Subterranean barrier, system and method of use

Abstract

An orientable frac ball for substantially sealing a subterranean formation. Desired orientation can be accomplished by altering the geometry of the ball with one or more features that can be molded with or added to the ball. A projection of any shape on a ball with a length plus ball diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the well bore will prevent the ball from orienting in an undesired position on the seat. This projection can be made of various materials that break or disintegrate when desired to remove the ball from the well bore. During the pump back process in which the balls will need to move through the progressively larger sealing seats, the projection should not hinder the removal process. It will break away or off the ball during this process. Break up features can easily be added to these tail sections. These balls can be dropped with the tail down or tail up. Alternatively, a magnet placed in the frac ball can orient the ball on a metal seat by magnetic attraction.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A barrier for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the barrier comprising:
 a body; and   a projection connectable with the body.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the body is comprised of a material that is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon, polymers, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, metals, cloth, composites, and combinations of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a laminated composite material. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier of  claim 1  where in the body comprises a randomly oriented composite material. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the body is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection extends from the body in one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection extends from the body in a plurality of directions. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection comprises a solid rod. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection is porous. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, composites, metals, substances soluble in water, substances soluble in cement, substances soluble in drilling fluids, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection comprises an extension. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection is integrally formed with the body. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection is perforated. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.75 inches to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the body has a density of about 62 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection comprises a length, the body comprises a length and the subterranean formation comprises a well having an inner diameter, and wherein the length of the projection combined with the length of the body is greater than the inner diameter of the well. 
     
     
         17 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises bismaleimide. 
     
     
         18 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection has a density of about 8 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         19 . The barrier of  claim 1  further comprising a magnet. 
     
     
         20 . A system for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
 a barrier, wherein the barrier comprises a body and a projection connectable with the body.   
     
     
         21 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the body comprises a laminated composite material. 
     
     
         22 . The barrier of  claim 20  where in the body comprises a randomly oriented composite material. 
     
     
         23 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the body is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         24 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection extends from the body in one direction. 
     
     
         25 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection extends from the body in a plurality of directions. 
     
     
         26 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection comprises a solid rod. 
     
     
         27 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection is porous. 
     
     
         28 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, composites, metals, substances soluble in water, substances soluble in cement, substances soluble in drilling fluids, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         29 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection comprises an extension. 
     
     
         30 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection is integrally formed with the body. 
     
     
         31 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection is perforated. 
     
     
         32 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.75 inches to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         33 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the body has a density of about 62 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         34 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection comprises a length, the body comprises a length and the subterranean formation comprises a well having an inner diameter, and wherein the length of the projection combined with the length of the body is greater than the inner diameter of the well. 
     
     
         35 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the body comprises bismaleimide. 
     
     
         36 . The barrier of  claim 20  wherein the projection has a density of about 8 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         37 . A method of substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising at least one seat, the method comprising the steps of:
 orienting a barrier comprising a body and a projection connectable with the body so that the barrier is substantially sealingly receivable in the seat.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the steps of removing the barrier from the subterranean formation and severing the projection from the body to facilitate removal of the barrier from the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the subterranean formation has a top side, the method further comprising the step of orienting the barrier with the projection pointing generally toward the top side of the formation. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the subterranean formation has an under side, the method further comprising the step of orienting the barrier with the projection pointing generally toward the under side of the formation. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the projection comprises a length, the body comprises a diameter and the subterranean formation comprises a diameter, and wherein the length of the projection combined with the length of the body is greater than the diameter of the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of dissolving the projection prior to removing the barrier from the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         43 . A method of substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising at least one seat and a magnet associated with the seat, the method comprising the steps of:
 orienting a barrier comprising a body and a magnet so that the barrier is substantially sealingly receivable in the seat.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising the steps of removing the barrier from the subterranean formation and severing the projection from the body to facilitate removal of the barrier from the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the subterranean formation has a top side, the method further comprising the step of orienting the barrier with the projection pointing generally toward the top side of the formation. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the subterranean formation has an under side, the method further comprising the step of orienting the barrier with the projection pointing generally toward the under side of the formation. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the projection comprises a length, the body comprises a diameter and the subterranean formation comprises a diameter, and wherein the length of the projection combined with the length of the body is greater than the inner diameter of the well. 
     
     
         48 . A barrier for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the barrier comprising:
 a body; and   a magnet connectable with the body.   
     
     
         49 . The barrier of  claim 48  wherein the body is comprised of a material that is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon, polymers, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, metals, cloth, composites, and combinations of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         50 . The barrier of  claim 48  wherein the body comprises a laminated composite material. 
     
     
         51 . The barrier of  claim 48  where in the body comprises a randomly oriented composite material. 
     
     
         52 . The barrier of  claim 48  wherein the body is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         53 . The barrier of  claim 48  wherein the projection is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, composites, metals, substances soluble in water, substances soluble in cement, substances soluble in drilling fluids, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         54 . The barrier of  claim 48  wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.75 inches to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         55 . The barrier of  claim 48  wherein the body has a density of about 62 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         56 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the projection has a density of about 8 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         57 . A system for substantially sealing a zone in a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
 a body; and   a magnet connectable with the body.   
     
     
         58 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the body is comprised of a material that is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, carbon, polymers, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, metals, cloth, composites, and combinations of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         59 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the body comprises a laminated composite material. 
     
     
         60 . The barrier of  claim 57  where in the body comprises a randomly oriented composite material. 
     
     
         61 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the body is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         62 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the projection is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, wood, composites, metals, substances soluble in water, substances soluble in cement, substances soluble in drilling fluids, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         63 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the body has a diameter of about 0.75 inches to about 4 inches. 
     
     
         64 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the body has a density of about 62 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         66 . The barrier of  claim 57  wherein the projection has a density of about 8 pounds/ft 3  to about 500 pounds/ft 3 . 
     
     
         67 . A composite fracturing ball comprising bismaleimide resin.