U.S. patent application number 09/815395 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for multiport gate valve assembly.
Invention is credited to Bartlett, Christopher D..
Application Number | 20010025658 09/815395 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22708359 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010025658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bartlett, Christopher D. |
October 4, 2001 |
Multiport gate valve assembly
Abstract
The invention is directed to a gate valve assembly which
comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending
therethrough; a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the
longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend
laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet
ports; each gate being movable between an open position wherein an
opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and
a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective
flow passage; and an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously
between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in
its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one
gate is in its closed position.
Inventors: |
Bartlett, Christopher D.;
(Spring, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Henry C. Query, Jr.
504 S. Pierce Ave
Wheaton
IL
60187
US
|
Family ID: |
22708359 |
Appl. No.: |
09/815395 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60192124 |
Mar 24, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/601.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/04 20130101;
F16K 31/1225 20130101; E21B 43/013 20130101; E21B 33/043 20130101;
E21B 2200/01 20200501; F16K 3/029 20130101; F16K 3/0254 20130101;
F16K 3/02 20130101; E21B 34/10 20130101; F16K 31/122 20130101; E21B
33/0355 20130101; E21B 33/064 20130101; Y10T 137/8741 20150401;
E21B 34/04 20130101; F16K 3/0218 20130101; Y10T 137/87499
20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/601.01 |
International
Class: |
F16K 011/044 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A gate valve assembly which comprises: an elongated body having
a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a plurality of gates
slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow
passages which each extend laterally through the body between
corresponding inlet and outlet ports; each gate being movable
between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned
with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the
opening is offset from its respective flow passage; and actuator
means for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position,
wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a
second position, wherein the at least one gate is in its closed
position.
2. The gate valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a spacer
member positioned between each pair of successive gates; and a seal
disposed between each spacer member and the longitudinal bore.
3. The gate valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the gates and the
spacer members form an integral column.
4. The gate valve assembly of claim 1, wherein: the body comprises
first and second entrance bores which communicate with respective
ends of the longitudinal bore; and the actuator means comprises a
first piston which is disposed in the longitudinal bore between the
first entrance bore and the gates, a source of hydraulic fluid
which is connectable to the first entrance bore to move the gates
from the first position to the second position, and means for
returning the gates from the second position to the first
position.
5. The gate valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the returning means
comprises a second piston which is disposed in the longitudinal
bore between the second entrance bore and the gates and a source of
hydraulic fluid which is connectable to the second entrance
bore.
6. The gate valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the returning means
comprises a spring which is disposed in the longitudinal bore
between the gates and an end of the longitudinal bore opposite the
first entrance bore.
7. The gate valve assembly of claim 1, wherein: each gate is
disposed between first and second seats, each of which comprises a
through bore that aligns with the flow passage; the first seat is
positioned between the body and the gate; and the second seat is
attached to a plug member which is secured over a transverse bore
that is formed in the body concentrically with the flow
passage.
8. In combination with a flow completion system which comprises a
tubing spool connected above a wellhead housing, a tubing hanger
supported in the tubing spool, and at least two conduits extending
from the bottom of the tubing hanger to either the top or the outer
diameter of the tubing hanger, the improvement comprising a gate
valve assembly which comprises: an elongated body having a
longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a plurality of gates
slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow
passages which each extend laterally through the body between
corresponding inlet and outlet ports; each gate being movable
between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned
with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the
opening is offset from its respective flow passage; actuator means
for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position,
wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a
second position, wherein the at least one gate is in its closed
position; and means for providing communication between the
conduits in the tubing hanger and the corresponding inlet ports in
the gate valve assembly.
9. The flow completion system of claim 8, further comprising: a
spacer member positioned between each pair of successive gates; and
a seal disposed between each spacer member and the longitudinal
bore.
10. The flow completion system of claim 9, wherein the gates and
the spacer members form an integral column.
11. The flow completion system of claim 8, wherein: the body
comprises first and second entrance bores which communicate with
respective ends of the longitudinal bore; and the actuator means
comprises a first piston which is disposed in the longitudinal bore
between the first entrance bore and the gates, a source of
hydraulic fluid which is connectable to the first entrance bore to
move the gates from the first position to the second position, and
means for returning the gates from the second position to the first
position.
12. The flow completion system of claim 8, wherein the returning
means comprises a second piston which is disposed in the
longitudinal bore between the second entrance bore and the gates
and a source of hydraulic fluid which is connectable to the second
entrance bore.
