Patent ID: 8944169
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for fracturing a well in a formation, comprising: (a) a tubular valve body comprising an upper end and a lower end, and a valve passageway extending therethrough, the valve body further comprising at least one valve port extending through a sidewall thereof, the at least one valve port located nearer the upper end; (b) a tubular piston valve slidably disposed in the valve passageway and configured to provide communication therethrough, the piston valve configured to move from a raised position where the at least one valve port is closed to a lowered position where the at least one valve port is open; (c) a ball seat sub-assembly slidably disposed in the valve passageway between the piston valve and the lower end, the ball seat sub-assembly comprising a ball seat passageway extending therethrough, the ball seat sub-assembly further comprising a bypass port extending therethrough for allowing fluid circulation through the ball seat sub-assembly; and (d) an inner piston sub-assembly releasably coupled to the piston valve and configured to disengage from the piston valve when pulled away from the ball seat, wherein the inner piston sub-assembly is releasably coupled to the ball seat sub-assembly, and the inner piston sub-assembly is configured to pull away from the ball seat sub-assembly to open the bypass port; wherein the ball seat sub-assembly is configured to move the piston valve from the raised position to the lowered position when downward force is applied to the ball seat sub-assembly.