Valve assembly for a fluid end with limited access

A pump comprising a discharge valve assembly comprising:

• a valve seat, a valve body, a valve spring, and a valve guide,
• wherein the valve seat and/or a valve seat housing in which the valve seat is seated comprises a plurality of grooves extending axially along an inner circumference thereof;
• wherein the valve body comprises a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side comprises a valve seat contact surface that contacts a valve body contact surface of the valve seat when the valve assembly is in a normally closed position, and wherein the second side comprises a coupler actuating feature;
• and
• wherein the valve guide comprises a coupler, and a plurality of wings, each of the plurality of wings aligned with one of the plurality of grooves, such that, during operation, the plurality of wings can slide along the plurality of grooves, whereby rotation of the valve guide about a central axis of the valve guide is restricted, wherein the valve guide comprises a valve guide end distal the coupler, wherein, when the valve guide is coupled to the valve body via the coupler, the valve guide end distal the coupler extends a greater radial distance from the central axis of the valve body than the plurality of wings, and wherein the valve guide can be coupled to or decoupled from the first side of the valve body via the coupler by actuating the coupler actuating feature on the second side of the valve body,
• wherein the pump comprises a cross-bore pump fluid end or a concentric bore pump fluid end.

A pump comprising a suction valve assembly comprising:

• a valve seat, a valve body, a valve spring, and a valve guide,
• wherein the valve seat and/or a valve seat housing in which the valve seat is seated comprises a plurality of grooves extending axially along an inner circumference thereof;
• wherein the valve body comprises a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side comprises a valve seat contact surface that contacts a valve body contact surface of the valve seat when the valve assembly is in a normally closed position, and wherein the second side comprises a coupler actuating feature;
• and
• wherein the valve guide comprises a coupler, and a plurality of wings, each of the plurality of wings aligned with one of the plurality of grooves, such that, during operation, the plurality of wings can slide along the plurality of grooves, whereby rotation of the valve guide about a central axis of the valve guide is restricted, wherein the valve guide comprises a valve guide end distal the coupler, wherein, when the valve guide is coupled to the valve body via the coupler, the valve guide end distal the coupler extends a greater radial distance from the central axis of the valve body than the plurality of wings, and wherein the valve guide can be coupled to or decoupled from the first side of the valve body via the coupler by actuating the coupler actuating feature on the second side of the valve body,
• wherein the valve seat is a suction valve seat, the valve body is a suction valve body, and the valve guide is a suction valve guide, and wherein the suction valve assembly is in an assembled configuration in which the suction valve seat is seated in a suction valve seat housing, the suction valve body is coupled to the suction valve guide via the coupler, the plurality of wings of the suction valve guide are aligned with the plurality of grooves of the suction valve seat and/or the valve seat housing, and the suction valve spring is positioned in an annular space extending an axial distance between the suction valve seat housing and the valve guide end of the suction valve guide distal the coupler.

A method of servicing a wellbore, the method comprising:

• fluidly coupling a pump to a source of a wellbore servicing fluid and to the wellbore, wherein the pump comprises:
• a pump fluid end comprising:
• a suction valve assembly comprising:
• a suction valve seat, a suction valve body, a suction valve spring, and a suction valve guide,
• wherein the suction valve seat comprises a plurality of grooves extending axially along an inner circumference thereof;
• wherein the suction valve body comprises a first side opposite a second side, wherein the first side comprises a suction valve seat contact surface that contacts a suction valve body contact surface of the suction valve seat when the suction valve assembly is in a normally closed position, and wherein the second side comprises a coupler actuating feature;
• and
• wherein the suction valve guide comprises a coupler, and a plurality of wings, each of the plurality of wings aligned with one of the plurality of grooves, such that, during operation, the plurality of wings can slide along the plurality of grooves, whereby rotation of the suction valve guide about a central axis of the suction valve guide is restricted, wherein the suction valve guide comprises a suction valve guide end distal the coupler, wherein, when the suction valve guide is coupled to the suction valve body via the coupler, the suction valve guide end distal the coupler extends a greater radial distance from the central axis of the suction valve body than the plurality of wings, and wherein the suction valve guide can be coupled to or decoupled from the first side of the valve body via the coupler by actuating the coupler actuating feature on the second side of the valve body;
• and
• a discharge valve assembly;
• a reciprocating element, wherein the reciprocating element comprises a suction valve seat housing in which the suction valve seat is seated, and a shoulder along an inside diameter of the reciprocating element upon which the suction valve guide can rest prior to coupling of the suction valve body therewith via the coupler, wherein the shoulder has a complementary shape to that of the suction valve guide end of the suction valve guide distal the coupler;
• and
• a power end coupled to the reciprocating element and operable to reciprocate the reciprocating element within a reciprocating element bore of the pump fluid end;
• and
• communicating wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore via the pump.