Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Ralph H Echols

Michael Linley Fripp

Thomas Jules Frosell

Emile Edmund Sevadjian

Peter Derek Walter Inglis

Gordon Kenneth Scott

Peter Derek Inglis

A downhole ball valve includes a housing that includes a tubular member; a ball seat positioned in the tubular member, the ball seat including a sealing surface; and a ball that includes a first hemispherical portion, a second hemispherical portion, and a bore that extends through the ball between the first and second hemispherical portions. The ball is adjustable between a closed position with the first hemispherical portion sealingly engaged with the sealing surface of the ball seat to close the bore to fluid communication with the tubular member, and an open position with the bore at least partially in fluid communication with the tubular member. The first hemispherical portion includes a first material, and at least a portion of the second hemispherical portion that extends from a surface of the ball towards the bore of the ball includes a second material different than the first material.

Downhole ball valve

A system for use with a subterranean well can include a tubular string with a fluid discharge apparatus, the fluid discharge apparatus including a curved flow path which directs a fluid to flow less toward a structure external to the tubular string. A fluid discharge apparatus can include a generally tubular housing having a longitudinal axis, and at least one curved flow path which directs fluid to flow more parallel to the longitudinal axis from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing. A method of mitigating erosion of a structure external to a discharge port in a well can include directing a fluid to flow through a curved flow path, thereby reducing impingement of the fluid on the structure in the well.

Erosion reduction in subterranean wells

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Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Ralph H Echols