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Valveseatinterfacearchitecture
Publicationnumber
Publicationtype
Applicationnumber
Publicationdate
Filingdate
Prioritydate
US8317498B2
Grant
US12/049,880
27Nov2012
17Mar2008
11May2007
lifeofpumpcomponentsandtheassembly.Avalveofthepumpassemblyis
Alsopublishedas
CA2686521A1,11More
equippedwithaconformablevalveinsertthatisconfiguredwithacircumferential
Inventors
PhilippeGambier,ToshimichiWago,Jean
LouisPessin
uponitsstrikingofavalveseatattheinterfacewithinthepumpassembly.The
OriginalAssignee
SchlumbergerTechnologyCorporation
circumferentialcomponentmayincludeaconcavesurfaceabouttheinsert,a
ExportCitation
BiBTeX,EndNote,RefMan
roundedabutmentatthestrikesurfaceoftheinsert,oracoremechanismwithin
theinsertthatisofgreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthansurroundingmaterial
PatentCitations(22),Referencedby(1),Classifications(18),
LegalEvents(1)
oftheinsert.Additionally,thevalveseatitselfmaybeconfiguredformoreeven
ExternalLinks:USPTO,USPTOAssignment,Espacenet
US8317498B2
ABSTRACT
Apumpassemblywithvalveseatinterfacearchitectureconfiguredtoextendthe
componenthavingthecapacitytoreducetheradialstrainofitsowndeformation
wearovertimeandequippedwithaconformableseatinserttoreducewearon
thevalveinsert.
IMAGES (6)
DESCRIPTION
CLAIMS (20)
CROSSREFERENCETORELATEDAPPLICATION(S)
1.Apumpassemblycomprising:
ThisPatentDocumentclaimspriorityunder35U.S.C.119(e)toU.S.
ProvisionalApplicationSer.No.60/917,366,entitledValveforaPositive
DisplacementPumpfiledonMay11,2007andProvisionalApplicationSer.No.
avalveseat
avalveforstrikingsaidvalveseat,thevalvecomprisingavalveheadand
60/985,874,entitledValveforaPositiveDisplacementPumpfiledonNov.6,
aconformablevalveinsertaboutsaidvalveheadforcontactingsaidvalve
2007,bothofwhichareincorporatedhereinbyreferenceintheirentirety.
seatduringthestriking,saidconformablevalveinserthavinga
FIELD
circumferentialcomponenttoreduceradialstrainofdeformationofsaid
conformablevalveinsertuponthestriking,thecircumferentialcomponent
Embodimentsdescribedrelatetovalveassembliesforpositivedisplacement
partiallydefininganoutermostprofileofsaidvalvewhereinthe
pumpsusedinhighpressureapplications.Inparticular,embodimentsofa
circumferentialcomponentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurfacereducing
conformablevalvesealorinsertandconfigurationsofavalveseataredescribed
saidoutermostprofileofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmenttoinitiate
tomakeupavalveseatinterface.
contactwithsaidvalveseatinataperedmanneruponthestriking,said
BACKGROUND
Positivedisplacementpumpsareoftenemployedatoilfieldsforlargehigh
pressureapplicationsinvolvedinhydrocarbonrecoveryefforts.Apositive
roundedabutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurvedconcavesurface
whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan
outermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.
displacementpumpmayincludeaplungerdrivenbyacrankshafttowardand
2.Thepumpassemblyofclaim1whereinsaidvalveheadcomprisesa
awayfromachamberinordertodramaticallyeffectahighorlowpressureonthe
recessforaccommodatingsaidconformablevalveinsertandan
chamber.Thismakesitagoodchoiceforhighpressureapplications.Indeed,
exposedstrikefaceadjacentsaidconformablevalveinsertfordirectly
wherefluidpressureexceedingafewthousandpoundspersquareinch(PSI)is
meetingsaidvalveseatduringthestriking.
tobegenerated,apositivedisplacementpumpisgenerallyemployed.
3.Thepumpassemblyofclaim2whereinthecurvedconcavesurface
Positivedisplacementpumpsmaybeconfiguredoffairlylargesizesand
reducesanoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinserttoless
employedinavarietyoflargescaleoilfieldoperationssuchascementing,coil
thanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.
tubing,waterjetcutting,orhydraulicfracturingofundergroundrock.Hydraulic
fracturingofundergroundrock,forexample,oftentakesplaceatpressuresof
10,000to15,000PSIormoretodirectanabrasivecontainingfluidthroughawell
toreleaseoilandgasfromrockporesforextraction.Suchpressuresandlarge
scaleapplicationsarereadilysatisfiedbypositivedisplacementpumps.