13. The flow completion system of claim 12, wherein the returning
means comprises a spring which is disposed in the longitudinal bore
between the gates and an end of the longitudinal bore opposite the
first entrance bore.
14. The flow completion system of claim 8, wherein: each gate is
disposed between first and second seats, each of which comprises a
through bore that aligns with the flow passage; the first seat is
positioned between the body and the gate; and the second seat is
attached to a plug member which is secured over a transverse bore
that is formed in the body concentrically with the flow
passage.
15. A valve assembly which comprises: an elongated body having
first and second spaced apart entrance bores and a longitudinal
bore extending between the entrance bores; a plurality of gates
positioned in the longitudinal bore; each gate being slidably
disposed across a respective flow passage which extends between a
corresponding inlet port and a corresponding outlet port; each gate
comprising an opening and being movable between an open position
wherein the opening is aligned with its respective flow passage and
a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective
flow passage; a first piston positioned in the longitudinal bore
between the first entrance bore and the gates; a second piston
positioned in the longitudinal bore between the second entrance
bore and the gates; and a source of hydraulic fluid connected to
each of the first and second entrance bores; wherein application of
hydraulic fluid to the first entrance bore will move the first
piston and the gates from a first position to a second position,
and application of hydraulic fluid to the second entrance bore will
move the second piston and the gates from the second position to
the first position; wherein the first position corresponds to at
least one of the gates being in the open position and the second
position corresponds to the at least one gate being in the closed
position.
16. The valve assembly of claim 15, further comprising: a spacer
member positioned between each pair of successive gates; and a seal
positioned between each spacer member and the longitudinal
bore.
17. The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the gates, the first
and second pistons and the spacer members form an integral
column.
18. The valve assembly of claim 15, wherein: each gate is disposed
between first and second seats, each of which comprises a through
bore that aligns with the flow passage; the first seat is
positioned between the body and the gate; and the second seat is
attached to a plug member which is secured over a transverse bore
that is formed in the body concentrically with the flow passage.
Description
[0001] This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/192,124, which was filed on Mar. 24, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a gate valve. More
particularly, the invention relates to a gate valve which comprises
a plurality of flow paths extending between respective inlet and
outlet ports and a gate member for controlling the flow of fluid
through each of the flow paths.
[0003] The need to control the flow of fluid through multiple flow
paths exists in many applications. One such application is a flow
completion system for producing oil or gas from a subsea well. A
typical horizontal-type flow completion system comprises a wellhead
housing which is installed at the upper end of a well bore, a
tubing spool which is connected to the top of the wellhead housing,
and a tubing hanger which is suspended in the tubing spool. In
addition to supporting at least one tubing string which extends
into the well bore, the tubing hanger may also comprise several
service and control conduits for communicating hydraulic control
fluid or chemicals to corresponding devices or positions located in
the well bore below the tubing hanger. These service and control
conduits are connected to corresponding external service and
control lines typically via radial penetrators which extend through
the tubing spool and into the tubing hanger. In order to ensure
that the service and control conduits do not permit well fluids to
escape into the environment, each service and control conduit
typically must include a closure member to seal off the service and
control conduit when it is not in use.
[0004] In prior art flow completion systems, a poppet-type valve is
usually installed in the end of each service and control conduit
adjacent the radial penetrator to seal off the service and control
conduit when it is disengaged from the radial penetrator. While
this poppet-type valve is sufficient to provide a single barrier
between the well bore and the environment through the service and
control conduit, industry standards often require that such
conduits include two barriers. Although a second barrier may be
achieved by providing a second valve in each service and control
conduit, such valves would each require a separate actuating
mechanism comprising a separate set of control lines, and this
would necessarily increases the cost and complexity of the flow
completion system.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, these and other
disadvantages are overcome with a multiport gate valve assembly
which comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal bore
extending therethrough, a plurality of gates slidably disposed in
the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages that each
extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and
outlet ports, and an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously
between their respective open position, wherein an opening in each
gate is aligned with its corresponding flow passage, and a closed
position, wherein the opening is offset from its flow passage.
Thus, the gate valve assembly of the present invention is capable
of simultaneously controlling the flow of fluid through several
different flow passages.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body
comprises first and second spaced apart entrance bores and the
longitudinal bore extends substantially between the first and
second entrance bores. In addition, the actuator comprises a first
piston which is disposed in the longitudinal bore between the first
entrance bore and the gates, a second piston which is disposed in
the longitudinal bore between the second entrance bore and the
gates, and a source of hydraulic fluid which is connected to each
of the first and second entrance bores. Thus, application of
hydraulic fluid to either the first or the second entrance bore
will move the gates simultaneously between their respective open
and closed positions.
