Split Seat Shear Valve Deformable Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gate valves used in subsea oil and gas operations face sealing issues due to damage from shearing downhole tooling, leading to leakage, as existing protective barriers can become misaligned and interfere with sealing, causing minor surface damage to affect the valve's ability to seal effectively.
Innovation Solution
A valve seat with a deformable inner sleeve positioned on the tubular body, designed to receive shear forces and decrease axial length under loading, protecting the sealing surfaces and acting as a cutting surface for wireline or coiled tubing, while remaining compressible to maintain sealing even with debris trapped between the sleeve and gate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a protective barrier is placed between the seat and the wireline or coiled tubing to limit damage, then the seat is protected from damage, but the protective barrier may become misaligned during operation and interfere with the seat's ability to seal to the gate
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat is segmented into two functional components: a rigid seat body that provides structural support and alignment, and a deformable inner sleeve that provides protection and compliance. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sleeve is designed to be dynamically deformable under axial loading, allowing it to compress and accommodate misalignment or debris while maintaining contact with the gate. This dynamic response ensures the sealing surface remains functional even during shearing operations.
2Productivity
If the gate presses the wireline or coiled tubing against the valve seat to shear the member, then the shearing function is achieved, but the sealing faces of the valve seat significantly deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The inner sleeve acts as an intermediary element between the gate and the valve seat during shearing operations. It absorbs the localized stresses and forces generated during shearing, preventing direct contact between the gate and the seat's sealing faces, thereby protecting the sealing surfaces from deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sleeve is designed as a sacrificial component that can be replaced after repeated uses. It absorbs the wear and damage from shearing operations, protecting the more expensive and critical valve seat and gate sealing surfaces. The sleeve can be inspected and replaced without replacing the entire valve assembly.
3Strength
If a rigid protective barrier is used to protect the seat, then the seat is protected from damage, but it cannot accommodate misalignment or trapped debris, interfering with sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The inner sleeve is designed to be dynamically deformable under axial loading, allowing it to compress and accommodate misalignment or debris while maintaining contact with the gate. This dynamic response ensures the sealing surface remains functional even during shearing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the inner sleeve (specifically its axial length and cross-sectional area) change in response to applied loads. Under normal operating conditions, the sleeve maintains its structural form to protect the seat. Under excessive axial loading or misalignment, the sleeve deforms to accommodate the dimensional changes, ensuring continued functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The deformable inner sleeve protects the valve seat during shearing, maintains sealing integrity, and can be replaced after repeated uses, ensuring effective sealing and preventing damage to the seat, while providing a cutting surface for wireline or coiled tubing and accommodating trapped debris.
Implementation Method 1
the sleeve having a deformable section adapted to decrease the axial length of the inner sleeve in response to axial loading of the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A gate valve has a gate valve seat for sealing a valve body to a gate of the gate valve. The valve seat extends from a flow passage of the valve body into a cavity of the valve body parallel to an axis of the flow passage. The cavity is perpendicular to the flow passage, and the gate is disposed within the cavity. The valve seat has a tubular body having a face for contact with a gate, and an end opposite the face adjacent to and in contact with the valve body. The valve seat also includes a sleeve positioned on an inner diameter of the tubular body, the sleeve adapted to receive a shear force for shearing a member extending through the flow passage, the inner sleeve having an adjustable length.