Asisoftenthecasewithlargesystemsandindustrialequipment,regular
monitoringandmaintenanceofpositivedisplacementpumpsmaybesoughtto
4.Thepumpassemblyofclaim1whereinsaidcircumferential
componentfurthercomprisesacoremechanismdisposedwithinsaid
conformablevalveinsert,saidcoremechanismbeingofagreater
energyabsorbingcharacterthananadjacentbodyofsaidconformable
valveinsert.
5.Thepumpassemblyofclaim4whereinthecoremechanismisanair
helpensureuptimeandincreaseefficiency.Inthecaseofhydraulicfracturing
applications,apumpmaybeemployedatawellandoperatingforanextended
periodoftime,saysixtotwelvehoursperdayformorethanaweek.Overthis
time,thepumpmaybesusceptibletowearingcomponentssuchasthe
filledcoil.
6.Thepumpassemblyofclaim1whereinsaidpumpassemblypumps
fluidthroughahydraulicfracturingsystematanoilfield.
developmentofinternalvalveleaks.Thisisparticularlyofconcernat
7.Thepumpassemblyofclaim6whereinthepumpassemblyisafirst
conformablevalveinsertsusedattheinterfaceofthevalveandvalveseat.
pumpassemblyandthehydraulicfracturingsystemfurthercomprises
Therefore,duringdowntimeintheoperation,thepumpmaybemanually
atleastoneneighboringpumpassemblycoupledtothefirstpump
inspectedexternallyortakenaparttoexaminetheinternalconditionofthevalves
assembly.
andinserts.Inmanycasestheexternalmanualinspectionfailstorevealdefects.
Alternatively,oncethetimeistakentoremovevalvesforinspection,theyare
8.Thepumpassemblyofclaim6whereinthefluidincludesanabrasive
oftenreplacedwholesaleregardlessofoperatingcondition,whetheroutofhabit
proppanttherein.
orforalackofcertainty.Thus,thereistheriskthatthepumpwilleitherfailwhile
inuseforundiagnosedleakyvalvesorthateffectivelyoperablevalvesand
9.Apumpassemblycomprising:
insertswillbeneedlesslydiscarded.
aconformablevalveinsert
Thesignificanceofriskssuchasthosedescribedabovemayincreasedepending
avalvehavingavalveheadcomprisinganexposedstrikefaceanda
onthecircumstances.Inthecaseofhydraulicfracturingapplications,suchas
circumferentialrecess,saidcircumferentialrecessaccommodatingsaid
thosenotedabove,conditionsmaybepresentthatcanbothincreasethe
conformablevalveinsertsaidconformablevalveinserthavinga
likelihoodofpumpfailureandincreasetheoverallnegativeimpactofsucha
circumferentialcomponent,thecircumferentialcomponentpartiallydefining
failure.Forexample,theconformablenatureofthevalveinsertisthatittendsto
anoutermostprofileofsaidvalveand
bulgeandwearattheedgesovertimeduetorepeatedstrikingofthevalveseat.
Additionally,theuseofanabrasivecontainingfluidinhydraulicfracturingnot
avalveseattoaccommodatestrikingofsaidconformablevalveinsertand
onlybreaksupundergroundrock,asdescribedabove,italsotendstodegrade
theexposedstrikeface,saidvalveseathavingarobustregionalignedwith
theconformablevalveinsertsovertimeasabrasiveparticlesaresandwiched
theexposedstrikefaceandanadjacentregionalignedwithsaid
betweentheinsertsandthevalveseatasthevalverepeatedlystrikestheseat.
conformablevalveinsert,therobustregionofabrasionresistanceexceeding
Suchdegradationandeventualleakagemayresultinfailuretosealthechamber
thatoftheadjacentregion
ofthepump,perhapswithinaboutonetosixweeksofusedependingonthe
particularparametersoftheapplication.Oncethechamberfailstosealduring
operation,thepumpwillgenerallyfailinrelativelyshortorder.
whereinthecircumferentialcomponentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurface
reducingsaidoutermostprofileofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmentto
initiatethestrikingoftheconformablevalveinsertatthevalveseatina
Furthermore,theramificationsofsuchanindividualpumpfailuremayultimately
taperedmannerinadvanceofthestrikingofthevalveseatbytheexposed
bequiteextensive.Thatis,hydraulicfracturingapplicationsgenerallyemploy
strikeface,saidroundedabutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurved
severalpositivedisplacementpumpsatanygivenwell.Malfunctioningofevena
concavesurfaceandwhereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextend
singleoneofthesepumpsplacesaddedstrainontheremainingpumps,perhaps
outwardlybeyondanoutermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.
evenleadingtofailureofadditionalpumps.Unfortunately,thistypeofcascading
pumpfailure,frompumptopumptopump,isnotanuncommoneventwhere
hydraulicfracturingapplicationsareconcerned.
