Reliance Series Safety Valves
High value, self-equalizing, metal-seal body joint,
rod piston flapper valve with working pressures to
5,000 psi [34,475 kPa]
APPLICATION Reliance* tubing-retrievable subsurface safety valves are engi-
Sweet to moderately corrosive
■ neered to provide industry-leading reliability at a high level of value.
applications from 40 degF to The Reliance design features rod piston operation, Cam-P* body
300 degF [4 degC to 149 degC] joints, the rugged Camco* flapper-and-seat design, and self-
equalizing and reliable lock-open systems. This design maximizes
BENEFITs long-term performance and reduces potential leak paths.
Equalizes the valve without
■
compromising reliability The versatile Reliance safety valves are available in a range of
■ Allows fewer potential sizes, nipple profiles, and tubing connections.
leak paths Reliance valves are operated by a single-rod piston with a premium
Reduces problems associated
■ sealing system. Two proprietary Cam-P body joints are employed for
with solids and scale deposition increased reliability. The premium flapper mechanism in the Reliance
Provides a simple lock-out
■
valve also has full metal-to-metal sealing plus a secondary soft seat,
procedure, with or without and it meets a leakage-acceptance criterion that is substantially
secondary communication more stringent than API and ISO specifications.
Designed with a flapper lock-open system and an all-metal commu-
FEATURES
nication system for secondary valve installation, the Reliance safety
Inconel® 718 flapper and seat
■
valve includes a tested and proven inverted dual-ferrule control line
with full metal-to-metal sealing
connection for maximum reliability.
and flapper-mounted, dart-
based, self-equalizing system Reliance valves are available with working pressure ratings to
Compact design
■ 5,000 psi [34,475 kPa] and setting depths to 1,500 ft [457 m].
Minimum number of seals
■
Internal equalizing feature
Optimal geometry and
■
The Reliance flapper-mounted equalizing system is an industry-
clearance between sliding recognized, proven method of equalizing the pressure across the
components flapper. The integral ports in the dart provide a dedicated flow path
Metal-seal communication
■ for the wellbore fluid. For wear resistance, Schlumberger manu-
and lockout mechanism factures the equalizing system components from erosion-resistant
Designed and tested to API
■ materials and coatings. This design has been rigorously tested
and ISO criteria with sand slurry to ensure a lifetime of operation, whatever the
well conditions.
Valve operation
The Reliance series safety valves are normally closed. They are
opened by applying hydraulic pressure through a control line that
extends from the safety valve through the wellhead to the control
panel. Hydraulic pressure applied from the surface control panel
Reliance series safety valve.
pushes the rod piston and the flow tube down. This downward
force compresses the power spring, moves the flapper off seat,
Reliance Series Safety Valves
and continues until the valve is in the fully open position. When the hydraulic control line pressure is
released, the power spring lifts the flow tube and the rod piston up. This upward movement permits the
torsion spring on the hinged flapper to move the flapper into the flow stream, close against the flapper
seat, and shut in flow from the well.
Lockout operation
A unique lockout mechanism enables a simple slickline procedure to permanently lock the valve open and
separately initiate secondary hydraulic communication. The lockout tool permanently deforms the flow
tube in a specifically designed area, preventing the valve from closing. A further slickline operation punc-
tures the piston bore to establish hydraulic communication to the valve ID if a secondary valve is required.
A slickline safety valve can then be installed.
Equalizing operation
To open the Reliance valve with pressure below the flapper, the application of increased wellbore pres-
sure from above is preferred until the pressure level across the flapper is minimal; hydraulic pressure is
then applied to the actuating piston. The pressure causes the flow tube to move downward and land on
the flapper-mounted dart. This pressure opens the equalizing system. Wellbore fluid travels through the
port in the equalizing dart and into the bore of the valve above the flapper. The pressure above the flapper
increases until it equals the pressure below the flapper. When the pressure is equalized, the flow tube
continues to move down to the fully open position and shields the closure and equalizing mechanism.
If equalization is not possible by increasing wellbore pressure, then the safety valve may be completely
equalized through the equalizing system.
Specifications
Tubing Size† Valve Type Max OD Nipple Bore Working Pressure Tensile Strength‡
(in. [mm]) (in. [mm]) (in. [mm]) (psi [kPa]) (lbf [kg])
2.875 [73.0] 4.609 [117.1] 2.312 [58.7] 184.000 [83,444.0]
3.500 [88.9] Reliance-5E 5.176 [131.5] 2.812 [71.4] 5,000 [34,475] 261,000 [118,363.5]
4.500 [114.3] 6.923 [175.8] 3.813 [96.9] 413,000 [187,295.5]
† Additional sizes and pressure ratings are available on special order.
‡ Tensile ratings are given for specific example valves. Tensile ratings shown are exclusive of end connection [EOEC] and at ambient temperature.
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Copyright © 2008 Schlumberger. All rights reserved. 08-CO-178
