Inline fracturing valve systems and methods

A method of controlling flow of fracturing fluid in a fracturing apparatus, the method comprising:

• routing the fracturing fluid into a frac valve of the fracturing apparatus, the frac valve including:
• a housing having a bore to convey the fracturing fluid, wherein the bore includes a first inner surface defining a first inner diameter, a second inner surface adjacent to the first inner surface, the second inner surface defining a second inner diameter, a third inner surface adjacent to the second inner surface, the third inner surface defining a third inner diameter, and a central axis extending from an inlet of the housing to an outlet of the housing, wherein the second inner diameter is greater than the first inner diameter and the third inner diameter and the second inner surface partially defines a chamber located radially outward from the bore relative to the central axis, the housing defining a first port and a second port, the first port and the second port being in direct fluid communication with the chamber;
• a seal disposed within the bore;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the seal, the actuator including an outer surface and a flange extending radially from the outer surface, the actuator being disposed within the bore and inline with the inlet of the housing and the outlet of the housing and the central axis extending from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing is aligned with a central axis of the actuator, wherein the outer surface of the actuator defines an interior side of the chamber, wherein the flange is disposed within the chamber, wherein the actuator is axially movable within the bore and the flange is movable within the chamber, and wherein movement of the actuator moves the seal between a closed position in which the seal engages with a sealing surface of the housing to block fluid communication through the bore from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing and an open position in which the seal disengages from the sealing surface of the housing to allow fluid communication through the bore from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing;
• directing control fluid into the chamber via the first port on a first side of the flange to close the frac valve, wherein the control fluid causes movement of the actuator in a first direction and movement of the seal toward the closed position, wherein closing the frac valve blocks fracturing fluid flow through the frac valve, wherein the seal includes an elastomer seal and closing the frac valve includes operating the actuator to compress the elastomer seal against the sealing surface of the housing to block fracturing fluid flow through the frac valve from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing;
• and
• directing the control fluid into the chamber via the second port on a second side of the flange opposite the first side to open the frac valve, wherein the control fluid causes movement of the actuator in a second direction and movement of the seal to the open position.

An apparatus comprising:

• an actuatable wellhead plug configured to be installed in a wellhead bore, the actuatable wellhead plug comprising:
• a housing having a bore to convey a fluid, the bore including a first portion defining a first inner diameter and a second portion defining a second inner diameter, the first portion of the bore being in direct fluid communication with a side port defined in the housing, wherein the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter, wherein a first sidewall extends between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the first sidewall and the second portion partially define an actuator chamber;
• a retainer disposed within the second portion of the bore, an end of the retainer partially defining the actuator chamber, wherein the retainer is configured to isolate the actuator chamber from a remainder of the second portion of the bore and to seal the remainder of the second portion of the bore from fluid flow;
• a first seal disposed within the first portion of the bore;
• and
• an actuator including an outer surface and a flange extending radially from the outer surface and defining an end of the actuator, wherein:
• the actuator is disposed within the first portion and the second portion of the bore;
• a second seal on the outer surface of the actuator partially defines the actuator chamber to isolate the actuator chamber from the first portion of the bore and the side port;
• the flange is disposed within the actuator chamber;
• and
• the actuator is movable within the bore and the flange is movable within the actuator chamber by a control fluid in the actuator chamber acting on the flange to move the actuator and the first seal between a closed position in which the first seal blocks fluid flow through the first portion of the bore and the side port and an open position that allows fluid flow through the first portion of the bore and the side port, wherein the actuator chamber is in direct fluid communication with a first control fluid port defined in the housing and configured to direct the control fluid into the actuator chamber on a first side of the flange to move the actuator and the first seal toward the closed position, and wherein the actuator chamber is in direct fluid communication with a second control fluid port defined in the housing and configured to direct the control fluid into the actuator chamber on a second side of the flange opposite the first side to move the actuator and the first seal toward the open position, wherein the side port, the first control fluid port, and the second control fluid port are separately defined in the housing.