Giventheramificationsofpositivedisplacementpumpfailureandthedemandfor
employingtechniquesthatavoidpumpdisassemblyasdescribedabove,efforts
havebeenmadetoevaluatetheconditionofapositivedisplacementpump
duringoperationwithouttakingitapartforinspection.Forexample,apositive
10.Thepumpassemblyofclaim9whereintherobustregionisofa
materialselectedfromagroupconsistingoftungstencarbideanda
ceramic.
11.Thepumpassemblyofclaim9whereintheadjacentregionisofa
materialselectedfromagroupconsistingofhardenedsteeland
urethane.
displacementpumpmaybeevaluatedduringoperationbyemployinganacoustic
12.Thepumpassemblyofclaim9whereinsaidcircumferential
sensorcoupledtothepump.Theacousticsensormaybeusedtodetecthigh
componentreducesradialstrainofdeformationofsaidconformable
frequencyvibrationsthataretheresultofaleakorincompletesealwithinthe
valveinsertuponthestriking.
chamberofthepositivedisplacementpump,suchaleakbeingtheprecursorto
pumpfailureasnotedabove.
13.Thepumpassemblyofclaim12whereinsaidcurvedconcave
surfacereducesanoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinsertto
Unfortunately,relianceonthedetectionofacousticdatainordertoaddress
lessthanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeofthevalveheadand
developingleaksatthevalveseatinterfaceasdescribedabovefailstoavoidthe
whereinthecircumferentialcomponentfurthercomprisesacore
developmentofleaksinanoperatingpump.Thatis,acousticdatamaydono
mechanismdisposedwithinsaidconformablevalveinsert,saidcore
morethanprovideanearlyindicatorofpotentialleaks.Whilethismayaffordan
mechanismbeingofagreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthanan
operatortimetotakethepumpofflineinordertoaddressthepotentialleak,
adjacentbodyofsaidconformablevalveinsert.
thereremainsnoeffectivemannerinwhichtoavoidtheleakinthefirstplace
withouttheneedoftakingthepumpoffline.Thus,ataminimum,evenwherea
catastrophicleakisavoidedduetoearlyacousticdetection,downtimeforthe
pumpatissuestillresults.Thereremainsnosubstantiallyeffectivemannerin
whichtoavoidleaksatthevalveseatinterfaceinanoperatingpositive
displacementpumpforwhichabrasivesarepumpedandaconformablevalve
insertisemployed.
SUMMARY
Apumpassemblyisprovided.Thepumpassemblyhasavalveseatinterface
withavalvehavingaconformablevalveinsertaboutthevalveandavalveseat
14.Apumpassemblyforpumpinganabrasivefluidandcomprising:
avalveseat
aconformableseatinsertdisposedatasurfaceofsaidvalveseatand
avalvehavingavalveheadandaconformablevalveinsertexposedata
surfacethereofforstrikinguponsaidconformableseatinsertsaid
conformablevalveinserthavingacircumferentialcomponent,the
circumferentialcomponentpartiallydefininganoutermostprofileofsaid
valve
definingafluidpaththroughtheassembly.Theconformablevalveinsertis
whereinthecircumferentialcomponentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurface
configuredforstrikingthevalveseatforclosingthefluidpathandincludesa
reducingsaidoutermostprofileofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmentto
circumferentialcomponenttoaccommodatedeformationthereofuponthestriking
initiatethestrikingoftheconformableseatinsertinataperedmannerin
oftheconformablevalveinsertuponthevalveseat.
advanceofastrikingofthevalveseatbythevalvehead,saidrounded
BRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFTHEDRAWINGS
abutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurvedconcavesurfaceand
whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan
outermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.
FIG.1isasideviewofanembodimentofavalveforapumpassembly.
FIG.2isasidecrosssectionalviewofthevalveofFIG.1takenfromsection2
2.
FIG.3isasidecrosssectionalviewofanembodimentofapumpassembly
employingthevalveofFIG.1.
FIG.4isanenlargedviewofavalveseatinterfacetakenfrom44ofFIG.3.
FIG.5isanenlargedviewofavalveseatinterfacetakenfrom55ofFIG.3.
FIG.6isanoverviewofanoilfieldemployingsurfaceequipmentincludingthe
pumpassemblyofFIG.3.
DETAILEDDESCRIPTION
15.Thepumpassemblyofclaim14whereinsaidconformableseat
insertandsaidconformablevalveinsertareofapolymericmaterial.
