Fallback prevention valve apparatus, system and method

An electric submersible pump (ESP) fallback prevention system comprising:

• an ESP assembly positioned in a downhole well, the ESP assembly comprising production tubing extending between a centrifugal pump and a surface of the downhole well such that during operation of the ESP assembly production fluid flows upward from the centrifugal pump through the production tubing to the surface;
• the production tubing comprising a fallback valve actuatable by the flow of production fluid, the fallback valve actuatable between:
• an open position, wherein production fluid flowing upward through the fallback
• valve actuates the fallback valve into the open position, and
• a closed position, wherein production fluid flowing downward through the fallback valve actuates the fallback valve into the closed position, the closed position blocking sand carried by the production fluid from falling into the centrifugal pump,
• wherein the fallback valve comprises a rotatable disc, and a bottom face of the rotatable disc comprises a relief groove, wherein the rotatable disc is positioned between a pair of nonrotatable discs, and wherein the rotatable disc is rotatable with the valve shaft between the open position and the closed position.