[0007] In this manner, the multiport gate valve assembly of the
present invention provides a simple and effective means for
controlling the flow of fluid through a plurality of individual
flow paths. When used in conjunction with a flow completion system,
the inlet ports may be connected to the service and control
conduits which extend through the tubing hanger and the exit ports
may be connected to corresponding devices or positions located
below the tubing hanger. Thus, the multiport gate valve assembly
can provide a second barrier between the well bore and the
environment through the service and control conduits without the
need for individual valves in each conduit.
[0008] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will be made apparent from the following detailed
description, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings, the same reference numbers are used to denote similar
components in the various embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary flow
completion system showing the multiport gate valve assembly of the
present invention installed on the tubing hanger component of the
system;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the multiport gate
valve assembly depicted in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
multiport gate valve assembly depicted in FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of
the multiport gate valve assembly depicted in FIG. 3; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a second
exemplary flow completion system showing the multiport gate valve
assembly of the present invention installed on the tubing hanger
component of the system;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a multiport
gate valve assembly 10 is shown installed on an exemplary flow
completion system 12. As explained more fully in applicants'
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ [FMC Docket No.
66-12272], which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, the
flow completion system 12 comprises a wellhead housing 14 which is
installed at the top of a well bore (not shown), a tubing spool 16
which is connected to the top of the wellhead housing 14, a
generally annular tubing hanger 18 which is landed in a central
bore 20 that extends axially through the tubing spool 16, and a
controls bridge 22 which is connected between the top of the tubing
hanger 18 and a junction plate 24 that is mounted on the tubing
spool 16. The tubing hanger 18 supports at least one tubing string
26 that extends into the well bore and defines a production bore 28
within the tubing string and a tubing annulus 30 surrounding the
tubing string. In addition, the tubing hanger 18 includes a
concentric production bore 32 which communicates with the tubing
string production bore 28, a lateral production passageway 34 which
extends between the production bore 32 and the outer diameter of
the tubing hanger, and an annulus bore 36 which extends between the
tubing annulus 30 and a portion of the central bore 20 located
above the tubing hanger. Furthermore, the tubing spool 16 comprises
a production outlet 38 which communicates with the production
passageway 34, and the flow completion system 12 includes one or
more valves 40 for controlling flow through the production outlet
38.
[0015] In the embodiment of the flow completion system 12 depicted
in FIG. 1, the tubing hanger 18 also comprises a number of service
and control conduits 42 which extend between the tubing annulus 30
and either the top or the outer diameter of the tubing hanger. The
service and control conduits 42 provide for communication of fluids
through the tubing hanger between corresponding external service
and control lines (not shown) and devices or positions located
below the tubing hanger. For example, one or more service and
control conduits 42 may communicate hydraulic control fluid from a
controls pod to an operational device, such as a surface controlled
subsea safety valve (not shown), which is located in the tubing
string production bore 28. Also, one or more service and control
conduits 42 may communicate pressure from the tubing annulus 30 to
an external service and control line which is connected to a
pressure monitoring device located, for instance, on a surface
vessel.
