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Valveseatinterfacearchitecture

Publicationnumber
Publicationtype
Applicationnumber
Publicationdate
Filingdate
Prioritydate

US8317498B2
Grant
US12/049,880
27Nov2012
17Mar2008
11May2007

lifeofpumpcomponentsandtheassembly.Avalveofthepumpassemblyis

Alsopublishedas

CA2686521A1,11More

equippedwithaconformablevalveinsertthatisconfiguredwithacircumferential

Inventors

PhilippeGambier,ToshimichiWago,Jean
LouisPessin

uponitsstrikingofavalveseatattheinterfacewithinthepumpassembly.The

OriginalAssignee

SchlumbergerTechnologyCorporation

circumferentialcomponentmayincludeaconcavesurfaceabouttheinsert,a

ExportCitation

BiBTeX,EndNote,RefMan

roundedabutmentatthestrikesurfaceoftheinsert,oracoremechanismwithin
theinsertthatisofgreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthansurroundingmaterial

PatentCitations(22),Referencedby(1),Classifications(18),
LegalEvents(1)

oftheinsert.Additionally,thevalveseatitselfmaybeconfiguredformoreeven

ExternalLinks:USPTO,USPTOAssignment,Espacenet

US8317498B2
ABSTRACT
Apumpassemblywithvalveseatinterfacearchitectureconfiguredtoextendthe

componenthavingthecapacitytoreducetheradialstrainofitsowndeformation

wearovertimeandequippedwithaconformableseatinserttoreducewearon
thevalveinsert.

IMAGES (6)

DESCRIPTION

CLAIMS (20)

CROSSREFERENCETORELATEDAPPLICATION(S)

1.Apumpassemblycomprising:

ThisPatentDocumentclaimspriorityunder35U.S.C.119(e)toU.S.
ProvisionalApplicationSer.No.60/917,366,entitledValveforaPositive
DisplacementPumpfiledonMay11,2007andProvisionalApplicationSer.No.

avalveseat
avalveforstrikingsaidvalveseat,thevalvecomprisingavalveheadand

60/985,874,entitledValveforaPositiveDisplacementPumpfiledonNov.6,

aconformablevalveinsertaboutsaidvalveheadforcontactingsaidvalve

2007,bothofwhichareincorporatedhereinbyreferenceintheirentirety.

seatduringthestriking,saidconformablevalveinserthavinga

FIELD

circumferentialcomponenttoreduceradialstrainofdeformationofsaid
conformablevalveinsertuponthestriking,thecircumferentialcomponent

Embodimentsdescribedrelatetovalveassembliesforpositivedisplacement

partiallydefininganoutermostprofileofsaidvalvewhereinthe

pumpsusedinhighpressureapplications.Inparticular,embodimentsofa

circumferentialcomponentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurfacereducing

conformablevalvesealorinsertandconfigurationsofavalveseataredescribed

saidoutermostprofileofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmenttoinitiate

tomakeupavalveseatinterface.

contactwithsaidvalveseatinataperedmanneruponthestriking,said

BACKGROUND
Positivedisplacementpumpsareoftenemployedatoilfieldsforlargehigh
pressureapplicationsinvolvedinhydrocarbonrecoveryefforts.Apositive

roundedabutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurvedconcavesurface
whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan
outermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.

displacementpumpmayincludeaplungerdrivenbyacrankshafttowardand

2.Thepumpassemblyofclaim1whereinsaidvalveheadcomprisesa

awayfromachamberinordertodramaticallyeffectahighorlowpressureonthe

recessforaccommodatingsaidconformablevalveinsertandan

chamber.Thismakesitagoodchoiceforhighpressureapplications.Indeed,

exposedstrikefaceadjacentsaidconformablevalveinsertfordirectly

wherefluidpressureexceedingafewthousandpoundspersquareinch(PSI)is

meetingsaidvalveseatduringthestriking.

tobegenerated,apositivedisplacementpumpisgenerallyemployed.

3.Thepumpassemblyofclaim2whereinthecurvedconcavesurface

Positivedisplacementpumpsmaybeconfiguredoffairlylargesizesand

reducesanoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinserttoless

employedinavarietyoflargescaleoilfieldoperationssuchascementing,coil

thanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.

tubing,waterjetcutting,orhydraulicfracturingofundergroundrock.Hydraulic

4.Thepumpassemblyofclaim1whereinsaidcircumferential

fracturingofundergroundrock,forexample,oftentakesplaceatpressuresof

componentfurthercomprisesacoremechanismdisposedwithinsaid

10,000to15,000PSIormoretodirectanabrasivecontainingfluidthroughawell

conformablevalveinsert,saidcoremechanismbeingofagreater

toreleaseoilandgasfromrockporesforextraction.Suchpressuresandlarge

energyabsorbingcharacterthananadjacentbodyofsaidconformable

scaleapplicationsarereadilysatisfiedbypositivedisplacementpumps.

valveinsert.

