Improved reliability through seal technology and operational redundancy

When actuated from surface—either manually or through an automated control system—GeoGuard™ DW deepwater high-performance subsurface safety valves slam shut to secure the well.

The valves include an integrated sump and 5-um filter to ensure that the multizone dynamic seal operates in a clean environment. The multizone seal technology was developed and proved with exhaustive verification and validation. The innovative validation methodology used 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 result is a more reliable dynamic seal solution that is superior to traditional seal systems in the industry.

GeoGuard DW safety valves are available with a choice of actuator types:

• Nitrogen dome technology is ideal for ultradeep setting depths (>3,048 m [>10,000 ft]) and includes two fully redundant and independent hydraulic actuation systems. Each system is fully capable of operating the valve via its dedicated hydraulic control line. If any part of one hydraulic system is compromised, the valve performance continues as intended through the uncompromised system.
• Balanced line technology delivers high performance for setting depths up to 3,048 m without redundancy.

Deepwater and ultradeepwater wells

GeoGuard DW safety valves improve reliability compared with conventional subsurface safety valves (SSSVs). Patented seal technology and qualification methods enable extremely deep setting depths to avoid deposition of precipitates such as hydrates, paraffins, and scales in the safety valve.

Flexible engineering design provides a choice of actuator types to ideally match the well’s subsea infrastructure requirements and completion architecture.

The safety valves’ low hydraulic operating pressure also simplifies deepwater control system requirements.