Selector Valve for High Pressure Hydrocarbon Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hydraulic fracturing systems require numerous valves and complex equipment setups, leading to increased maintenance, weight, and potential safety hazards due to high-pressure fluid exposure in closed valve positions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-bore fluid hub system with a selector plug and stem member allows for a single point of fluid supply connection to multiple outlets, reducing the number of valves needed and enabling fluid flow control and shut-down capabilities, thereby simplifying equipment configuration and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional valve configurations are used to direct hydraulic fracturing fluids to correct wells, then fluid flow control capability is achieved, but the number of valves increases leading to increased maintenance requirements and equipment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve functions are merged into a single selector valve with a multi-position plug. The plug can be rotated to different positions to direct fluid to different wells, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate valves. This consolidation maintains full fluid flow control capability while significantly reducing the total number of valves in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The selector valve is designed as a universal component that can direct fluid to multiple different wells through a single device. The multi-position plug provides multi-functionality by enabling the same valve to perform the function of multiple different valves, each dedicated to a specific well, thereby reducing equipment complexity while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are used in hydraulic fracturing systems, then fluid path selection capability is achieved, but maintenance requirements and equipment footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The selector valve combines multiple valve functions into a single maintainable unit. Instead of having to service and maintain multiple separate valves throughout the system, operators only need to maintain one selector valve to achieve the same fluid path selection capability, significantly reducing maintenance requirements and improving ease of repair.
3Ease of operation
If traditional skid equipment with multiple flow lines and valves is used, then well-specific fluid directing capability is achieved, but equipment weight and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The selector valve consolidates multiple valve bodies and associated components into a single integrated unit. This merging of components directly reduces the overall equipment weight while maintaining the capability to direct fluid to specific wells, as the single valve replaces multiple separate valves that would have been distributed throughout the skid equipment.
4Ease of operation
If valves are placed in closed position to block high pressure fluid flow, then fluid path control is achieved, but valve useful life is reduced due to high pressure exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The selector valve design extracts the high pressure exposure from the valve body by using a plug that rotates within the valve body rather than requiring the entire valve to close against high pressure. The plug can be positioned to block flow paths without subjecting the main valve body to sustained high pressure differential, thereby extending the useful life of the valve while maintaining fluid path control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for directing a fluid from an inlet to one of a plurality of outlets that are associated with a wellhead assembly includes a block body having a block inlet and a plurality of block outlets. A selector plug is located within the block body, the selector plug having a plug inlet aligned with the block inlet along a central axis, a plug outlet at an angle relative to the central axis, and a plug bore extending from the plug inlet to the plug outlet. A stem member is moveable to selectively rotate the selector plug within the block body so that the plug outlet aligns with one of the plurality of block outlets, providing a fluid flow path from the block inlet to such one of the plurality of block outlets, and impeding fluid communication from the block inlet to the others of the plurality of block outlets.