Asisoftenthecasewithlargesystemsandindustrialequipment,regular

5.Thepumpassemblyofclaim4whereinthecoremechanismisanair

monitoringandmaintenanceofpositivedisplacementpumpsmaybesoughtto

filledcoil.

helpensureuptimeandincreaseefficiency.Inthecaseofhydraulicfracturing
applications,apumpmaybeemployedatawellandoperatingforanextended
periodoftime,saysixtotwelvehoursperdayformorethanaweek.Overthis

6.Thepumpassemblyofclaim1whereinsaidpumpassemblypumps
fluidthroughahydraulicfracturingsystematanoilfield.

time,thepumpmaybesusceptibletowearingcomponentssuchasthe

7.Thepumpassemblyofclaim6whereinthepumpassemblyisafirst

developmentofinternalvalveleaks.Thisisparticularlyofconcernat

pumpassemblyandthehydraulicfracturingsystemfurthercomprises

conformablevalveinsertsusedattheinterfaceofthevalveandvalveseat.

atleastoneneighboringpumpassemblycoupledtothefirstpump

Therefore,duringdowntimeintheoperation,thepumpmaybemanually

assembly.

inspectedexternallyortakenaparttoexaminetheinternalconditionofthevalves
andinserts.Inmanycasestheexternalmanualinspectionfailstorevealdefects.

8.Thepumpassemblyofclaim6whereinthefluidincludesanabrasive

Alternatively,oncethetimeistakentoremovevalvesforinspection,theyare

proppanttherein.

oftenreplacedwholesaleregardlessofoperatingcondition,whetheroutofhabit
orforalackofcertainty.Thus,thereistheriskthatthepumpwilleitherfailwhile
inuseforundiagnosedleakyvalvesorthateffectivelyoperablevalvesand

9.Apumpassemblycomprising:
aconformablevalveinsert

insertswillbeneedlesslydiscarded.
avalvehavingavalveheadcomprisinganexposedstrikefaceanda
Thesignificanceofriskssuchasthosedescribedabovemayincreasedepending

circumferentialrecess,saidcircumferentialrecessaccommodatingsaid

onthecircumstances.Inthecaseofhydraulicfracturingapplications,suchas

conformablevalveinsertsaidconformablevalveinserthavinga

thosenotedabove,conditionsmaybepresentthatcanbothincreasethe

circumferentialcomponent,thecircumferentialcomponentpartiallydefining

likelihoodofpumpfailureandincreasetheoverallnegativeimpactofsucha

anoutermostprofileofsaidvalveand

failure.Forexample,theconformablenatureofthevalveinsertisthatittendsto
bulgeandwearattheedgesovertimeduetorepeatedstrikingofthevalveseat.

avalveseattoaccommodatestrikingofsaidconformablevalveinsertand

Additionally,theuseofanabrasivecontainingfluidinhydraulicfracturingnot

theexposedstrikeface,saidvalveseathavingarobustregionalignedwith

onlybreaksupundergroundrock,asdescribedabove,italsotendstodegrade

theexposedstrikefaceandanadjacentregionalignedwithsaid

theconformablevalveinsertsovertimeasabrasiveparticlesaresandwiched

conformablevalveinsert,therobustregionofabrasionresistanceexceeding

betweentheinsertsandthevalveseatasthevalverepeatedlystrikestheseat.

thatoftheadjacentregion

Suchdegradationandeventualleakagemayresultinfailuretosealthechamber
ofthepump,perhapswithinaboutonetosixweeksofusedependingonthe
particularparametersoftheapplication.Oncethechamberfailstosealduring
operation,thepumpwillgenerallyfailinrelativelyshortorder.

whereinthecircumferentialcomponentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurface
reducingsaidoutermostprofileofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmentto
initiatethestrikingoftheconformablevalveinsertatthevalveseatina
taperedmannerinadvanceofthestrikingofthevalveseatbytheexposed

Furthermore,theramificationsofsuchanindividualpumpfailuremayultimately

strikeface,saidroundedabutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurved

bequiteextensive.Thatis,hydraulicfracturingapplicationsgenerallyemploy

concavesurfaceandwhereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextend

severalpositivedisplacementpumpsatanygivenwell.Malfunctioningofevena

outwardlybeyondanoutermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.

