Gate valve for subsea completion system

A subsea wellhead structure positioned adjacent the sea floor comprising:

• an outer casing (12) extending downwardly from said sea floor;
• a wellhead (11) coupled to said outer casing;
• a gate valve structure (10) mounted within said casing, coupled with said wellhead, and having an outer gate valve body (14) with an axial flow passage (16) therethrough;
• a cavity (18) extending through opposed ends of said gate valve body (14) transversely of said casing and communicating with said axial flow passage (16);
• a gate carrier (24) placed in said cavity (18), said gate carrier (24) having an elongated opening (26) therein;
• a gate member (28) mounted in said elongated opening (26) of said gate carrier (24), said gate member (28) having an opening (30) and a solid part;
• a cover (60, 66) mounted on said gate valve body (14) over each of the opposed ends of said cavity (18);
• and
• actuators for moving said gate carrier (24) between an open position such that said opening (30) of said gate member (28) is aligned with said axial flow passage (16) and a closed position such that said solid part of said gate member (28) is aligned with said axial flow passage (16).

A gate valve comprising,

• an outer body (14) with an axial flow passage (16) therethrough;
• a cavity (18) positioned in said body (14) transversely of said axial flow passage (16) and communicating therewith;
• a gate carrier (24) placed in said cavity (18), said gate carrier (24) having an opening (26) therein,
• a gate member (28) mounted in said opening (26) of said gate carrier (24), said gate member (28) having an opening (30) and a solid part;
• an actuator (34, 38, 42) for moving said gate carrier (24) between an open position such that said opening (30) of said gate member (28) is aligned with said axial flow passage (16) and a closed position such that said solid part of said gate member (28) is aligned with said axial flow passage (16).