[0016] Each service and control conduit 42 is removably connected
to its corresponding external service and control line through
either a conventional radial penetrator (not shown) or the controls
bridge 22. In order to facilitate this connection, a first fluid
coupling member which comprises a poppet-type valve is preferably
mounted in the end of the service and control conduit 42 which is
adjacent the radial penetrator or the controls bridge. The radial
penetrator may comprise a second coupling member that is movably
mounted in the tubing spool 16 and which is adapted to sealingly
engage the first coupling member. The service and control conduit
42 may be coupled to an external service and control line which is
connected to the radial penetrator by actuating the radial
penetrator to bring the second coupling member into engagement with
the first coupling member, as is well understood by those skilled
in the art. Alternatively, the controls bridge 22 may comprise a
bridge line 44 having one end connected to a third coupling member
which is adapted to sealing engage the first coupling member and a
second end connected to a fourth coupling member which is adapted
to sealingly engage a fifth coupling member mounted on the junction
plate 24. The service and control conduit 42 may be coupled to an
external service and control line which is connected to the fifth
coupling member by actuating a connection mechanism in the controls
bridge to bring the third coupling member into engagement with the
first coupling member and to bring the fourth coupling member into
engagement with the fifth coupling member. Further details of the
controls bridge 22 may be found in applicants' co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. ______ [FMC Docket No. 66-12423], which
is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0017] In the production mode of operation of the embodiment of the
flow completion system 12 shown in FIG. 1, the tubing hanger 18
preferably supports both of the industry required first and second
barriers between the well bore and the environment, thus
eliminating the need for a separate pressure sealing tree cap. The
first barrier is provided by a suitable first closure member 46,
such as a wireline crown plug, which is disposed in the production
bore 32 above the production passageway 34, and a first annular,
preferably metal seal 48 which is positioned between the tubing
hanger 18 and the tubing spool 16 above the production passageway
34. Similarly, the second barrier is provided by a suitable second
closure member 50, such as a wireline crown plug, which is mounted
in the production bore 32 above the first closure member 46, and a
second annular, preferably metal seal 52 which is positioned
between the tubing hanger and the tubing spool above the first seal
48. In addition, the annulus bore 36 is sealed by both a first
closure member 54, such as a remotely operable gate valve, and a
second closure member 56, such as a sting open check valve.
Furthermore, while a first barrier for each service and control
conduit 42 is provided by the first coupling member which is
mounted in the service and controls conduit adjacent the radial
penetrator or the controls bridge, the second barrier is preferably
provided by the multiport gate valve assembly 10.
[0018] When used to control fluid flow through the service and
control conduits 42, the gate valve assembly 10 is preferably
supported on the tubing hanger 18. More particularly, in the
exemplary flow completion system shown in FIG. 1, the gate valve
assembly 10 is connected to a lower extension member or orienting
sub 58 which is secured to the bottom of the tubing hanger 18. The
orienting sub 58 comprises a tubular span 60 having an internal
bore which is concentric with the tubing string 26, and first and
second flanges 62, 64 extending radially outwardly from opposite
ends of the span 60. The extension member 58 is precisely oriented
with respect to the tubing hanger 18 via one or more alignment pins
(not shown), and is secured thereto by any suitable means, such as
a plurality of bolts (not shown) that extend through the first or
upper flange 62 and into the bottom of the tubing hanger.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the multiport gate valve
assembly 10 is shown to comprise an elongated body 66 having a
longitudinal bore 68 extending therethrough between a first
entrance bore 70 and a second entrance bore 72. The body 66 is
preferably attached to the orienting sub 58 using a pair of
brackets 74, which may either trap the body or be attached thereto
by, for example, welding. The brackets 74 are in turn connected to
the orienting sub 58 by bolts 76 or other suitable means to thereby
firmly secure the gate valve assembly 10 to the tubing hanger 18.
If necessary, appropriate cutouts 78 may be made in the first and
second flanges 62, 64 of the orienting sub 58 to accommodate the
brackets 74 and thereby allow the body 66 to be mounted tightly
against the span 60.
[0020] The gate valve assembly 10 in effect comprises a plurality
of individual gate valves 80 which are housed within the body 66.
Each gate valve 80 operates to open or close a corresponding flow
passage 82 which extends transversely through the body 66 from an
inlet port 84 to an outlet port 86. As shown more clearly in FIG.
4, each gate valve 80 comprises a gate 88 which is positioned in a
cavity formed by the intersection of the longitudinal bore 68 with
a transverse bore 90 that is formed in the body 66. The gate 88,
which includes an opening 92 extending therethrough, is
reciprocatable between first and second annular seats 94, 96 to
either open the gate valve 80, wherein the opening 92 is aligned
with the flow passage 82, or close the gate valve 80, wherein the
opening 92 is offset from the flow passage 82, as shown in FIG.
4.
[0021] The first seat 94 is received in a seat pocket 98 which is
formed in the body 66 between the transverse bore 90 and the inlet
port 84. The first seat 94 is preferably a floating seat which
comprises a stepped, generally cylindrical outer wall 100 and a
coaxial through bore 102 that aligns with the inlet port 84. A
Belleville washer 104 or similar biasing means is positioned on a
step 106 which is formed between the transverse bore 90 and the
seat pocket 98. The Belleville washer 104 engages a biasing ring
108 which is mounted behind a shoulder 110 formed on the outer wall
100 to urge the first seat 94 against the gate 88. A seal ring 112
is disposed in the seat pocket 98 around the outer wall 100 to form
a pressure-tight seal between the first seat 94 and the body 66. In
addition, a support ring 114 is preferably positioned between the
seal ring 112 and the biasing ring 108 to maintain the seal ring
properly positioned within the seat pocket 98.