singleoneofthesepumpsplacesaddedstrainontheremainingpumps,perhaps
evenleadingtofailureofadditionalpumps.Unfortunately,thistypeofcascading
pumpfailure,frompumptopumptopump,isnotanuncommoneventwhere
hydraulicfracturingapplicationsareconcerned.
Giventheramificationsofpositivedisplacementpumpfailureandthedemandfor
employingtechniquesthatavoidpumpdisassemblyasdescribedabove,efforts
havebeenmadetoevaluatetheconditionofapositivedisplacementpump

10.Thepumpassemblyofclaim9whereintherobustregionisofa
materialselectedfromagroupconsistingoftungstencarbideanda
ceramic.
11.Thepumpassemblyofclaim9whereintheadjacentregionisofa
materialselectedfromagroupconsistingofhardenedsteeland
urethane.

duringoperationwithouttakingitapartforinspection.Forexample,apositive

12.Thepumpassemblyofclaim9whereinsaidcircumferential

displacementpumpmaybeevaluatedduringoperationbyemployinganacoustic

componentreducesradialstrainofdeformationofsaidconformable

sensorcoupledtothepump.Theacousticsensormaybeusedtodetecthigh

valveinsertuponthestriking.

frequencyvibrationsthataretheresultofaleakorincompletesealwithinthe
chamberofthepositivedisplacementpump,suchaleakbeingtheprecursorto

13.Thepumpassemblyofclaim12whereinsaidcurvedconcave

pumpfailureasnotedabove.

surfacereducesanoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinsertto
lessthanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeofthevalveheadand

Unfortunately,relianceonthedetectionofacousticdatainordertoaddress

whereinthecircumferentialcomponentfurthercomprisesacore

developingleaksatthevalveseatinterfaceasdescribedabovefailstoavoidthe

mechanismdisposedwithinsaidconformablevalveinsert,saidcore

developmentofleaksinanoperatingpump.Thatis,acousticdatamaydono

mechanismbeingofagreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthanan

morethanprovideanearlyindicatorofpotentialleaks.Whilethismayaffordan

adjacentbodyofsaidconformablevalveinsert.

operatortimetotakethepumpofflineinordertoaddressthepotentialleak,
thereremainsnoeffectivemannerinwhichtoavoidtheleakinthefirstplace
withouttheneedoftakingthepumpoffline.Thus,ataminimum,evenwherea

14.Apumpassemblyforpumpinganabrasivefluidandcomprising:
avalveseat

catastrophicleakisavoidedduetoearlyacousticdetection,downtimeforthe
pumpatissuestillresults.Thereremainsnosubstantiallyeffectivemannerin
whichtoavoidleaksatthevalveseatinterfaceinanoperatingpositive
displacementpumpforwhichabrasivesarepumpedandaconformablevalve
insertisemployed.

aconformableseatinsertdisposedatasurfaceofsaidvalveseatand
avalvehavingavalveheadandaconformablevalveinsertexposedata
surfacethereofforstrikinguponsaidconformableseatinsertsaid
conformablevalveinserthavingacircumferentialcomponent,the
circumferentialcomponentpartiallydefininganoutermostprofileofsaid

SUMMARY

valve

Apumpassemblyisprovided.Thepumpassemblyhasavalveseatinterface

whereinthecircumferentialcomponentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurface

withavalvehavingaconformablevalveinsertaboutthevalveandavalveseat

reducingsaidoutermostprofileofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmentto

definingafluidpaththroughtheassembly.Theconformablevalveinsertis

initiatethestrikingoftheconformableseatinsertinataperedmannerin

configuredforstrikingthevalveseatforclosingthefluidpathandincludesa

advanceofastrikingofthevalveseatbythevalvehead,saidrounded

circumferentialcomponenttoaccommodatedeformationthereofuponthestriking

abutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurvedconcavesurfaceand

oftheconformablevalveinsertuponthevalveseat.

whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan

BRIEFDESCRIPTIONOFTHEDRAWINGS
FIG.1isasideviewofanembodimentofavalveforapumpassembly.
FIG.2isasidecrosssectionalviewofthevalveofFIG.1takenfromsection2
2.
FIG.3isasidecrosssectionalviewofanembodimentofapumpassembly
employingthevalveofFIG.1.
FIG.4isanenlargedviewofavalveseatinterfacetakenfrom44ofFIG.3.

outermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.
15.Thepumpassemblyofclaim14whereinsaidconformableseat
insertandsaidconformablevalveinsertareofapolymericmaterial.
16.Thepumpassemblyofclaim14whereinsaidcircumferential
componentreducesradialstrainofdeformationofsaidconformable
valveinsertuponthestriking.
17.Avalveforapositivedisplacementpump,thevalvecomprising:
aheadhavingacircumferentialrecessandconfiguredforstrikingavalve

FIG.5isanenlargedviewofavalveseatinterfacetakenfrom55ofFIG.3.

