Patent ID: 8561700
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising: a) a top drive having a lower end portion; b) a tool body comprised of a plurality of modules, each module connected to another module with a threaded connection, the tool body having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of the top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet; c) a main inner flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, and an outer channel; d) the modules including some modules that are not valving members and a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a ball portion with a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions; e) the outer channel enabling fluid to bypass a said valving member when the valving member is in the closed position, said outer channel having a curvature; f) at least one of the valving members having a cross section that, in the open position, does not valve fluid flow in the main flow channel; g) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member via the outer channel when the ball portion is in the closed position and through the valving member and inner channel when the valve is in the open position; h) wherein each valving member is configured to support a ball or plug when closed; I) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough when neither a ball nor plug is in the valve flow bore; and j) the valving member having an outer portion that valves the outer channel, an edge of the outer portion having the same curvature as the outer channel.