Pressure energized gate valve seat and seal assembly

A gate valve, comprising:

• a valve body having a gate cavity intersecting a channel having a proximal channel portion and a distal channel portion on opposing sides of the gate cavity, wherein a three-dimensional frame of reference comprises three mutually orthogonal directions, wherein an X axis corresponds to a center line of the channel, a Y axis is a center line of the gate cavity, and a Z axis orthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis;
• a gate positioned in the gate cavity and moveable between a closed position blocking flow through the channel and an open position allowing flow through the channel, the gate having a proximal gate face and a distal gate face extending perpendicular to the channel;
• and
• a proximal seat between a proximal valve body portion and the gate, the proximal seat having a first proximal seat face adjacent a proximal valve body face and a second proximal seat face adjacent the proximal gate face;
• a proximal annular groove on a radial outer surface of the proximal seat;
• a proximal axial seal positioned in the proximal annular groove in direct contact with the proximal seat and the valve body;
• a proximal conduit extending through the proximal seat between the proximal channel portion and the proximal annular groove;
• a distal seat between a distal valve body portion and the gate, the distal seat having a first distal seat face adjacent a distal valve body face and a second distal seat face adjacent the distal gate face;
• a distal annular groove on a radial outer surface of the distal seat;
• a distal axial seal positioned in the distal annular groove in direct contact with the distal seat and the valve body;
• and
• a distal conduit extending through the distal seat between the distal channel portion and the distal annular groove.