seatwithinthepositivedisplacementpumpand

FIG.6isanoverviewofanoilfieldemployingsurfaceequipmentincludingthe

aconformablevalveinsertdisposedwithinthecircumferentialrecessfor

pumpassemblyofFIG.3.

contactingthevalveseatduringthestrikingandhavingacircumferential
componenttoreducearadialstrainofdeformationofsaidconformablevalve

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION
Embodimentsaredescribedwithreferencetocertainhighpressurepositive
displacementpumpassembliesforfracturingoperations.However,otherpositive
displacementpumpsmaybeemployed.Regardless,embodimentsdescribed
hereinemployavalveseatinterfacewhereinavalveoravalveseatare
configuredwithacomponentforaccommodatingthedeformationofthevalveor
seatuponastrikingofthevalveuponthevalveseat.
ReferringtoFIG.1,anembodimentofavalve100isdepictedforuseinapump

insertuponthestriking,thecircumferentialcomponentpartiallydefiningan
outermostprofileofsaidvalvewhereinthecircumferentialcomponent
comprisesacurvedconcavesurfacereducingsaidoutermostprofileofsaid
valveandaroundedabutmenttoinitiatecontactwithsaidvalveseatina
taperedmanneruponthestriking,saidroundedabutmentextendingradially
beyondsaidcurvedconcavesurface
whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan
outermostradialedgeofthehead.

assembly310asdepictedinFIG.3.Assuch,thevalve100isofastandard

18.Thevalveofclaim17whereinsaidheadfurthercomprisesan

positivedisplacementvalveconfigurationwithahead180coupledtoaligning

exposedstrikefaceadjacentsaidconformablevalveinsertfordirectly

legs125therebelow.However,thevalve100ofFIG.1alsoincludesan

meetingthevalveseatduringthestriking,thecurvedconcavesurface

embodimentofaconformablevalveinsert101disposedaboutthehead180.The

reducinganoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinserttoless

conformablevalveinsert101maybemadeofurethaneorotherconventional

thanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeoftheheadandwhereinthe

polymers.However,asdescribedbelow,theconformablevalveinsert101is

circumferentialcomponentfurthercomprisesacoremechanism

configuredtoaccommodatedeformationofthevalveinsert101uponthestriking

disposedwithinsaidconformablevalveinsert,saidcoremechanism

ofthevalve100andinsert101atavalveseat385asdepictedinFIG.3.Inthis

beingofagreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthananadjacentbodyof

manner,thelifeoftheconformablevalveinsert101maybeextendedintheface

saidconformablevalveinsert.

ofpumpedabrasivefluidsandrepeatedstrikingofthevalve100andinsert101at
thevalveseat385.Thus,thelifeofthevalve100andpumpassembly310,as

19.Aconformablevalveinsertofavalveforsealingagainstavalveseatofa

wellasneighboringassemblies600,maysimilarlybeextendedasdetailed

positivedisplacementpump,theconformablevalveinsertcomprisinga

hereinbelow(seeFIGS.3and6).

circumferentialcomponenttoreducearadialstrainofdeformationofsaid
conformablevalveinsertuponthesealing,thecircumferentialcomponent

Asindicated,theconformablevalveinsert101depictedinFIG.1isconfiguredto

partiallydefininganoutermostprofileofsaidvalvewhereinthecircumferential

accommodateitsowndeformationuponstrikingofavalveseat385asshownin

componentcomprisesacurvedconcavesurfacereducingsaidoutermostprofile

FIG.3.Inparticular,theinsert101isconfiguredwithatleastonecircumferential

ofsaidvalveandaroundedabutmenttoinitiatethesealingoftheconformable

componenttoreducestressconcentrationandaccommodateitsown

valveinsertatthevalveseatinataperedmannerinadvanceofastrikingofthe

deformation.AsshowninFIG.1,thesecomponentsmayincludeaconcave

valveseatbyavalveheadtowhichtheconformablevalveinsertisattached,

surface150andaroundedabutment175.Withreferencetoverticallineii,the

saidroundedabutmentextendingradiallybeyondsaidcurvedconcavesurface

concavesurface150inparticularmaybefurtherdefined.Forexample,with

whereinsaidconformablevalveinsertdoesnotextendoutwardlybeyondan

addedreferencetoFIG.2,theconformablevalveinsert101isconfiguredfor

outermostradialedgeofthevalvehead.

fittingwithinarecessofthevalvehead180.AsdepictedinFIGS.1and2,the
outermostedgeofthisrecessisfoundatverticallineii,whichalsohappensto

