FIV-III
Dual-trigger formation isolation valve
Third-generation valve, using a proven barrier and dual triggers to enhance flexibility and resilience
The FIV-III™ dual-trigger formation isolation valve is a Type CC, reclosable, bubble-tight barrier for well suspension. Its standard configuration incorporates two triggers for enhanced reliability and resilience; they are protected from wellbore debris within a mud- and solids-immune fluid system.
- eTrigger™ IV isolation valve electronic remote activation device enables up to 12-hour reduction in opening time and can support suspension for up to 6 months.
- Hydraulic trigger enables longer suspension times.
The triggers activate a patented mechanical actuator, housed within a separate mud- and solids-immune fluid system that protects the shifting mechanism from wellbore fluids. This mechanism generates and maintains a high force throughout its travel, until the valve is fully open. Valve performance is validated beyond the requirements of API Spec 19V: 2019, 2nd edition. All these enhancements in the FIV-III valve provide superior operational resilience, barrier integrity, and suspension duration flexibility throughout the life of the well.
- Well suspension, including in deep water
- Fluid loss control
- Simplify inventory and operations planning and risk management
- Reduce valve opening time by up to 12 hours
- Enhance flexibility in valve operation and duration of well suspension
- High-performance, bubble-tight ball valve barrier
- Trigger devices and mechanical actuator protected within separate mud- and solids-immune fluid systems
- Mechanically reclosable Type CC barrier
- Ability to generate high force to open—nearly double the force compared with the previous-generation valve
How do the triggers work?
The eTrigger IV device accelerates valve opening by enabling hydraulic force to act on the valve as soon as a proprietary, preprogrammed pressure pulse sequence is completed. The trigger device is fully isolated from annulus pressure and relies solely on tubing pressure for activation. The unique pressure pulse sequence ensures that other pressure-related operations can be performed without the risk of premature valve opening. The same strategy of using pressure pulse patterns has been used by our eFire™ electronic firing heads since the early 2000s.
The hydraulic trigger counts the cycles of a ratchet. Protected within a mud- and solids-immune fluid system as described above, the ratchet mechanism is bathed in clean fluid. Applying and releasing tubing pressure from surface cycles the mechanism. After the final cycle, the trigger provides the hydraulic force to open the valve.
What qualification tests has the valve undergone?
The wide range of tests includes
- vibration and shock test
- cold-temperature test at 40 degF
- closure against flow at 15 bbl/min
- zero-bubble barrier gas leakage test
- customized debris-settling validation beyond API Spec 19V Annex G requirements, using a mud-weighting agent that yields low permeability after settling
- opening at differential pressures up to 5,000 psi.
The triggers provide one-time valve opening; what if I need to open or close the valve more often?
The valve can be mechanically opened and closed multiple times with a mechanical shifting tool before using the remote-opening trigger mechanism for one-time interventionless opening. Subsequently, it can again be opened and closed mechanically and used as a barrier when required during the life of the well. Alternative trigger configurations are available on request.