16.Thepumpassemblyofclaim14whereinsaidcircumferential
componentreducesradialstrainofdeformationofsaidconformable
valveinsertuponthestriking.
17.Avalveforapositivedisplacementpump,thevalvecomprising:
aheadhavingacircumferentialrecessandconfiguredforstrikingavalve
seatwithinthepositivedisplacementpumpand
aconformablevalveinsertdisposedwithinthecircumferentialrecessfor
contactingthevalveseatduringthestrikingandhavingacircumferential
componenttoreducearadialstrainofdeformationofsaidconformablevalve
insertuponthestriking,thecircumferentialcomponentpartiallydefiningan
Embodimentsaredescribedwithreferencetocertainhighpressurepositive
outermostprofileofsaidvalvewhereinthecircumferentialcomponent
displacementpumpassembliesforfracturingoperations.However,otherpositive
comprisesacurvedconcavesurfacereducingsaidoutermostprofileofsaid
displacementpumpsmaybeemployed.Regardless,embodimentsdescribed
valveandaroundedabutmenttoinitiatecontactwithsaidvalveseatina
hereinemployavalveseatinterfacewhereinavalveoravalveseatare
taperedmanneruponthestriking,saidroundedabutmentextendingradially
configuredwithacomponentforaccommodatingthedeformationofthevalveor
beyondsaidcurvedconcavesurface
seatuponastrikingofthevalveuponthevalveseat.
whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan
ReferringtoFIG.1,anembodimentofavalve100isdepictedforuseinapump
outermostradialedgeofthehead.
assembly310asdepictedinFIG.3.Assuch,thevalve100isofastandard
positivedisplacementvalveconfigurationwithahead180coupledtoaligning
18.Thevalveofclaim17whereinsaidheadfurthercomprisesan
legs125therebelow.However,thevalve100ofFIG.1alsoincludesan
exposedstrikefaceadjacentsaidconformablevalveinsertfordirectly
embodimentofaconformablevalveinsert101disposedaboutthehead180.The
meetingthevalveseatduringthestriking,thecurvedconcavesurface
conformablevalveinsert101maybemadeofurethaneorotherconventional
reducinganoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinserttoless
polymers.However,asdescribedbelow,theconformablevalveinsert101is
thanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeoftheheadandwhereinthe
configuredtoaccommodatedeformationofthevalveinsert101uponthestriking
circumferentialcomponentfurthercomprisesacoremechanism
ofthevalve100andinsert101atavalveseat385asdepictedinFIG.3.Inthis
disposedwithinsaidconformablevalveinsert,saidcoremechanism
manner,thelifeoftheconformablevalveinsert101maybeextendedintheface
beingofagreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthananadjacentbodyof
ofpumpedabrasivefluidsandrepeatedstrikingofthevalve100andinsert101at
saidconformablevalveinsert.
thevalveseat385.Thus,thelifeofthevalve100andpumpassembly310,as
wellasneighboringassemblies600,maysimilarlybeextendedasdetailed
hereinbelow(seeFIGS.3and6).
19.Aconformablevalveinsertofavalveforsealingagainstavalveseatofa
positivedisplacementpump,theconformablevalveinsertcomprisinga
circumferentialcomponenttoreducearadialstrainofdeformationofsaid
Asindicated,theconformablevalveinsert101depictedinFIG.1isconfiguredto
conformablevalveinsertuponthesealing,thecircumferentialcomponent
accommodateitsowndeformationuponstrikingofavalveseat385asshownin
partiallydefininganoutermostprofileofsaidvalvewhereinthecircumferential
FIG.3.Inparticular,theinsert101isconfiguredwithatleastonecircumferential
componentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurfacereducingsaidoutermostprofile
componenttoreducestressconcentrationandaccommodateitsown
ofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmenttoinitiatethesealingoftheconformable
deformation.AsshowninFIG.1,thesecomponentsmayincludeaconcave
valveinsertatthevalveseatinataperedmannerinadvanceofastrikingofthe
surface150andaroundedabutment175.Withreferencetoverticallineii,the
valveseatbyavalveheadtowhichtheconformablevalveinsertisattached,
concavesurface150inparticularmaybefurtherdefined.Forexample,with
saidroundedabutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurvedconcavesurface
addedreferencetoFIG.2,theconformablevalveinsert101isconfiguredfor
whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan
fittingwithinarecessofthevalvehead180.AsdepictedinFIGS.1and2,the
outermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.
outermostedgeofthisrecessisfoundatverticallineii,whichalsohappensto
correspondwiththeoutermostedgeofthevalvehead180.However,thisisnot
required.Regardless,itisapparentthattheinsert101failstoextendoutwardas
farasverticallineiiatthelocationoftheconcavesurface150.Thatis,atthe
locationoftheconcavesurface150theinsert101isofaprofilethatislessthan
thatofthevalvehead180(e.g.atverticallineii).
