Valve packing shield for use in hydrocarbon operations

#1. Field of Invention

#This invention relates in general to manual and actuated valves, and in particular to a barrier for prolonging the life of the stem, packing of the bonnet assembly of a valve associated with hydrocarbon operations.

#2. Description of Prior Art

#So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is a charter sectional view of an example of a valve assembly with a debris barrier, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is perspective view of an example of a debris barrier fox use in the valve assembly of FIG. 1, and in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

#The methods and systems of the present disclosure will, now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments are shown. The methods and systems of the present disclosure may be in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

#It is to be further understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described, as modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed illustrative embodiments and, although, specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.

#Referring to FIG. 1, valve assembly 10 can be a surface valve or can be located subsea. Valve assembly 10 includes valve body 12 and bonnet 14. Valve body 12 can be, for example associated with a wellhead assembly that is disposed over a well (not shown). The wellhead assembly can include a wellhead housing, a production tree over the housing and flow lines connected to the tree or the wellhead assembly. The flow lines and wellhead assembly can include embodiments of valve assembly 10 described herein. Valve body 12 can also be used for regulating fluids that communicate with the wellhead assembly, or for regulating well and other fluids that are otherwise traveling along a pipeline. Valve stem 16 passes axially through valve bonnet 14, which is secured to valve body 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, moving valve stem 16 towards valve body 12 will cause valve body 12 to open. In alternative embodiments, moving valve stem 16 towards valve body 12 will cause valve body 12 to close.