System, apparatus and process for collecting balls from wellbore fluids containing sand

摘要

A ball catcher for recovering balls from wellbore fluids containing sand during flow back operations. The ball catcher has a receiving chamber for receiving the wellbore fluids containing sand, a first flow outlet for discharging a portion of the wellbore fluids and sand contained therein, and a diverter for redirecting balls entrained within the wellbore fluids. The redirected balls and a balance of the wellbore fluids also containing sand are received in a ball-retaining chamber. A blocker fit to the ball-retaining chamber retains the recovered balls therein while the balance of the wellbore fluids and sand contained therein is discharged from a second flow outlet and directed to downstream equipment through an auxiliary flow line. The retaining chamber can be isolated allowing the balls to be removed from the ball catcher without disrupting the flow back operation.

主权项

1. A ball catcher for recovering balls carried within a fluid flow of wellbore fluids returning from a wellhead, comprising:
a catcher body positioned along a flow path of fluid from the wellhead to a flow outlet, the catcher body in fluid communication with a ball recovery chamber which intersects the flow path, the balls having a first velocity vector along the flow path; a diverter fit to the catcher body and having a wellhead end extending into the flow path, a bore being open at a tail end and in fluid communication with the flow outlet, and having a diverter face at the wellhead end, the wellhead end being positioned inline with the first velocity vector for intercepting and substantially arresting the balls and diverting at least the balls into the ball recovery chamber; a plurality of flow passages extending through the wellhead end of the diverter to the bore for conducting the fluid flow, free of at least the balls, from about wellhead end to the bore for discharge through the tail end; and an isolation valve positioned between the catcher body and the ball recover chamber or isolating the ball recovery chamber from the flow path for servicing of the ball recovery chamber, and when so isolated the wellbore fluids continue to flow along the flow path from the wellhead to the flow outlet.