Halliburton Company

Joseph S Squyres

Brock Wayne Watson

T Austin Freeman

William J May, Jr

Carl W Nunez

Alfred H Jones

An indicating ball catcher for use in a downhole drill pipe or tool string. The ball catcher comprises an upper body portion having an inlet opening smaller than any ball pumped thereto and a lower body portion. An elongated case interconnects the upper and lower body portions. A bypass is provided for allowing fluid flow around any ball caught in the apparatus and preventing the ball from being pumped therefrom. A reverse bypass may be provided so that fluid back flow is allowed without pumping the balls therefrom. In one embodiment, the apparatus can accommodate balls which have a larger cross-sectional area than an inner cross-sectional area of the case. The apparatus provides pressure indications at the surface when a ball reaches the upper body portion and when the ball enters the case.

Indicating ball catcher

A releasing tool for use in gravel packing operations comprising case means for releasably attaching the releasing tool to a tubing string, releasing block means retained within the case means for releasably attaching the releasing tool to the hook-up nipple of a gravel pack screen assembly and releasing mandrel means slidably disposed within the case means for alternately allowing the releasing block means to engage and disengage the hook-up nipple of a gravel pack screen assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, LA, United States of America

Joseph S Squyres