SLIDING SLEEVE HAVING CONTRACTING, DUAL SEGMENTED BALL SEAT

摘要

A sliding sleeve (100) opens with a deployed ball (B). The sleeve has a seat (170) disposed in a bore of the inner sleeve and comprises a landing ring (172) disposed in the bore and being movable axially from a first axial position to a second axial position therein. A compressible ring (174) is also disposed in the bore and defines a space between a portion of the compressible ring and the bore. The landing ring in the first position supports the deployed ball with a first contact dimension and moves the inner sleeve to the opened position in response to application of first fluid pressure against the engaged ball. The landing ring moves from the first position to the second position in the inner sleeve when in the opened position in response to second fluid pressure applied against the engaged ball. The landing ring in the second position fits in the space between the compressible ring and the second bore and contracts the compressible ring inward. As a result, the segments moved inward support the engaged ball with a second contact dimension narrower than the first contact dimension.