Well service valve seat removal

A reciprocating pump, comprising:

• a power end;
• and
• a fluid end coupled to the power end, the fluid end comprising a cylinder block defining a fluid bore and a plurality of valve seats disposed in the fluid bore, at least one of the plurality of valve seats comprising:
• a generally cylindrical body defining a seat bore axially therethrough and having an outer surface;
• an enlarged diameter portion extending axially from the generally cylindrical body and defining a shoulder surface, the enlarged diameter portion having a sealing surface disposed opposite the shoulder surface that is configured to form a seal with a displaceable portion of a valve;
• and
• an annular notch formed in the outer surface of the generally cylindrical body, the annular notch reducing a contact area between the outer surface and an interface surface of the cylinder block to facilitate ejection of the at least one valve seat from the cylinder block by a hydraulic fluid injected into an annular channel, the annular channel being formed in one of the cylinder block and the outer surface of the cylindrical body of the at least one valve seat.

A method for ejecting a valve seat of a reciprocating pump, comprising:

• fluidly coupling a source of hydraulic fluid to a fluid bore formed in a cylinder block;
• pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in the fluid bore, the hydraulic fluid received by an annular channel and radially compressing the valve seat;
• wherein the valve seat comprises:
• a generally cylindrical body defining a seat bore axially therethrough and having an outer surface;
• an enlarged diameter portion extending axially from the generally cylindrical body and defining a shoulder surface, the enlarged diameter portion having a sealing surface disposed opposite the shoulder surface that is configured to form a seal with a displaceable portion of a valve;
• and
• an annular notch formed in the outer surface of the generally cylindrical body, the annular notch reducing a contact area between the outer surface and an interface surface of the cylinder block to facilitate hydraulic ejection of the valve seat from the cylinder block;
• wherein the annular channel is formed in one of the cylinder block and the outer surface of the cylindrical body of the valve seat;
• and
• removing the valve seat from the cylinder block.