[0022] The second seat 96 preferably forms part of a plug member
116 which is employed to seal an opening 118 that the transverse
bore 90 makes in the body 66. The plug member 116 includes a
circular body portion 120 which is received in the opening 118, a
reduced diameter portion 122 which extends axially toward the gate
88 and defines the seat 96, a back plate 124 which is attached to
or formed integrally with the body portion 120 opposite the reduced
diameter portion 122, and an axial through bore 126 which aligns
with the through bore 102 in the first seat 94 and defines the
outlet port 86 of the gate valve 80. The plug member 116 is
optimally removably connected to the body 66 with a number of bolts
128, and a seal ring 130 may be positioned around the body portion
120 to ensure a pressure-tight seal between the plug member 116 and
the body 66.
[0023] Referring again to FIG. 3, the gate valve assembly 10 also
comprises a first actuating piston 132 positioned between the first
entrance bore 70 and the uppermost gate 88A, a second actuating
piston 134 positioned between the second entrance bore 72 and the
lowermost gate 88B, and an annular spacer piston 136 engaged
between each pair of successive gates 88. Each of the pistons
132-136 supports an annular seal 138, such as an S-type radial
interference or other preferably non-metallic seal, for sealing
between the piston and the longitudinal bore 68. The pistons
132-136 and the gates 88 together form a column which is preferably
manufactured as an integral unit from a single metal bar.
Alternatively, the pistons 132-136 and the gates 88 may be
manufactured as individual pieces and then assembled into a column
within the body 66. In either case, the column is actuated as a
unit between the open position, wherein the openings 92 in the
gates 88 are aligned with their respective flow passages 82, and
the closed position shown in FIG. 3, wherein the openings 92 are
offset from their flow passages 82. In the closed position, the top
of the first actuating piston 132 engages the bottom of an access
plug 140 which is secured and sealed in the top of the longitudinal
bore 66 by suitable means. In the open position (not shown), the
bottom of the second actuating piston 134 engages a ring-shaped
stop 142 formed by a reduced diameter portion of the longitudinal
bore 68 above the second entrance bore 72.
[0024] The inlet port 84 of each gate valve 88 is connected to a
corresponding service and control conduit 42 by a first tubular
conduit 144, which is either welded to the body 66 at the inlet
port 84 or secured to the inlet port with an appropriate fitting.
In addition, the outlet port 86 may be connected to a corresponding
downhole component or location by a second tubular conduit 146,
which is connected to the plug member 116 by means similar to that
used to connect the first conduit 144 to the body 66.
[0025] In operation of the multiport gate valve assembly 10
depicted in FIG. 3, the gates 88 are normally in either the open or
the closed position. If the gates 88 are in the open position and
it is desired to close the service and control conduits 42,
hydraulic fluid from an external control line (not shown) is
introduced into the second entrance bore 72. The pressure from the
hydraulic fluid will force the second actuating piston 134 upward
and thus move the entire column of pistons and gates upward into
the closed position depicted in FIG. 3. When it is desired to
return the gate valve assembly 10 to the open position, hydraulic
fluid from an external control line (not shown) is introduced into
the first entrance bore 70. The pressure from the hydraulic fluid
will force the first actuating piston 132 downward and thus move
the entire column of pistons and gates downward into the open
position.
[0026] Although not depicted in the drawings, one or more of the
gates 88 may be oriented such that its open and closed position is
out of phase with those of the other gates in the gate valve
assembly 10. That is, in a first position of the column, one or
more gates 88 may have their openings 92 aligned with their
corresponding flow passages 82 while the other gates have their
openings offset from their corresponding flow passages. When the
column is shifted to the second position, the first set of gates
will close their flow passages and the second set of gates will
open their flow passages. This allows for a first set of service
and control conduits to be opened while a second set is closed, and
then for the first set to be closed while the second set is
opened.
[0027] Also, it should be understood that, while the multiport gate
valve assembly 10 has been illustrated in conjunction with a
particular means for moving the gates 88 between their respective
open and closed positions, other means may be employed for this
same purpose. For example, a mechanical biasing means, such as a
compression spring, may be positioned in the longitudinal bore 68
between the stop 142 and the second actuating piston 134. In this
manner, while hydraulic fluid introduced into the first entrance
bore 70 will operate to move the column of pistons and gates from
the first position to the second position, the mechanical biasing
means will function to return the column to the first position when
the hydraulic fluid is removed from the first entrance bore 70. In
this example, the second entrance bore 72 may be employed as a
fluid compensation port. Alternatively, the mechanical biasing
means could be replaced with an electromagnetic biasing means. In
yet another variation, a conventional valve actuator having a stem
which engages the column through a bore in the body 66 could be
employed to move the column between the first and second positions.