20.Theconformablevalveinsertofclaim19whereinthevalvehead

correspondwiththeoutermostedgeofthevalvehead180.However,thisisnot

hasarecesstoaccommodatetheconformablevalveinsertandis

required.Regardless,itisapparentthattheinsert101failstoextendoutwardas

configuredforstrikingthevalveseatwithanexposedstrikeface

farasverticallineiiatthelocationoftheconcavesurface150.Thatis,atthe

adjacentsaidconformablevalveinsert,thecurvedconcavesurface

locationoftheconcavesurface150theinsert101isofaprofilethatislessthan

reducinganoutermostprofileofsaidconformablevalveinserttoless

thatofthevalvehead180(e.g.atverticallineii).

thanaprofileoftheoutermostradialedgeofthevalveheadwherein

Thereducedprofileoftheconformablevalveinsert101providedbytheconcave
surface150ispresentabouttheentirecircumferenceoftheinsert101providing
theappearanceofagrooveatitssurface.Assuch,whenthevalveinsert101
strikesagainstthevalveseat385asshowninFIG.3,deformationoftheinsert

thecircumferentialcomponentfurthercomprisesacoremechanism
disposedwithinsaidconformablevalveinsert,saidcoremechanism
beingofagreaterenergyabsorbingcharacterthananadjacentbodyof
saidconformablevalveinsert.

101failstoresultinundueoutwardbulgingoftheinsertbeyondthevalvehead
180(i.e.verticallineii)toanysignificantdegree.Suchbulgingmaybedamaging
totheinsert101.However,thepresenceofacircumferentialcomponentsuchastheconcavesurface150mayhelpto
minimizesuchbulging,therebyextendingthelifeoftheinsert101.Statedanotherway,theconcavesurface150reduces
theconcentratedradialstrainofdeformationfeltthroughtheinsert101uponstrikingofthevalve100.
ContinuingwithreferencetoFIG.2,withaddedreferencetoFIG.3,theconcavesurface150asdescribedaboveisshown.
Additionally,theabovenotedroundedabutment175maybedetailedwithreferencetodiagonallineiiii.Again,therounded
abutment175isacircumferentialcomponentabouttheconformablevalveinsert101.Inthiscase,theroundedabutment
175istheportionoftheinsert101whichisconfiguredfordirectlystrikingthevalveseat385.Infact,theroundedabutment
175extendsbelowthediagonallineiiiisuchthatitisthefirstcomponentofthevalve100tostrikethevalveseat385.That
is,asdepictedinFIG.2,thediagonallineiiiiisalignedwiththestrikeface281ofthevalvehead180whichisthrust
againstthevalveseat385duringoperationofapumpassembly310asdepictedinFIG.3.Thus,byextendingbelowthe
diagonallineiiii,theroundedabutment175actuallymakescontactwiththevalveseat385inadvanceofthestrikeface281
ofthevalvehead180.
Inadditiontocontactingthevalveseat385ofFIG.3inadvanceofthestrikeface281,theroundedabutment175indeed
providesaroundedconvexshapetothestrikingsurfaceoftheconformablevalveinsert101.Thus,thevalveinsert101
transitionsintocontactwiththevalveseat385inataperedmannerasopposedtomakinginstantaneouscontactacrossthe
entirelowersurfaceoftheinsert101.Assuch,theimpactontheconformablevalveinsert101isspreadoutoveragreater
