Abstract: An embodiment of a seat assembly cooperates with an isolation member to isolate a well first portion from a well second portion and comprises one of a recess or a chamber to receive an explosive charge. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery may also be received into the same or other recess(es) or chamber(s) to trigger detonation, or a tool may be run into the well to engage and detonate the explosive charge. The seat assembly is secured in the well casing by at least one deployable gripping component and it resists deformation under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the seat and an isolation member sealably engaged therewith. Detonation of the explosive charge disables the at least one gripping component, thereby enabling retrieval of a body of the seat assembly to the surface using a tool coupled to a wireline or a coiled tubing string.

Abstract: An embodiment of an isolation member cooperates with an isolation member seat to isolate a well first portion of an earthen well drilled into the earth's crust from a well second portion and comprises an interior chamber to receive an explosive charge. The explosive charge may be surrounded by a filler material that is resistant to deformation. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery are also received into the chamber. The isolation member material may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, bulk metallic glass, silicon nitride or tungsten carbide, and the isolation member is resistant to deformation within the isolation member seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the isolation member and isolation member seat. Detonation of the explosive charge fragments the isolation member to prevent the isolation member from presenting an obstruction to subsequent well operations. A safety fuse may be included to enable safe handling and transport.

Abstract: An embodiment of an assembly includes an isolation member and an isolation member seat to together isolate a first portion of a well casing from a second portion of the well casing. The isolation member comprises an exterior surface including at least one of a ceramic material, metallic glass, a reactive metal or a PGA material, and the isolation member includes an interior chamber to receive an explosive device. The explosive device may be surrounded by a non-compressible fluid, and may include a pressure sensor, a processor, a battery and an explosive charge. The ceramic, metallic glass and reactive metal and may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, Bulk metallic Glass, silicon nitride, tungsten carbide, reactive metal alloy or PGA salt. The isolation member is resistant to deformation within an isolation member seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the isolation member and isolation member seat.

Abstract: An embodiment of an isolation member cooperates with an isolation member seat to isolate a well first portion of an earthen well drilled into the earth's crust from a well second portion and comprises an interior chamber to receive an explosive charge. The explosive charge may be surrounded by a filler material that is resistant to deformation. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery are also received into the chamber. The isolation member material may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, bulk metallic glass, silicon nitride or tungsten carbide, and the isolation member is resistant to deformation within the isolation member seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the isolation member and isolation member seat. Detonation of the explosive charge fragments the isolation member to prevent the isolation member from presenting an obstruction to subsequent well operations. A safety fuse may be included to enable safe handling and transport.

Abstract: An embodiment of a ceramic isolation ball is provided to cooperate with a ball seat to isolate a first portion of a well drilled into the earth's crust from a second portion of the well. Embodiments of the ball of the present invention are comprised of a ceramic material with excellent resistance to deformation when received into a ball seat and subjected to very high pressure differentials tending to force the ball into the ball seat to isolate a portion of a borehole below or beyond the ball and ball seat from a portion of the borehole above or before the ball and ball seat. Embodiments of the ball of the present invention include a hollow interior and a hole that receives a plug to close the hollow interior to prevent fluid intrusion therein. The ball is used to isolate a portion of a well during high-pressure fracturing operations.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fracking ball cooperates with a ball seat to isolate a well first portion of an earthen well drilled into the earth's crust from a well second portion and comprises an interior chamber to receive an explosive charge. The explosive charge may be surrounded by a filler material that is resistant to deformation. A pressure sensor, a circuit, and a battery are also received into the chamber. The ball material, may comprise one of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, bulk metallic glass, silicon nitride or tungsten carbide, and the ball is resistant to deformation within the ball seat under the application of a substantial pressure differential across the ball and ball seat. Detonation of the explosive charge fragments the ball to prevent the ball from presenting an obstruction to subsequent well operations. A safety fuse may be included to enable safe handling and transport.

Abstract: A coating system is applied to a ceramic evaporator boat to extend the life of the boat. The coating system includes a ceramic layer is applied over the surface of an evaporator boat reservoir. Optionally, a refractory metal layer is applied as an intermediate layer between the surface of the evaporator boat reservoir and the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer is form of a ceramic material selected from metal borides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal oxides, and combinations thereof, and wherein the metal component of the ceramic material is selected from zirconium, aluminum, titanium, silicon, tantalum, vanadium, and combinations thereof. The resulting coating system reduces corrosion and/or erosion that occur primarily in the reservoir region of the evaporator boat. One method of applying or depositing the ceramic layer or the optional refractory metal layer includes sputtering.