Other variations may be readily derived by those skilled in the
art.
[0028] Another embodiment of a flow completion system with which
the multiport gate valve assembly 10 may be particularly useful is
illustrated in FIG. 5. The flow completion system of this
embodiment, which is indicated generally by reference number 148,
is similar in many respects to the flow completion system 12.
However, the flow completion system 148 does not include an annulus
bore 36 extending through the tubing hanger 18. Rather, the flow
completion system 148 comprises an annulus passageway 150 which
extends through the tubing spool 16 from the tubing annulus 30 to
an annulus outlet 152, a workover passageway 154 which extends
through the tubing spool from the annulus passageway 150 to a
portion of the central bore 20 located above the second seal 52, a
closure member 156, such as a remotely operable gate valve, for
controlling flow through the annulus passageway 150, and a closure
member 158, such as a remotely operable gate valve, for controlling
flow through the workover passageway 154. In this manner, fluid
communication may be established between the tubing annulus 30 and
the portion of the central bore 20 located above the second seal 52
through the annulus passageway 150 and the workover passageway
154.
[0029] Furthermore, the production outlet 38 is preferably
connected to the annulus outlet 152 through a production master
valve 160, a production wing valve 162, a crossover line 164 and a
crossover valve 166. In addition, a production shut-down valve 168
may be connected to the production outlet 38 outboard of the
crossover line 164, and an annulus wing valve 170 may be connected
to the annulus and workover passageways 150, 154 outboard of the
crossover valve 166. In this manner, several fluid circulation
paths may be established between the production bore 32 and the
tubing annulus 30 through the annulus and workover passageways 150,
154 and the crossover line 164, as is readily understood by those
of skill in the art. Moreover, these valve and flow conduit
interface positions may be changed to suit case-specific
requirements.
[0030] As in the flow completion system 12, the tubing hanger 18 of
the flow completion system 148 comprises both of the industry
standard first and the second barriers between the well bore and
the environment. Thus, while a poppet-type valve 172 is mounted in
each service and control conduit 42 to provide a first barrier, the
multiport gate valve assembly 10 is connected to the service and
control conduits as described above to provide the second
barrier.
[0031] Although not depicted in the drawings, another flow
completion system with which the use of the multiport gate valve
assembly 10 may prove advantageous is the horizontal-type flow
completion system. This system is similar in many respects to the
flow completion system 148. However, in the horizontal-type flow
completion system, the tubing hanger comprises only a single
closure member positioned in the production bore and a single
annular seal disposed between the tubing hanger and the tubing
spool. The second barrier between the well bore and the environment
is accordingly provided by a tree cap, which typically includes an
axial though bore which is sealed by a second closure member and an
annular seal which is positioned between the tree cap and the
tubing spool. Since the horizontal-type flow completion system also
may include one or more service and control conduits extending
through the tubing hanger, the multiport gate valve assembly 10 can
provide a compact and effective barrier for such conduits.
[0032] Thus, it may be seen that the multiport gate valve assembly
10 provides a simple and effective means for controlling the flow
of fluid through multiple flow paths. Furthermore, while the gate
valve assembly 10 in effect comprises a number of individual gate
valves, all of the gate valves may be actuated simultaneously by a
single actuating mechanism comprising a single set of control
lines. In the context of a flow completion system, therefore, the
gate valve assembly provides an effective second barrier between
the well bore and the environment through the service and control
conduits 42 without unduly increasing the cost or complexity of the
flow completion system. Finally, although the multiport gate valve
assembly 10 has been illustrated and described in the context of
certain exemplary flow completion systems 12, 148, it should be
understood that the gate valve assembly could be used in any
application requiring the control of fluid flow through multiple
individual flow paths.
[0033] It should be recognized that, while the present invention
has been described in relation to the preferred embodiments
thereof, those skilled in the art may develop a wide variation of
structural and operational details without departing from the
principles of the invention. For example, the various elements
illustrated in the different embodiments may be combined in a
manner not illustrated above. Therefore, the appended claims are to
be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope
and spirit of the invention.
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