period,therebyreducingstrainontheinsert101.Additionally,theuseofaroundedabutment175withasmallsurfacearea
makinginitialcontactwiththevalveseat385reducesthelikelihoodthatasignificantamountofproppantorabrasive
particleswillbesqueezedbetweentheinsert101andtheseat385attheinitialmomentofstrikewhenstressisatits
greatest.Thus,thedeterioratingeffectsofproppantontheconformablevalveinsert101maybeminimized.
Infact,thebenefitsofthismannerofstrikingbetweenthevalveseat385andthevalve100mayalsobeimpartedtothe
strikeface281andthevalveseat385toadegree.Thatis,duetotheextensionoftheroundedabutment175tobelowthe
diagonallineiiiiasdescribedabove,theimpactofagivenstrikeisinitiallyfeltattheinsert101,therebyreducingthedegree
ofimpactbetweenthestrikeface281andthevalveseat385duringthestrike.Thus,thecircumferentialcomponentofa
roundedabutment175providesstressreductiontothevalveseatinterfaceintermsofthevalveinsert101,thevalve100,
andthevalveseat385.
ContinuingwithreferencetoFIG.2,withaddedreferencetoFIG.3,anothercircumferentialcomponentofthevalveinsert
101forreducingstraininthefaceofimpactwithavalveseat385isdepicted.Namely,acoremechanism200isdisposed
withintheinsert101.Thecoremechanism200maybeenergyabsorbinginnatureandofamechanicalcharacterdiffering
fromthatofthematerialofthesurroundingoradjacentbodyoftheinsert101.Forexample,inoneembodiment,thecore
mechanism200isanairfilledcoilconfiguredtoabsorbaportionoftheenergyofastrikeofthevalve100uponavalveseat
385.Thebodyoftheinsertmaybeofalessenergyabsorbingmaterialsuchasthenotedurethane.Thus,themorerobust
energyabsorbingcomponentofacoremechanism200maybeemployedtoextendthelifeoftheconformablevalveinsert
101.
ReferringnowtoFIG.3,anembodimentofapositivedisplacementpumpassembly310employingavalve100witha
conformablevalveinsert101asdescribedaboveisillustrated.Thepumpassembly310includesaplunger390for
reciprocatingwithinaplungerhousing307towardandawayfromachamber335.Inthismanner,theplunger390effects
highandlowpressuresonthechamber335.Forexample,astheplunger390isthrusttowardthechamber335,thepressure
withinthechamber335isincreased.Atsomepoint,thepressureincreasewillbeenoughtoeffectanopeningofthe
dischargevalve350toallowreleaseoffluidandpressurefromwithinthechamber335.Theamountofpressurerequiredto
openthedischargevalve350asdescribedmaybedeterminedbyadischargemechanism370suchasaspringwhich
keepsthedischargevalve350inaclosedposition(asshown)untiltherequisitepressureisachievedinthechamber335.In
anembodimentwherethepumpassembly310isemployedinafracturingoperation,forexample,pressuresmaybe
achievedinthemannerdescribedthatexceed2,000PSI,andmorepreferably,thatexceed10,000PSIormore.
Theabovedescribedplunger390alsoeffectsalowpressureonthechamber335.Thatis,astheplunger390retreatsaway
fromanadvancedpositionnearthechamber335,thepressurethereinwilldecrease.Asthepressuredecreases,the

