Ball seat for a well fracturing apparatus and method of making and using same

Abstract

Device and an apparatus incorporating the device for use in wellbore fracturing applications. The device is a ball seat that allows for use of a smaller difference in ball size versus the size of an opening in the ball seat. The ball seat is constructed of metallic material and polymeric material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a ball seat for a downhole tool having a ball side, a back side, and an inner diameter defining an opening in the ball seat, and an outside diameter, the ball seat constructed of a metallic material and a polymeric material.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball seat is constructed of alternating fins of the metallic material and the polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the ball seat has a layer of polymeric material extending around an outer diameter portion of the ball seat. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball seat further comprises a first angled surface in the ball side of the ball seat sloping downward from the ball side toward the opening of the ball seat. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the ball seat further comprises a second angled surface in the ball side of the ball seat sloping downward from an end of the first angled surface toward the opening of the ball seat. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the ball seat slopes along its length from the ball side to the back side of the ball seat. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the slope of the outside diameter is in a range of from about 1 degree to about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the slope is about 1 degree. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole apparatus comprising:
 a slotted body having at least one opening in an outer wall of the slotted body;   a sleeve slidably disposed within the slotted body, the sleeve blocking the at least one opening in the slotted body;   a ball seat disposed within the sleeve, the ball seat having a ball side, a back side, and an inner diameter defining an opening in the ball seat, and an outside diameter wherein the ball seat is constructed of a metallic material and a polymeric material; and   a ball having a diameter to engage the ball seat wherein when the ball engages the ball seat under fluid pressure, the force from the fluid applied to the ball and ball seat is transferred to the sleeve and the sleeve slides within the slotted body to unblock the opening in the slotted body and permit fluid to flow therethrough.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the ball seat has a layer of polymeric material extending around an outer diameter portion of the ball seat and the ball seat is constructed of alternating fins of the metallic material and the polymeric material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the ball seat further comprises a first angled surface in the ball side of the ball seat sloping downward from the ball side toward the opening of the ball seat. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the ball seat further comprises a second angled surface in the ball side of the ball seat sloping downward from an end of the first angled surface toward the opening of the ball seat. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the outside diameter of the ball seat slopes along its length from the ball side to the back side of the ball seat, the slope of the outside diameter is in a range of from about 1 degree to about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the slope is about 1 degree. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein an inner portion of the sleeve is sloped to match the slope of the outside diameter of the ball seat. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inner diameter of the ball is greater than about 62 thousandths of an inch larger than the inner diameter of the ball seat. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the inner diameter of the ball is in a range of greater than about 40 thousandths of an inch larger to about 62 thousandths of an inch larger than the inner diameter of the ball seat.