20.Theconformablevalveinsertofclaim19whereinthevalvehead
hasarecesstoaccommodatetheconformablevalveinsertandis
configuredforstrikingthevalveseatwithanexposedstrikeface
adjacentsaidconformablevalveinsert,thecurvedconcavesurface
reducinganoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinserttoless
thanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeofthevalveheadwherein
Thereducedprofileoftheconformablevalveinsert101providedbytheconcave
thecircumferentialcomponentfurthercomprisesacoremechanism
surface150ispresentabouttheentirecircumferenceoftheinsert101providing
disposedwithinsaidconformablevalveinsert,saidcoremechanism
theappearanceofagrooveatitssurface.Assuch,whenthevalveinsert101
beingofagreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthananadjacentbodyof
strikesagainstthevalveseat385asshowninFIG.3,deformationoftheinsert
saidconformablevalveinsert.
101failstoresultinundueoutwardbulgingoftheinsertbeyondthevalvehead
180(i.e.verticallineii)toanysignificantdegree.Suchbulgingmaybedamaging
totheinsert101.However,thepresenceofacircumferentialcomponentsuchastheconcavesurface150mayhelpto
minimizesuchbulging,therebyextendingthelifeoftheinsert101.Statedanotherway,theconcavesurface150reduces
theconcentratedradialstrainofdeformationfeltthroughtheinsert101uponstrikingofthevalve100.
ContinuingwithreferencetoFIG.2,withaddedreferencetoFIG.3,theconcavesurface150asdescribedaboveisshown.
Additionally,theabovenotedroundedabutment175maybedetailedwithreferencetodiagonallineiiii.Again,therounded
abutment175isacircumferentialcomponentabouttheconformablevalveinsert101.Inthiscase,theroundedabutment
175istheportionoftheinsert101whichisconfiguredfordirectlystrikingthevalveseat385.Infact,theroundedabutment
175extendsbelowthediagonallineiiiisuchthatitisthefirstcomponentofthevalve100tostrikethevalveseat385.That
is,asdepictedinFIG.2,thediagonallineiiiiisalignedwiththestrikeface281ofthevalvehead180whichisthrust
againstthevalveseat385duringoperationofapumpassembly310asdepictedinFIG.3.Thus,byextendingbelowthe
diagonallineiiii,theroundedabutment175actuallymakescontactwiththevalveseat385inadvanceofthestrikeface281
ofthevalvehead180.
Inadditiontocontactingthevalveseat385ofFIG.3inadvanceofthestrikeface281,theroundedabutment175indeed
providesaroundedconvexshapetothestrikingsurfaceoftheconformablevalveinsert101.Thus,thevalveinsert101
transitionsintocontactwiththevalveseat385inataperedmannerasopposedtomakinginstantaneouscontactacrossthe
entirelowersurfaceoftheinsert101.Assuch,theimpactontheconformablevalveinsert101isspreadoutoveragreater
period,therebyreducingstrainontheinsert101.Additionally,theuseofaroundedabutment175withasmallsurfacearea
makinginitialcontactwiththevalveseat385reducesthelikelihoodthatasignificantamountofproppantorabrasive
particleswillbesqueezedbetweentheinsert101andtheseat385attheinitialmomentofstrikewhenstressisatits
greatest.Thus,thedeterioratingeffectsofproppantontheconformablevalveinsert101maybeminimized.
Infact,thebenefitsofthismannerofstrikingbetweenthevalveseat385andthevalve100mayalsobeimpartedtothe
strikeface281andthevalveseat385toadegree.Thatis,duetotheextensionoftheroundedabutment175tobelowthe
diagonallineiiiiasdescribedabove,theimpactofagivenstrikeisinitiallyfeltattheinsert101,therebyreducingthedegree
ofimpactbetweenthestrikeface281andthevalveseat385duringthestrike.Thus,thecircumferentialcomponentofa
roundedabutment175providesstressreductiontothevalveseatinterfaceintermsofthevalveinsert101,thevalve100,
andthevalveseat385.