dischargevalve350willstrikeclosedagainstthedischargevalveseat380asdepictedinFIG.3.Thismovementofthe
plunger390awayfromthechamber335willinitiallyresultinasealingoffofthechamber335.However,astheplunger390
continuestomoveawayfromthechamber335,thepressurethereinwillcontinuetodrop,andeventuallyalowornegative
pressurewillbeachievedwithinthechamber335.Eventually,asdepictedinFIG.3,thepressuredecreasewillbeenough
toeffectanopeningofthevalve100(actinghereasanintakevalve).Theopeningofthevalve100inthismannerallowsthe
uptakeoffluidintothechamber335.Theamountofpressurerequiredtoopenthevalve100asdescribedmaybe
determinedbyanintakemechanism375suchasaspringwhichkeepstheintakevalve100inaclosedpositionuntilthe
requisitelowpressureisachievedinthechamber335.
Asdescribedabove,areciprocatingorcyclingmotionoftheplunger390towardandawayfromthechamber335withinthe
pumpassembly310controlspressuretherein.Thevalves350and100respondaccordinglyinordertodispensefluidfrom
thechamber335athighpressureanddrawadditionalfluidintothechamber335.Aspartofthiscyclingofthepump
assembly310repeatedstrikingofthedischargevalve350againstadischargevalveseat380andoftheintakevalve100
againsttheintakevalveseat385occurs.However,duetotheconfigurationsofconformablevalveinserts101,301and
otherfeaturesofeachvalveseatinterface,asdetailedaboveandfurtherbelow,theusefullifeoftheinserts101,301may
besubstantiallyextended.Thismaybeofcascadingbeneficialeffecttothelifeofthevalves100,350,thepumpassembly
310itself,andevenneighboringassemblies600asdescribedfurtherbelow(seeFIG.6).
ContinuingwithreferencetoFIGS.4and5,withaddedreferencetoFIG.3,acomparisonisdrawnbetweenthevalveseat
interfaces475,575beforeandduringthestrikeofavalve100,350atavalveseat385,380.Intheembodimentshown,
eachvalve100,350isequippedwithasubstantiallyequivalentconformablevalveinsert101,301.Thus,ofparticularnoteis
thecomparisonofthechangingmorphologyoftheinserts101,301whenmovingfromapositionawayfromagivenvalve
seat385asdepictedinFIG.4tostrikingavalveseat380asdepictedinFIG.5.
WithreferencetoFIG.4,anenlargedviewofthestructuralarchitectureatthevalveseatinterface475employingthe
dischargevalve100ofFIGS.13isdepicted.Asdetailedabove,thevalve100isequippedwithaconformablevalveinsert
101havingvarietyofcircumferentialcomponentsconfiguredtohelpaccommodateitsowndeformationuponstrikingofthe
valveseat385.Thatis,asdescribedabove,aconcavesurface150,aroundedabutment175,andacoremechanism200
areallincorporatedintotheinsert101tohelpreduceconcentratedradialstrainofdeformationfeltthroughtheinsert101
uponthestrikingofthevalve100againstthevalveseat385.Whenexaminingtheequivalentcircumferentialcomponentsat
thevalveseatinterface575ofFIG.5,withavalve350strikingavalveseat380,thebehaviorofsuchavalveinsert301is
apparent.
WithreferencetoFIG.5,anenlargedviewoftheintakevalve350ofFIG.3isdepicted.Unliketheinterface475ofFIG.4,
thevalveseatinterface575ofFIG.5revealsavalve350asitstrikesavalveseat380.Deformingoftheconformablevalve
insert301ofthestrikingvalve350againstthevalveseat380isapparent.However,muchofthestrainofthedeformation
ontheinsertisabsorbedbythecoremechanism501anditsenergyabsorbingnature.Additionally,thestrainofthe
deformationisabsorbedoveraperiodduetotheuseofaroundedabutmentsuchasthatofFIG.4anddetailedabove(e.g.
175),nowflattenedoutacrossthesurfaceofthevalveseat380.Furthermore,aconcavesurfaceoftheinsert301suchas
thatofFIGS.14asdetailedabove(e.g.150)hasgivenwaytoamoreflattenedsurface550.Thatis,astheconformable
valveinsert301isstruckagainstthevalveseat380,thestressofdeformationisradiatedoutward.However,duetothe
initialconcavenatureoftheouterradialsurfaceoftheinsert301,amoreflattenedsurface550isimpartedasopposedto
potentiallydamagingbulgingoftheinsert301asdetailedabove.
ContinuingagainwithreferencetoFIGS.4and5,additionalcomponentsmaybeprovidedforreducingconcentratedstress
attheinterface475,575upontheimpactofavalve100,350strikingavalveseat385,380.Whilesuchcomponentsare
detailedabovewithrespecttotheconformablevalveinserts101,301,valveseats385,380maybeconfiguredto
accommodateandreducestressconcentration.Forexample,conformableseatinserts400,500maybeemployedas
depictedinFIGS.4and5.Theseseatinserts400,500maybeconfiguredtodistributethestressofvalvestrikessimilarto
thevalveinserts101,301describedabove.
However,ofpotentiallygreatersignificance,isthefactthataseatinsert400,500ofconformablematerialaligningwitha
valveinsert101,301ofconformablematerialmayhelptoavoidtheimpartingofabrasiveforcesofproppantorparticulate
intothevalveinsert101,301duringavalvestrike.Forexample,withreferencetoFIG.5,byallowingforthealigning
surfaceofthevalveseat380tobeofaconformablematerial,anyproppantorparticulatetrappedattheinterface575during
avalvestrikemayberoughlyequivalentlyabsorbedintothesurfacesofeachfeature(e.g.301,500)asopposedtohavinga
hardsurfaceofthevalveseat380impartingstrayparticulateintotheconformablesurfaceofthevalveinsert301.Asa
result,abrasivewearontheinsert301maybesubstantiallyreduced.Thus,onceagain,thelifeoftheinsert301maybe
substantiallyextended.Inoneembodiment,thevalveinsert301andtheseatinsert500arebothofapolymermaterialsuch
asurethane.
ContinuingwithadditionalreferencetoFIGS.4and5,additionalmeasuresmaybetakenrelativetothevalveseats385,
380.Namely,thevalveseat385,380mayincludearobustregion450,551foralignmentwithaportionofthevalve100,350
devoidofanyconformablevalveinsert101,301(e.g.thestrikeface281ofthevalve100asshowninFIG.2).Thus,asthe

