizing treatment, a nickel plating treatment, a chrome plating treatment, a ceramic coating treatment, and laser cladding treatment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the specific gravity of the surface treated spherical ball is between about 1.0 and about 1.9.