Balanced stem and surface safety valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10900575-B2
Application number	US-201916288457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2019
Priority date	Feb 28, 2019
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for controlling a fluid flow. The system includes a valve body including a bore extending along an axis, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein a flow passage extends transverse the axis from the inlet to the outlet, a stem extending through the bore along the axis, and a valve member coupled to the stem. The valve member is movable along the axis, via the stem, between a closed position where the valve member blocks the flow passage to an open position where the valve member does not block the flow passage. The system also includes a balancing system coupled to the valve member, the balancing system comprising a tether and a balance member, wherein an opening force unseating the valve member is translated to the balance member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a fluid flow, comprising:
a valve body including a bore extending along an axis, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein a flow passage extends transverse the axis from the inlet to the outlet;
a stem extending through the bore along the axis;
a valve member coupled to the stem, the valve member being movable along the axis, via the stem, between a closed position where the valve member blocks the flow passage to an open position where the valve member does not block the flow passage; and
a balancing system coupled to the valve member, the balancing system comprising a tether and a balance member, wherein an opening force unseating the valve member is translated to the balance member, the balance member confined within a common chamber with the valve member.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a recess formed in the valve body, the recess receiving the balance member, and wherein the balance member axially translates within the recess along the axis.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cavity formed in the valve member, wherein at least a portion of the tether axially translates within the cavity as the valve member moves between the open position and the closed position.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the valve member includes a hole fluidly coupled to the cavity, the hole enabling fluid to flow into the cavity and out of the cavity.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the tether is substantially rigid and integrally coupled to the balance member.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tether is a flexible material that is in a slack position when the valve member is in the open position and a taut position when the valve member is in the closed position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a stem diameter is substantially equal to a balance member diameter.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the balancing system is energized during a portion of a valve stroke.

9. A system for controlling a flow of fluid through a flow passage, comprising:
a valve body having a bore extending along an axis transverse to the flow passage;
a stem extending through the bore;
a valve member coupled to a lower end of the stem, the valve member being moveable between an open position and a closed position; and
a balancing system coupled to the valve member including a flexible tether and a balance member, wherein the flexible tether is coupled to the valve member at a first end and to the balance member at a second end and moves between a slack configuration and a taut configuration, the balance member being moveable axially along the axis in response to movement of the valve member.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the tether is taut when the valve member is in the closed position and slack when the valve member is in the open position.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the balance member is substantially equal to a diameter of the stem, the balance member receiving a force applied by the stem, when the valve member is in the closed position, to balance forces across the stem.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a recess formed in the valve body, the balance member being positioned in the recess such that a gap is formed between a bottom of the recess and the balance member when the valve member is in the closed position and the balance member contacts the bottom of the recess when the balance member is in the open position.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein a valve member diameter is larger than both a stem diameter and a balance member diameter.

14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an external closing mechanism, the external closing mechanism driving the valve stem to the closed position upon activation by a pressure within the flow passage.

15. A system for controlling a flow of fluid through a flow passage, comprising:
a valve body having a bore extending along an axis transverse to the flow passage;
a stem extending through the bore;
a valve member coupled to the stem, the valve member being moveable between an open position where the flow passage is unobstructed and a closed position where the flow passage is obstructed; and
a balancing system coupled to the valve member and confined within a common chamber with the valve member, the balancing system including a tether and a balance member, wherein the tether is coupled to the valve member at a first end and to the balance member at a second end, the tether axially moveable within a cavity formed in the valve member.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a stem diameter is substantially equal to a balance member diameter, and wherein a force applied to the stem when the valve member is in the closed position is equalized by the balance member to reduce an opening force of the valve member.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a hole in the valve member forming a flow path between the cavity and the bore, wherein fluid collected within the cavity is driven into the flow passage as the valve member moves to the open position.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a recess formed in the valve body that receives at least a portion of the balance member, wherein the balance member is axially moveable within the recess in response to movement of the valve member.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the tether is substantially rigid and includes a head that maintains a constant distance from the balance member.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the valve member is in a balanced stem operation mode when the valve member is in the closed position and in a safety mode when the valve member is in the open position.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Llc

Inventors

• Mcevoy Travis Kyle
• Choate Jeremy
• Adams Keith

Classifications

• F16K3/316 Primary

  Guiding of the slide · CPC title

• F16K3/0227

  Packings · CPC title

• E21B34/00

  Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells · CPC title

• F16K3/02

  with flat sealing faces; Packings therefor · CPC title

• F16K39/04 Primary

  for sliding valves · CPC title