ContinuingwithreferencetoFIG.2,withaddedreferencetoFIG.3,anothercircumferentialcomponentofthevalveinsert
101forreducingstraininthefaceofimpactwithavalveseat385isdepicted.Namely,acoremechanism200isdisposed
withintheinsert101.Thecoremechanism200maybeenergyabsorbinginnatureandofamechanicalcharacterdiffering
fromthatofthematerialofthesurroundingoradjacentbodyoftheinsert101.Forexample,inoneembodiment,thecore
mechanism200isanairfilledcoilconfiguredtoabsorbaportionoftheenergyofastrikeofthevalve100uponavalveseat
385.Thebodyoftheinsertmaybeofalessenergyabsorbingmaterialsuchasthenotedurethane.Thus,themorerobust
energyabsorbingcomponentofacoremechanism200maybeemployedtoextendthelifeoftheconformablevalveinsert
101.
ReferringnowtoFIG.3,anembodimentofapositivedisplacementpumpassembly310employingavalve100witha
conformablevalveinsert101asdescribedaboveisillustrated.Thepumpassembly310includesaplunger390for
reciprocatingwithinaplungerhousing307towardandawayfromachamber335.Inthismanner,theplunger390effects
highandlowpressuresonthechamber335.Forexample,astheplunger390isthrusttowardthechamber335,thepressure
withinthechamber335isincreased.Atsomepoint,thepressureincreasewillbeenoughtoeffectanopeningofthe
dischargevalve350toallowreleaseoffluidandpressurefromwithinthechamber335.Theamountofpressurerequiredto
openthedischargevalve350asdescribedmaybedeterminedbyadischargemechanism370suchasaspringwhich
keepsthedischargevalve350inaclosedposition(asshown)untiltherequisitepressureisachievedinthechamber335.In
anembodimentwherethepumpassembly310isemployedinafracturingoperation,forexample,pressuresmaybe
achievedinthemannerdescribedthatexceed2,000PSI,andmorepreferably,thatexceed10,000PSIormore.
Theabovedescribedplunger390alsoeffectsalowpressureonthechamber335.Thatis,astheplunger390retreatsaway
fromanadvancedpositionnearthechamber335,thepressurethereinwilldecrease.Asthepressuredecreases,the
dischargevalve350willstrikeclosedagainstthedischargevalveseat380asdepictedinFIG.3.Thismovementofthe
plunger390awayfromthechamber335willinitiallyresultinasealingoffofthechamber335.However,astheplunger390
continuestomoveawayfromthechamber335,thepressurethereinwillcontinuetodrop,andeventuallyalowornegative
pressurewillbeachievedwithinthechamber335.Eventually,asdepictedinFIG.3,thepressuredecreasewillbeenough
toeffectanopeningofthevalve100(actinghereasanintakevalve).Theopeningofthevalve100inthismannerallowsthe
uptakeoffluidintothechamber335.Theamountofpressurerequiredtoopenthevalve100asdescribedmaybe
determinedbyanintakemechanism375suchasaspringwhichkeepstheintakevalve100inaclosedpositionuntilthe
requisitelowpressureisachievedinthechamber335.
Asdescribedabove,areciprocatingorcyclingmotionoftheplunger390towardandawayfromthechamber335withinthe
pumpassembly310controlspressuretherein.Thevalves350and100respondaccordinglyinordertodispensefluidfrom
thechamber335athighpressureanddrawadditionalfluidintothechamber335.Aspartofthiscyclingofthepump
assembly310repeatedstrikingofthedischargevalve350againstadischargevalveseat380andoftheintakevalve100
againsttheintakevalveseat385occurs.However,duetotheconfigurationsofconformablevalveinserts101,301and
otherfeaturesofeachvalveseatinterface,asdetailedaboveandfurtherbelow,theusefullifeoftheinserts101,301may
besubstantiallyextended.Thismaybeofcascadingbeneficialeffecttothelifeofthevalves100,350,thepumpassembly
310itself,andevenneighboringassemblies600asdescribedfurtherbelow(seeFIG.6).
ContinuingwithreferencetoFIGS.4and5,withaddedreferencetoFIG.3,acomparisonisdrawnbetweenthevalveseat
interfaces475,575beforeandduringthestrikeofavalve100,350atavalveseat385,380.Intheembodimentshown,
eachvalve100,350isequippedwithasubstantiallyequivalentconformablevalveinsert101,301.Thus,ofparticularnoteis
thecomparisonofthechangingmorphologyoftheinserts101,301whenmovingfromapositionawayfromagivenvalve
seat385asdepictedinFIG.4tostrikingavalveseat380asdepictedinFIG.5.
