Internal gate valve for flow completion systems

A closure member for use in a tubing hanger which is suspended in a tubing spool and which comprises an elongated body having an annulus bore that extends generally axially therethrough, the annulus bore comprising a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally axial second branch, the closure member comprising:

• a gate which is moveable generally axially across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch;
• a conduit which extends generally axially through the body from the gate;
• actuating means positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from a first position to a second position;
• and
• returning means for moving the gate from the second position to the first position;
• wherein one of the first and second positions corresponds to the open position of the gate and the other position corresponds to the closed position of the gate.

In combination with a flow completion system which comprises a component having an elongated body and a flow passage extending generally longitudinally through the body, the flow passage including a generally lateral first branch connected to a generally longitudinal second branch, a closure member comprising:

• a gate which is moveable generally longitudinally across the first branch between an open position in which a hole in the gate is aligned with the first branch and a closed position in which the hole is offset from the first branch;
• a conduit which extends through the body from the gate;
• actuating means positioned in the conduit for moving the gate from a first position to a second position;
• and
• returning means for moving the gate from the second position to the first position;
• wherein one of the first and second positions corresponds to the open position of the gate and the other position corresponds to the closed position of the gate;
• and
• wherein the conduit extends generally longitudinally through the body;
• whereby the actuating means is generally aligned with the flow passage.