US 2021/0340837 A1 · PISTON LOAD RING SEAL CONFIGURATIONS

Abstract

A technique facilitates improved sealing with respect to safety valve pistons so as to improve reliable safety valve operation. According to an embodiment, a safety valve piston seal assembly is positioned about a safety valve piston and comprises components which divert a load path to the safety valve piston rather than to susceptible components of the seal assembly. For example, the seal assembly may comprise a load ring and spacers to energize a V-ring when pressure is applied to a metal spring energized (MSE) seal. However, the components are arranged so the load path is diverted to the safety valve piston when pressure occurs behind the V-ring instead of allowing the loading to act against the MSE seal.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system to facilitate operation of a safety valve, comprising:

a safety valve piston;
and
a safety valve piston seal assembly disposed about the safety valve piston, the safety valve piston seal assembly comprising:
a metal spring energized (MSE) seal;
an MSE backup ring adjacent the MSE seal;
at least one V-ring;
a V-ring backup ring engaging the at least one V-ring;
an adapter engaging the at least one V-ring on an opposite side from the V-ring backup ring;
and
a load transfer assembly disposed between the adapter and the MSE backup ring to reduce detrimental loading, which would otherwise occur along a load path through the MSE seal, by directing loading to the safety valve piston,
wherein the load transfer assembly comprises a load ring engaged with the safety valve piston to transfer loading to the safety valve piston when the at least one V-ring is subjected to back pressure.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Piston load ring seal configurations

Life of this patent

Piston load ring seal configurations

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19