WithreferencetoFIG.4,anenlargedviewofthestructuralarchitectureatthevalveseatinterface475employingthe
dischargevalve100ofFIGS.13isdepicted.Asdetailedabove,thevalve100isequippedwithaconformablevalveinsert
101havingvarietyofcircumferentialcomponentsconfiguredtohelpaccommodateitsowndeformationuponstrikingofthe
valveseat385.Thatis,asdescribedabove,aconcavesurface150,aroundedabutment175,andacoremechanism200
areallincorporatedintotheinsert101tohelpreduceconcentratedradialstrainofdeformationfeltthroughtheinsert101
uponthestrikingofthevalve100againstthevalveseat385.Whenexaminingtheequivalentcircumferentialcomponentsat
thevalveseatinterface575ofFIG.5,withavalve350strikingavalveseat380,thebehaviorofsuchavalveinsert301is
apparent.
WithreferencetoFIG.5,anenlargedviewoftheintakevalve350ofFIG.3isdepicted.Unliketheinterface475ofFIG.4,
thevalveseatinterface575ofFIG.5revealsavalve350asitstrikesavalveseat380.Deformingoftheconformablevalve
insert301ofthestrikingvalve350againstthevalveseat380isapparent.However,muchofthestrainofthedeformation
ontheinsertisabsorbedbythecoremechanism501anditsenergyabsorbingnature.Additionally,thestrainofthe
deformationisabsorbedoveraperiodduetotheuseofaroundedabutmentsuchasthatofFIG.4anddetailedabove(e.g.
175),nowflattenedoutacrossthesurfaceofthevalveseat380.Furthermore,aconcavesurfaceoftheinsert301suchas
thatofFIGS.14asdetailedabove(e.g.150)hasgivenwaytoamoreflattenedsurface550.Thatis,astheconformable
valveinsert301isstruckagainstthevalveseat380,thestressofdeformationisradiatedoutward.However,duetothe
initialconcavenatureoftheouterradialsurfaceoftheinsert301,amoreflattenedsurface550isimpartedasopposedto
potentiallydamagingbulgingoftheinsert301asdetailedabove.
ContinuingagainwithreferencetoFIGS.4and5,additionalcomponentsmaybeprovidedforreducingconcentratedstress
attheinterface475,575upontheimpactofavalve100,350strikingavalveseat385,380.Whilesuchcomponentsare
detailedabovewithrespecttotheconformablevalveinserts101,301,valveseats385,380maybeconfiguredto
accommodateandreducestressconcentration.Forexample,conformableseatinserts400,500maybeemployedas
depictedinFIGS.4and5.Theseseatinserts400,500maybeconfiguredtodistributethestressofvalvestrikessimilarto
thevalveinserts101,301describedabove.
However,ofpotentiallygreatersignificance,isthefactthataseatinsert400,500ofconformablematerialaligningwitha
valveinsert101,301ofconformablematerialmayhelptoavoidtheimpartingofabrasiveforcesofproppantorparticulate
intothevalveinsert101,301duringavalvestrike.Forexample,withreferencetoFIG.5,byallowingforthealigning
surfaceofthevalveseat380tobeofaconformablematerial,anyproppantorparticulatetrappedattheinterface575during
avalvestrikemayberoughlyequivalentlyabsorbedintothesurfacesofeachfeature(e.g.301,500)asopposedtohavinga
hardsurfaceofthevalveseat380impartingstrayparticulateintotheconformablesurfaceofthevalveinsert301.Asa
result,abrasivewearontheinsert301maybesubstantiallyreduced.Thus,onceagain,thelifeoftheinsert301maybe
substantiallyextended.Inoneembodiment,thevalveinsert301andtheseatinsert500arebothofapolymermaterialsuch
asurethane.
ContinuingwithadditionalreferencetoFIGS.4and5,additionalmeasuresmaybetakenrelativetothevalveseats385,
380.Namely,thevalveseat385,380mayincludearobustregion450,551foralignmentwithaportionofthevalve100,350
devoidofanyconformablevalveinsert101,301(e.g.thestrikeface281ofthevalve100asshowninFIG.2).Thus,asthe
seat385,380isrepeatedlystruckbythevalve100,350andparticulaterepeatedlysandwichedattheinterfaceovertime,
wearandabrasionmayneverthelessbeheldtoaminimum,extendingthelifeoftheseat385,380itself.
Indeedtherobustregion450,551mayevenbeconfiguredtowearataratethatdoesnotsubstantiallyexceedtherateof
wearinanadjacentregionmakingcontactwiththevalveinsert101,301.Thatis,thevalveinsert101,301maybeofa
conformablematerialasnoted,impartingonlylimitedstressandwearonsuchanadjacentregionofthevalveseat380,385.
