Patent ID: 7100700
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A ball dropping apparatus, comprising: a housing having an uphole and a downhole end and a passage through it; at least one obstructing member mounted in said housing; said obstructing member selectively movable from an initial position where it is located outside of said passage downwardly toward said downhole end to an obstructing position in said passage where it will prevent flow toward said downhole end by obstructing said passage; said obstructing member in said first position is disposed in a side compartment selectively accessible to said passage; a selectively movable carrier to hold said obstructing member in said side compartment, in a first position, and to allow release of said obstructing member from said side compartment, when placed in a second position; said obstructing member is selectively released into said passage by virtue of flow through said passage; said obstructing member remaining in said initial position until movement of said carrier in opposed directions has occurred.