3D rendering of GeoGuard high-performance deepwater safety valve

Subsurface safety valves

API Spec 14A–certified protection of people, environment, and assets

GeoGuard™ DW

Deepwater high-performance subsurface safety valves
Suitable for extreme setting depths in the subsea environment

SlimTech™

Reduced-OD, tubing-retrievable, surface-controlled safety valves
Capable of very high slam closure rates that are ideal for big-bore gas applications

Integrity™

Subsurface safety valves
For injection, CCS monitoring or injection, and HPHT production wells

Recovery™

Wireline-retrievable subsurface safety valves
Capable of extending the life of a completion with a disabled tubing-retrievable valve

Maximize reliability and performance with innovative seal technology for oil and gas wells

Subsurface safety valves are critical components of well completions, preventing uncontrolled flow in the case of catastrophic damage to wellhead equipment. Fail-safe closure must be certain to ensure proper security of the well. However, this is not the only function in which it must be reliable—the valve must remain open to produce the well. SLB subsurface safety valves (SSVs) exceed all ISO 10432 and API Spec 14A requirements for pressure integrity, leakage acceptance criteria, and slam closure.

Through decades of innovation and experience, SLB safety valve flapper systems are proven robust and reliable. The multizone dynamic seal technology for hydraulic actuation of SSVs is a further improvement in reliability performance when compared with traditional seal systems in the industry.

The multizone seal technology was developed and proved with exhaustive verification and validation of reliability, longevity, and performance. The validation methodology utilized a unique sapphire crystal bore, enabling the design team to view the seal’s dynamic and static performance in real time while simulating wellbore pressure and temperature conditions.

The multizone seal technology is currently available in the GeoGuard DW deepwater high-performance subsurface safety valve, which is validated to API Spec 14A V1 and V1-H.

Graphic displaying Safety Valves timeline.

A subsurface safety valve manufacturer with decades of deepwater experience

Since the late 1950s, SLB has led the industry in SSV design innovations. We’ve achieved many industry firsts, from the first valve to utilize a flapper to the first low-operating-pressure gas spring valve for ultradeep water. As the pioneer of deepwater safety valves, we have continually improved our designs through consistent innovation.

Setting depth flexibility

Our API Spec 14A V1–certified SSV portfolio offers operational flexibility to overcome any challenge in the industry. Multiple actuation options are available for shallow-set, deepset, and ultradeepset applications.

Which SSV actuation type is best for your application?

Standard spring valves are suitable for shallow-set (100 ft below the surface or mudline) and deepset (up to 6,000-ft TVD) applications. These valves use actuation systems that are tubing pressure–sensitive and remain fail-safe closed without requiring tubing pressure assist in closure.

For deepset (6,000- to 10,000-ft TVD) and ultradeepset (beyond 10,000-ft TVD) applications, there are both balanced-line and nitrogen-charged hydraulic actuation systems available. These unique systems are tubing pressure–insensitive, so they can be operated at pressures below tubing pressure while remaining fail-safe closed.