Intheembodimentshown,suchanadjacentregionwouldbeattheseatinsert400,500.However,evenincircumstances
wherenoconformableseatinsert400,500isemployed,arobustregion450,551ofgreaterrobustnessthanitsadjacent
regionmaybeemployedsoastoavoidsignificantdifferencesintherateofwearbetweentherobustregion450,551andits
adjacentregion.Inoneembodiment,therobustregion450,551maybeoftungstencarbideoraceramicmaterialofgreater
abrasionresistancethanitsadjacentregion.Similarly,theadjacentregionmaybeofahardenedsteelorapolymersuchas
urethane,asinthecaseoftheseatinsert400,500detailedabove.
ContinuingnowwithreferencetoFIG.6,multiplepositivedisplacementpumpassemblies600areshownemployedin
conjunctionwiththeabovedescribedassembly310.Theassemblies310,600areapartofahydraulicfracturingsystemat
anoilfield601.Thepumpassemblies310,600mayoperateatbetweenabout700andabout2,000hydraulichorsepowerto
propelanabrasivefluid610intoawell625.Theabrasivefluid610containsaproppantsuchassand,ceramicmaterialor
bauxitefordisbursingbeyondthewell625andintofracturablerock615forthepromotionofhydrocarbonrecoverytherefrom.
Inadditiontothesixpumpassemblies310,600shown,otherequipmentmaybedirectlyorindirectlycoupledtothewell
head650fortheoperation.Thismayincludeamanifold675forfluidcommunicationbetweentheassemblies310,600.A
blender690andotherequipmentmayalsobepresent.Intotal,forsuchahydraulicfracturingoperation,eachassembly310,
600maygeneratebetweenabout2,000andabout15,000PSIormore.Thus,asvalves100,350strikeseats385,380
withineachassembly310,600,anextremeamountofstressisconcentratedateachvalveseatinterface475,575(see
FIGS.15).Nevertheless,withaddedreferencetoFIGS.15,therateofdeteriorationofvalveseatarchitectureforeach
assembly310,600maybedramaticallyreducedthroughuseoffeaturesdetailedhereinabove.Thus,theusefullifeofvalves
100,350,seats385,380andtheirrespectiveassemblies310maybeextended.Assuch,compromiseoraddedstrainon
adjacentassemblies600maybeavoidedforafracturingoperationasdepictedinFIG.6.
Theaboveembodimentsofvalveseatarchitecturemaybeemployedtoextendthelifeofvalvesandrelatedequipmentfor
positivedisplacementpumpassembliesthatareconfiguredforpumpingabrasivefluids.Thus,theneedtodisassemble
pumpequipmentinordertomonitortheconditionofpumpinternalsmaybereduced.Indeed,extendingthelifeofsuch
abrasivefluidpumpingequipmentmayincludethedelayorsubstantialpreventionoftheoccurrenceofvalveleaksas
opposedtosimplyacousticallymonitoringleakoccurrences.
Theprecedingdescriptionhasbeenpresentedwithreferencetopresentlypreferredembodiments.Personsskilledintheart
andtechnologytowhichtheseembodimentspertainwillappreciatethatalterationsandchangesinthedescribedstructures
andmethodsofoperationmaybepracticedwithoutmeaningfullydepartingfromtheprinciple,andscopeofthese
embodiments.Forexample,circumferentialcomponentsaredepictedhereinasuniformlydisposedaboutavalveinsert.
However,alternateembodimentsofaconcavesurface,roundedabutment,coremechanismorothercircumferential
componentmaybeemployedthatareofadiscontinuous,asymmetrical,orothernonuniformconfigurationthroughoutthe
valveinsert.Furthermore,theforegoingdescriptionshouldnotbereadaspertainingonlytotheprecisestructuresdescribed
andshownintheaccompanyingdrawings,butrathershouldbereadasconsistentwithandassupportforthefollowing
claims,whicharetohavetheirfullestandfairestscope.
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CLASSIFICATIONS
U.S.Classification
417/454,251/334,137/516.29,417/568
InternationalClassification
F16K1/00,F04B53/00,F04B39/00,F16K15/00
CooperativeClassification
F04B53/1022,F04B53/1032,F04B49/243,F04B53/1097,F04B53/1025
EuropeanClassification
F04B53/10D4B,F04B53/10Z,F04B53/10D4,F04B53/10D8,F04B49/24B
LEGAL EVENTS
Date
Code
Event
Description
Ownername:SCHLUMBERGERTECHNOLOGYCORPORATION,TEXAS
14Apr2008
AS
Assignment
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNORS:GAMBIER,PHILIPPEWAGO,
TOSHIMICHIPESSIN,JEANLOUISREEL/FRAME:020800/0057SIGNINGDATESFROM20080324TO
20080326
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNORS:GAMBIER,PHILIPPEWAGO,
TOSHIMICHIPESSIN,JEANLOUISSIGNINGDATESFROM20080324TO
20080326REEL/FRAME:020800/0057
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