Vetco Gray Inc.

Abb Vetco Gray Incorporated

Anton J Dach

Charles D Bridges

Frank C Adamek

Peter M Kent

Hernani G Deocampo

Ted D Williams

An improved gate for a gate valve will allow shearing of a wireline extending through the gate valve while preserving post-shear seal integrity. The improved gate comprises an inlay of a hard ductile material such as Stellite along the shearing edge of the gate. The gate also comprises a coating of an extremely hard material such as tungsten carbide on the sealing surface of the gate. The invention also covers an improved gate seat. The improved seat also comprises an inlay of a hard ductile material such as Stellite along its shearing edge. The improved seat can also have a coating of an extremely hard material such as tungsten carbide on part of its sealing surface.

Gate valve

A metal seal for sealing against casing in a well has a plurality of circumferentially axially spaced metal bands. An inlay material partially fills the cavities located between the metal bands. The metal bands are soft enough to deform when the seal is pressed into contact with the casing. The bands deform to a point flush with the inlay material. If the casing later moves axially relative to the seal because of temperature change or tension loading, then the inlay material will wipe across the band faces to maintain the seal.

Metal seal with soft inlays

A well has an improved means for sealing an annular space within the bore of the wellhead housing surrounding the casing. An annular shoulder is stationarily located in the bore of the wellhead housing. A seal locates on top of the annular shoulder, the seal having a graphite material central section sandwiched between upper and lower metal rings. A cylindrical torque nut, having external threads which engage threads located in the bore of the wellhead housing, has a lower rim which engages the upper metal ring of the seal. The torque nut has a bore therethrough with at least one vertical groove formed therein for receiving a torque tool to rotate the torque nut for expanding the central section of the seal against the casing and wellhead housing to a selected amount.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Anton J Dach