Subsurface valve with system and method for sealing

A subsurface safety valve system, comprising:

• a) tubular body having a borehole formed therethrough;
• b) valve member pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole of the subsurface safety valve;
• c) tubular member at least partially disposed in the borehole and slidably coupled with the tubular body, the tubular member adapted to selectively displace the valve member in the borehole;
• d) the safety valve further having a chamber formed therein with at least one chamber wall, the chamber coupled to the borehole;
• e) an annular line contact surface disposed in the chamber;
• and
• f) an actuator slidably mounted within the chamber to establish a stroke and coupled to the tubular member in the borehole, the actuator having a spherical engagement portion adapted to seat against the annular line contact surface at a predetermined position of the stroke.

A subsurface safety valve system, comprising:

• a) a tubular body having a borehole formed therethrough;
• b) a valve member pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole of the subsurface safety valve;
• c) a tubular member at least partially disposed in the borehole and slidably coupled with the tubular body, the tubular member adapted to selectively displace the valve member in the borehole;
• d) the safety valve further having a chamber formed therein with at least one chamber wall, the chamber coupled to the borehole;
• e) a two annular line contact surfaces disposed in the chamber;
• and
• f) an actuator slidably mounted within the chamber to establish a stroke and coupled to the tubular member in the borehole, the actuator having an at least one spherical engagement portion adapted to seat against both of the annular line contact surfaces at a predetermined position of the stroke.

A subsurface safety valve system, comprising:

• a) a tubular body having a borehole formed therethrough;
• b) a valve member pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole of the subsurface safety valve;
• c) a tubular member at least partially disposed in the borehole and slidably coupled with the tubular body, the tubular member adapted to selectively displace the valve member in the borehole;
• d) the safety valve further having a chamber formed therein with at least one chamber wall, the chamber coupled to the borehole;
• e) two annular line contact surfaces disposed in the chamber;
• and
• f) an actuator slidably mounted within the chamber to establish a stroke and coupled to the tubular member in the borehole, the actuator having a spherical engagement portion adapted to seat against both of the annular line contact surfaces at a predetermined position of the stroke.

A subsurface safety valve system, comprising:

• a) a tubular body having a borehole formed therethrough;
• b) a valve member pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole of the subsurface safety valve;
• c) a tubular member at least partially disposed in the borehole and slidably coupled with the tubular body, the tubular member adapted to selectively displace the valve member in the borehole;
• d) the safety valve further having a chamber formed therein with at least one chamber wall, the chamber coupled to the borehole;
• e) an actuator slidably mounted within the chamber to establish a stroke and coupled to the tubular member in the borehole, the actuator having an at least one spherical engagement portion;
• and
• f) an annular stop seal cartridge removably coupled to the chamber, the stop seal cartridge comprising a resilient seal establishing an annular line contact surface and a non-resilient seal establishing a second annular line contact surface, the actuator being adapted to engage at least one of the line contact surfaces.

A method of sealing a subsurface safety valve system, comprising:

• a) providing a subsurface safety valve having a tubular body with a borehole formed therethrough and a valve element pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole;
• b) allowing the valve element to be pivoted open by actuating a tubular member coupled to the valve element with an actuator slidably mounted in an adjacent chamber, the actuator comprising at least one spherical engagement portion;
• and
• c) statically sealing the actuator against a leading, annular, line contact surface facing the actuator engagement portion.

A method of sealing a subsurface safety valve, comprising:

• a) providing a subsurface safety valve having a tubular body with a borehole formed therethrough and a valve element pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole;
• b) allowing the valve element to be pivoted open by actuating a tubular member coupled to the valve element with an actuator slidably mounted in an adjacent chamber;
• and
• c) statically sealing the actuator with a spherical engagement portion against an annular line contact surface.

A method of sealing a subsurface safety valve, comprising:

• a) providing a subsurface safety valve having a tubular body with a borehole formed therethrough and a valve element pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole;
• b) allowing the valve element to be pivoted open by actuating a tubular member coupled to the valve element with an actuator slidably mounted in an adjacent chamber;
• and
• c) statically sealing a spherical engagement portion on the actuator against two annular line contact surfaces.

A subsurface safety valve system, comprising:

• a) a tubular body having a borehole formed therethrough;
• b) a valve member pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole of the subsurface safety valve;
• c) a tubular member at least partially disposed in the borehole and slidably coupled with the tubular body, the tubular member adapted to selectively displace the valve member in the borehole;
• d) the safety valve further having a chamber formed therein with at least one chamber wall, the chamber coupled to the borehole, the chamber having at least one fluid port for coupling to a fluid source;
• e) an annular line contact surface disposed in the chamber;
• f) an actuator slidably mounted within the chamber to establish a stroke and coupled to the tubular member in the borehole, the actuator having a spherical engagement portion adapted to seat against the annular line contact surface at a predetermined position of the stroke and a piston;
• g) one or more seals coupled to the piston and disposed at least partially between the piston and the chamber wall;
• and
• h) a bearing coupled to the actuator and slidable with the actuator in the chamber, the bearing disposed at least partially between the actuator and the chamber wall and between one or more of the seals and the fluid port to at least partially protect the one or more of the seals from contaminants.

A method of sealing a subsurface safety valve, comprising:

• a) providing a subsurface safety valve having a tubular body with a borehole formed therethrough and a valve element pivotably coupled to the tubular body to selectively close the borehole;
• b) allowing the valve element to be pivoted open by actuating a tubular member coupled to the valve element with an actuator slidably mounted in an adjacent chamber and having an engagement portion;
• c) at least partially sealing a portion of the actuator against a chamber wall with one or more seals coupled to the actuator and disposed around the actuator;
• and
• d) restricting a flow of contaminants from a fluid source to one or more of the seals as the actuator moves in the chamber by providing a bearing slidably coupled with the actuator in the chamber and disposed between the fluid source and one or more of the seals to at least partially protect the one or more of the seals from contaminants.

A safety valve for use in a wellbore, the safety valve comprising:

• a) a body having a bore formed therethrough;
• b) a member pivotably coupled to the body to selectively close the bore;
• c) a tubular slidably coupled with the body, the tubular adapted to selectively displace the member in the bore;
• d) a chamber coupled to the bore, the chamber having an annular line contact surface;
• and
• f) an actuator slidably mounted within the chamber to establish a stroke, the actuator having at least one spherical engagement surface adapted to seat against the annular line contact surface at a predetermined position of the stroke, the actuator coupled to the tubular in the bore.