Downhole Ball Dropping Systems and Methods

Abstract

A downhole ball dropping system operable to be positioned in a well. The system includes a tool string having a flow path. A ball dropper assembly is interconnected in the tool string. The ball dropper assembly has a sliding sleeve including a port. A ball is releasably retained by the ball dropper assembly. An actuation assembly is operably associated with the ball dropper assembly and is operable to receive a deployment signal. A release assembly is disposed within the ball dropper assembly. A sensor is operable to detect deployment of the ball and is operable to generate a signal indicating whether the ball deployed. In operation, responsive to the deployment signal, the actuation assembly triggers shifting of the sliding sleeve to align the port with the ball and shifting of the release assembly to push the ball into the flow path through the port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole ball dropping system operable to be positioned in a well, the system comprising:
 a tool string having a flow path;   a ball dropper assembly interconnected in the tool string;   a ball releasably retained by the ball dropper assembly; and   a sensor operable to detect deployment of the ball and operable to generate a signal indicating whether the ball deployed.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an actuation assembly disposed within the ball dropper assembly operable to receive a deployment signal and operable to cause release of the ball by the ball dropper assembly responsive to the deployment signal. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the deployment signal is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical signal, a pressure signal, an acoustic signal, an optical signal, an electrical signal, a temperature signal, a displacement signal, a time delay signal and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is operable to detect the ball passing through the flow path after release thereof by the ball dropper assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the ball further comprises a magnetic device and wherein the sensor detects a change in a magnetic field. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the ball further comprises an RFID tag and wherein the sensor further comprises an RFID reader. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is operable to detect release of the ball from the ball dropper assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a ball release assembly disposed within the ball dropper assembly, the ball release assembly including a first element having a slot and a second element having a ramp, the ball release assembly having a first configuration wherein the first and second elements are separated by the ball and a second configuration wherein the ramp of the second element is positioned within the slot of the first element such that the ball is forced laterally relative to the ball release assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A downhole ball dropping method comprising:
 positioning a downhole ball dropping system in a well, the downhole ball dropping system including a tool string having a flow path and a ball dropper assembly interconnected in the tool string and releasably retaining a ball;   sending a deployment signal to the ball dropper assembly to release the ball;   determining whether the ball deployed from the ball dropper assembly with a downhole sensor; and   sending a signal from the downhole sensor to at least one of a surface controller and a downhole component indicating whether the ball deployed.   
     
     
         10 . The downhole ball dropping method as recited in  claim 9  wherein sending the deployment signal further comprises sending a signal selected from the group consisting of a mechanical signal, a pressure signal, an acoustic signal, an optical signal, an electrical signal, a temperature signal, a displacement signal, a time delay signal and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole ball dropping method as recited in  claim 9  wherein determining whether the ball deployed from the ball dropper assembly with the downhole sensor further comprises detecting whether the ball has passed through the flow path downhole of the ball dropper assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole ball dropping method as recited in  claim 11  wherein detecting whether the ball has passed through the flow path downhole of the ball dropper assembly further comprises determining whether there is a change in a magnetic field. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole ball dropping method as recited in  claim 11  wherein detecting whether the ball has passed through the flow path downhole of the ball dropper assembly further comprises determining whether an RFID tag is detected. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole ball dropping method as recited in  claim 9  wherein determining whether the ball deployed from the ball dropper assembly with the downhole sensor further comprises detecting whether the ball was released from the ball dropper assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole ball dropping method as recited in  claim 9  further comprising laterally forcing the ball out of ball dropper assembly with a ball release assembly by shifting a first element having a ramp relative to a second element having a slot such that the ramp enters the slot. 
     
     
         16 . A downhole ball dropping system operable to be positioned in a well, the system comprising:
 a tool string having a flow path;   a ball dropper assembly interconnected in the tool string, the ball dropper assembly having a sliding sleeve including a port;   a ball releasably retained by the ball dropper assembly;   an actuation assembly operably associated with the ball dropper assembly and operable to receive a deployment signal;   a release assembly disposed within the ball dropper assembly; and   a sensor operable to detect deployment of the ball and operable to generate a signal indicating whether the ball deployed;   wherein, responsive to the deployment signal, the actuation assembly triggers shifting of the sliding sleeve to align the port with the ball and shifting of the release assembly to push the ball into the flow path through the port.   
     
     
         17 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the deployment signal is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical signal, a pressure signal, an acoustic signal, an optical signal, an electrical signal, a temperature signal, a displacement signal, a time delay signal and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the sensor is operable to detect the ball passing through the flow path after release thereof by the ball dropper assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the sensor is operable to detect release of the ball from the ball dropper assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The downhole ball dropping system as recited in  claim 16  wherein the ball release assembly further comprises a first element having a slot and a second element having a ramp, the ball release assembly having a first configuration wherein the first and second elements are separated by the ball and a second configuration wherein the ramp of the second element is positioned within the slot of the first element such that the ball is forced laterally relative to the ball release assembly.