Frac system with flapper valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023203909-A1
Application number	US-202318177853-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2023
Priority date	Sep 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 29, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A frac system including a frac tree. The frac tree includes a frac head. The frac head defines a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The frac head receives frac fluid through the first inlet and directs the frac fluid to the outlet fluidly coupled to a wellhead. A valve couples to the second inlet of the frac head. A flapper valve is within the frac head. The flapper valve moves between an open position and a closed position to control fluid flow to the valve through the second inlet. The flapper valve aligns with a first axis of the outlet and the second inlet in the closed position and aligns with a second axis of the first inlet in the open position.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
a body of a hydrocarbon extraction system, wherein the body comprises a first port, a second port, and a fluid flow path between the first and second ports; a flapper valve within the body, wherein the flapper valve is configured to rotate about a rotational axis between an open position and a closed position to open and close the fluid flow path; and an axial member configured to move along an axial path of travel parallel to a central axis of the first port, wherein the axial member is configured to engage the flapper valve at an offset distance relative to the rotational axis to cause rotation of the flapper valve between the open position and the closed position.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body of the hydrocarbon extraction system comprises a head configured to couple with a well.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the axial member comprises a piston.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the axial member comprises a wall disposed circumferentially about a central bore, wherein the central bore is configured to pass a fluid flow, a tool, or a combination thereof.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the axial member is coaxial with the central axis of the first port.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow path comprises a cavity between the first and second ports, the flapper valve is disposed in the cavity adjacent the first port, and the axial member is disposed in the first port.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the axial member is configured to move along the axial path of travel between a retracted position within the first port and an extended position within the first port and extended into the cavity, wherein the axial member is configured to move into the retracted position to cause the flapper valve to move into the closed position, wherein the axial member is configured to move into the extended position to cause the flapper valve to move into the open position.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the flapper valve comprises opposite first and second faces, wherein the first face is directed toward the first port in the closed position of the flapper valve, wherein the axial member is configured to contact and slide along the first face when moving from the retracted position to the extended position to cause the flapper valve to move from the closed position to the open position.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the axial member is configured to contact the first face at the offset distance, and the offset distance increases from the retracted position to the extended position of the axial member.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flapper valve is biased toward the closed position by a spring.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ports are coaxial with one another along the central axis.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ports are crosswise with one another.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a third port in fluid communication with the first and second ports via the fluid flow path.

14 . The system of claim 1 , comprising an actuator coupled to the axial member.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises an electric actuator.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator or a hydraulic actuator.

17 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a valve coupled to the body, wherein the flapper valve and the valve define a dual barrier.

18 . A method, comprising:
actuating an axial member to move along an axial path of travel in a body of a hydrocarbon extraction system, wherein the body comprises a first port, a second port, and a fluid flow path between the first and second ports, wherein a flapper valve is disposed in the body, wherein the axial path of travel is parallel to a central axis of the first port; and engaging the axial member with the flapper valve at an offset distance relative to a rotational axis of the flapper valve to cause rotation of the flapper valve between an open position and a closed position to open and close the fluid flow path.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein engaging the axial member with the flapper valve comprises causing the axial member to contact and slide along a first face of the flapper valve to cause the flapper valve to move between the open position and the closed position.

20 . A method, comprising:
moving a flapper valve between a closed position and an open position along a fluid flow path in a body of a hydrocarbon extraction system in response to movement of an axial member, wherein the body comprises a first port, a second port, and the fluid flow path between the first and second ports, wherein the axial member is disposed in the first port; and passing a tool through the first and second ports and a bore in the axial member when the flapper valve is disposed in the open position.

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Tibbs Cody
• Byrne Jana
• Clifton Justin

Classifications

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B34/02 Primary

  in well heads · CPC title

• E21B33/068 Primary

  having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) · CPC title

• E21B2200/05

  Flapper valves · CPC title