Shear seal check valve for use in wellbore fluid

A method for controlling fluid flow from a first location to a second location, comprising:

• positioning a valve between the first location and the second location;
• the valve having:
• a body having a fluid conduit, the conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with the first location and an outlet in fluid communication with the second location, the body further having a chamber;
• a valve element disposed in the chamber, the valve element having a seal separating the chamber into a pressure section and a flow section, wherein the pressure section is in hydraulic communication with the outlet via an outlet fluid branch;
• a shear seal having at least one movable sealing element disposed on the valve element and a first and a second stationary sealing element disposed in the body, the seal of the valve element being positioned between the pressure section and the at least one movable sealing element;
• and
• wherein the shear seal has an open position when the first and the second stationary sealing element are in sealing engagement with the at least one movable sealing element,
• wherein a pressure communicated by the outlet fluid branch also urges the valve element to the closed position and maintains the valve element in the closed position,
• wherein the first stationary sealing element, the second stationary sealing element, and the at least one movable sealing element are serially aligned along an axis of a flow path while in the closed position,
• wherein the shear seal has an open position wherein fluid flows through the flow path when the at least one movable sealing element is serially misaligned with the axis of the flow path,
• wherein the first seal element and the second seal element are in fluid communication with the inlet when the valve element is in the closed position;
• and
• a biasing member urging the valve element to the closed position;
• communicating fluid between the second location and an outlet of the conduit;
• controlling fluid flow in the conduit using the valve;
• applying a pressure at the outlet fluid branch to urge the valve element to the closed position;
• and
• allowing only flow from the first location to the second location by maintaining the valve element in the closed position using the pressure at the outlet fluid branch.

An apparatus for controlling fluid flow from a first location to a second location, comprising:

• a manifold for using a fluid mover to convey fluid between the first location and the second location;
• at least one module received by the manifold, the at least one module having:
• a first fluid conduit connecting a first and a second connector,
• a coupling in fluid communication with the fluid mover and the first fluid conduit, and
• a plurality of flow control devices in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit, wherein each flow control device includes:
• a body having a fluid conduit, the conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with the first location and an outlet in fluid communication with the second location, the body further having a chamber in hydraulic communication with the outlet via an outlet fluid branch;
• a valve element disposed in the chamber, wherein the valve element has a flow bore;
• a shear seal having at least one movable sealing element disposed on the valve element and a first and a second stationary sealing element disposed in the body;
• and
• a biasing member urging the valve element to a closed position wherein the first and a second stationary sealing elements are in sealing engagement with the at least one movable sealing element,
• wherein a pressure communicated by the outlet fluid branch also urges the valve element to the closed position and maintains the valve element in the closed position, wherein the first stationary sealing element, the second stationary sealing element, and the at least one movable sealing element are serially aligned with an axis of a flow path in the closed position, and
• wherein the fluid flows through the flow bore of the valve element when the first stationary seal element, the second stationary seal element, and the at least one movable sealing element are serially misaligned with the axis of the flow path.