seat385,380isrepeatedlystruckbythevalve100,350andparticulaterepeatedlysandwichedattheinterfaceovertime,
wearandabrasionmayneverthelessbeheldtoaminimum,extendingthelifeoftheseat385,380itself.
Indeedtherobustregion450,551mayevenbeconfiguredtowearataratethatdoesnotsubstantiallyexceedtherateof
wearinanadjacentregionmakingcontactwiththevalveinsert101,301.Thatis,thevalveinsert101,301maybeofa
conformablematerialasnoted,impartingonlylimitedstressandwearonsuchanadjacentregionofthevalveseat380,385.
Intheembodimentshown,suchanadjacentregionwouldbeattheseatinsert400,500.However,evenincircumstances
wherenoconformableseatinsert400,500isemployed,arobustregion450,551ofgreaterrobustnessthanitsadjacent
regionmaybeemployedsoastoavoidsignificantdifferencesintherateofwearbetweentherobustregion450,551andits
adjacentregion.Inoneembodiment,therobustregion450,551maybeoftungstencarbideoraceramicmaterialofgreater
abrasionresistancethanitsadjacentregion.Similarly,theadjacentregionmaybeofahardenedsteelorapolymersuchas
urethane,asinthecaseoftheseatinsert400,500detailedabove.
ContinuingnowwithreferencetoFIG.6,multiplepositivedisplacementpumpassemblies600areshownemployedin
conjunctionwiththeabovedescribedassembly310.Theassemblies310,600areapartofahydraulicfracturingsystemat
anoilfield601.Thepumpassemblies310,600mayoperateatbetweenabout700andabout2,000hydraulichorsepowerto
propelanabrasivefluid610intoawell625.Theabrasivefluid610containsaproppantsuchassand,ceramicmaterialor
bauxitefordisbursingbeyondthewell625andintofracturablerock615forthepromotionofhydrocarbonrecoverytherefrom.
Inadditiontothesixpumpassemblies310,600shown,otherequipmentmaybedirectlyorindirectlycoupledtothewell
head650fortheoperation.Thismayincludeamanifold675forfluidcommunicationbetweentheassemblies310,600.A
blender690andotherequipmentmayalsobepresent.Intotal,forsuchahydraulicfracturingoperation,eachassembly310,
600maygeneratebetweenabout2,000andabout15,000PSIormore.Thus,asvalves100,350strikeseats385,380
withineachassembly310,600,anextremeamountofstressisconcentratedateachvalveseatinterface475,575(see
FIGS.15).Nevertheless,withaddedreferencetoFIGS.15,therateofdeteriorationofvalveseatarchitectureforeach
assembly310,600maybedramaticallyreducedthroughuseoffeaturesdetailedhereinabove.Thus,theusefullifeofvalves
100,350,seats385,380andtheirrespectiveassemblies310maybeextended.Assuch,compromiseoraddedstrainon
adjacentassemblies600maybeavoidedforafracturingoperationasdepictedinFIG.6.
Theaboveembodimentsofvalveseatarchitecturemaybeemployedtoextendthelifeofvalvesandrelatedequipmentfor
positivedisplacementpumpassembliesthatareconfiguredforpumpingabrasivefluids.Thus,theneedtodisassemble
pumpequipmentinordertomonitortheconditionofpumpinternalsmaybereduced.Indeed,extendingthelifeofsuch
abrasivefluidpumpingequipmentmayincludethedelayorsubstantialpreventionoftheoccurrenceofvalveleaksas
opposedtosimplyacousticallymonitoringleakoccurrences.
Theprecedingdescriptionhasbeenpresentedwithreferencetopresentlypreferredembodiments.Personsskilledintheart
andtechnologytowhichtheseembodimentspertainwillappreciatethatalterationsandchangesinthedescribedstructures
andmethodsofoperationmaybepracticedwithoutmeaningfullydepartingfromtheprinciple,andscopeofthese
embodiments.Forexample,circumferentialcomponentsaredepictedhereinasuniformlydisposedaboutavalveinsert.
However,alternateembodimentsofaconcavesurface,roundedabutment,coremechanismorothercircumferential
componentmaybeemployedthatareofadiscontinuous,asymmetrical,orothernonuniformconfigurationthroughoutthe
valveinsert.Furthermore,theforegoingdescriptionshouldnotbereadaspertainingonlytotheprecisestructuresdescribed
andshownintheaccompanyingdrawings,butrathershouldbereadasconsistentwithandassupportforthefollowing
claims,whicharetohavetheirfullestandfairestscope.

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CLASSIFICATIONS
U.S.Classification

417/454,251/334,137/516.29,417/568

InternationalClassification

F16K1/00,F04B53/00,F04B39/00,F16K15/00

CooperativeClassification

F04B53/1022,F04B53/1032,F04B49/243,F04B53/1097,F04B53/1025

EuropeanClassification

F04B53/10D4B,F04B53/10Z,F04B53/10D4,F04B53/10D8,F04B49/24B

LEGAL EVENTS
Date

Code

Event

Description

Ownername:SCHLUMBERGERTECHNOLOGYCORPORATION,TEXAS

14Apr2008

AS

Assignment

Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNORS:GAMBIER,PHILIPPEWAGO,
TOSHIMICHIPESSIN,JEANLOUISREEL/FRAME:020800/0057SIGNINGDATESFROM20080324TO
20080326
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNORS:GAMBIER,PHILIPPEWAGO,
TOSHIMICHIPESSIN,JEANLOUISSIGNINGDATESFROM20080324TO
20080326REEL/FRAME:020800/0057

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