Patent ID: 11629572

Abstract:
A surface safety valve for a well system includes a main valve body with a central bore through it. The main valve body has a centerline axis and is configured to be connected at a surface location above a surface of the Earth to a surface assembly of the well system and to receive through the central bore a flow of wellbore fluid from a subterranean zone conveyed by a production tubing. A gate is positioned within the main valve body and is configured to move from an open position in which the gate does not block flow of wellbore fluid through the central bore to a closed position in which the gate blocks flow of wellbore fluid through the central bore. The gate travels from the open position to the closed position along a gate movement axis perpendicular to the centerline bore axis. The gate includes a gate front end positioned on a first side of the centerline bore axis and a gate back end positioned on a second side of the centerline bore axis opposite the first side. The surface safety valve also includes an actuator positioned on the first side of the centerline bore axis. The actuator is configured to selectively push the gate towards the open position. The safety valve also includes a spring enclosed within the main valve body and positioned on the second side of the centerline bore axis. The spring is connected to the gate back end and is configured to bias the gate towards the closed position.