Schlumberger Technology Corporation

David James Biddick

Paul Gordon Goughnour

David E McCalvin

Russell Alan Johnston

Geoffrey Pinard

Dwayne May

David Byrnes

Paul G Goughnour

A device having a hard seat support disposed with a hard seat to reduce or prevent buckling, bursting, and/or permanent deformation of the hard seat that compromises the seal across the hard sealing surface and flapper sealing surface interface. The hard seat support may be positioned along an inner periphery of the hard seat or in direct contact with an outer periphery of the hard seat.

Device having a hard seat support

A technique facilitates prolonging the useful life of a subsurface valve without requiring replacement of the entire hydraulic chamber housing of the subsurface valve. A removable piston tube is provided and may be inserted into a valve housing of a subsurface valve. The removable piston tube is removably secured within a piston passage in the valve housing via a fastening mechanism. If necessary, the removable piston tube can be removed and replaced without requiring replacement of the overall housing.

Valve with removable component

A technique facilitates actuation of a variety of tools in many types of environments. The actuation technique employs a closed conduit, such as a closed tube, arranged in a curvilinear structure. By applying a differential pressure to the closed conduit, the curvature of the curvilinear structure is changed. This change can be used to actuate a corresponding tool between desired operational positions.

Differential pressure actuator

A technique provides a component actuation system in a space efficient form. A movable actuator member may be positioned within a corresponding housing in a manner which forms an annulus between the movable actuator member and the surrounding wall of the housing. A spring is located in the annulus and is designed such that the spring extends part way along a circumference of the actuator member to create an open annular region between circumferential ends of the spring. The open annular region provides space for a system related component without requiring additional longitudinal or radial space.

Reduced length actuation system

A technique enables control over flow in a wellbore with a flow control system. In some cases, the flow control system may comprise a flapper device, an isolation assembly, and an actuation assembly. The flapper device may be configured to rotate within an approximate angular range from 15&#xb0; to 75&#xb0; when shifting between an open and closed state. In some situations, the engaging member may contain a profiled end configured to increase the moment applied to the flapper device during opening and control the rate of closure of the flapper device. The limitation to the angular range of the flapper device may reduce the loading forces that would otherwise act against the flow control system upon closure of the flapper device.

System and method for controlling flow in a wellbore

A technique enables control over flow in a wellbore with a flow control system. The flow control system combines a flow reduction mechanism with a flow control device, such as a valve. The flow reduction mechanism comprises a closure member which can be selectively moved between an unactuated and actuated position, allowing relatively greater flow through the flow control device in the unactuated position. The flow reduction mechanism actuates prior to or in conjunction with the flow control device to reduce flow and thus reduce the loading forces that would otherwise act against the flow control mechanism upon closure of the flow control device.

A system and method for use in a wellbore that includes a string comprising a housing. The housing comprises a valve including a valve seat having an inner channel and a flapper configured to pivot relative to the valve seat between a first position and a second position in which the inner channel is obstructed. A valve actuating device may be provided for selectively opening the valve and comprising a first hydraulic device. In addition, a retention device including a second hydraulic device may be provided and configured to selectively retain the flapper in the first position. In some cases, the first hydraulic device and the second hydraulic device may be driven by the same fluid source.

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Missouri City, TX, United States of America

David James Biddick