Pressure compensated flow tube for deep set tubular isolation valve
AssigneeBaker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC
InventorsWade A. Miller, John E. Burris, Michael L. Hair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The annular space surrounding a flow tube in a subsurface safety valve is sealingly isolated at opposed ends of the flow tube and pressure compensated to the tubing pressure. The subsurface safety valve is inserted and aligned in an outer housing so that hydraulic operating connections are sealingly aligned with opposite hand split ring seals that are properly compressed when the safety valve is secured in its surrounding housing. The assembly is then able to meet high pressure, heavy debris, and marine environment service requirements for subsea conditions with minimal reconfiguration for what would otherwise serve as a borehole subsurface safety valve.
Claims32
A safety valve assembly for use in a tubular string, comprising:
- a body having a hydraulically operated flow tube to selectively move into and out of contact with a flapper to selectively open and close a passage through said body and said flow tube wherein movement of said flapper selectively opens and closes said passage;
- said flow tube sealed to said body defining an isolated annular space in between when said flapper is in an open and a closed position;
- a pressure compensation system operable between the passage and said isolated annular space to control differential pressure between said passage in said flow tube and said isolated annular space, said pressure compensation system comprising a movably mounted piston between opposed stops with a pressure relief device that selectively opens if pressure differential across said piston exceeds a predetermined amount.
A valve assembly that coverts a safety isolation valve to subsea use, said safety isolation valve comprising a body having a flowpath therethrough, said valve assembly comprising:
- an outer housing comprising flanged end connections adapted to connect to a marine riser and a passage therethrough into which said body further comprising opposed ends is inserted with said flowpath nested in said passage and said opposed ends secured to said outer housing in said passage within said outer housing with a fastener independently of said end connections on said outer housing for attachment to said marine riser, said body sealingly secured to said housing by virtue of being inserted and secured in said passage of said outer housing so that at least one connection on said body for operation of a valve member is sealingly extended to an outer surface of said housing, said body protected by said housing from tensile, compressive and bending loads associated with subsea service acting on said housing.
A valve assembly that coverts a safety isolation valve to subsea use, said safety isolation valve comprising a body, the valve assembly comprising:
- an outer housing comprising a passage therethrough into which said body is inserted, said outer housing comprising end connections for attachment to a tubular string, said body sealingly secured to said housing by virtue of being inserted and secured in said passage of said outer housing so that at least one connection on said body for operation of a valve member is sealingly extended to an outer surface of said housing, said body protected by said housing from tensile, compressive and bending loads associated with subsea service acting on said housing;
- said body comprising at least one alignment pin to enter an alignment bore in said housing to align said connection on said body with an extending path to the outer surface of said housing;
- said connection on said body and said extending path on said housing are sealed on insertion of said body into said housing using concentric circumferentially split seal rings.
A valve assembly that coverts a safety isolation valve to subsea use, said safety isolation valve comprising a body, the valve assembly comprising:
- an outer housing comprising a passage therethrough into which said body is inserted, said outer housing comprising end connections for attachment to a tubular string, said body sealingly secured to said housing by virtue of being inserted and secured in said passage of said outer housing so that at least one connection on said body for operation of a valve member is sealingly extended to an outer surface of said housing, said body protected by said housing from tensile, compressive and bending loads associated with subsea service acting on said housing;
- a pressure compensation system operable between a passage in said body and an isolated annular space between said valve member and said body, said pressure compensation system comprising a movably mounted piston between opposed stops with a pressure relief device that selectively opens if pressure differential across said piston exceeds a predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.