Patent ID: 9228409
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: E21B

Claim Text:
1. A process for recovering balls carried in wellbore fluids returning from a wellhead, the wellbore fluids containing sand, comprising: receiving balls and the wellbore fluids, and sand contained therein, in a receiving chamber; redirecting balls to a ball-retaining chamber; discharging a portion of the wellbore fluids received in the receiving chamber, free of the balls, through a first flow outlet, while discharging a balance of the wellbore fluids; from the ball-retaining chamber through a second flow outlet; and blocking the redirected balls within the ball-retaining chamber, wherein the portion of the wellbore fluids discharged through the first flow outlet and the balance of the wellbore fluids and sand contained therein discharged from the second flow outlet are directed separately to distinct downstream equipment.