What is a Subsurface Safety Valve?

• A Subsurface Safety Valve (SSSV)

is a device which automatically
POW! shuts in the well in case of a
major malfunction of the surface
Subsurface
equipment, preventing the
Safety uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbons
Valve to the surface.

• FAIL SAFE – if there is a

failure in the surface
equipment the SSSV will
close

Internal Use Only

 Why do we install them?

TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHE!

To Prevent Infrastructure And Production Loss.

To Prevent Environmental Contamination Due To

Uncontrolled Hydrocarbon Flow.

Law Requirements. Many Countries’ Laws Require The

Installation Of SSSVs In Offshore Wells.

Internal Use Only

 SSSV Classification

• Tubing Retrievable Safety Valves (TRSV)

– Integral Part of the Tubing String
– Require Tubing to be Removed for Retrieval of the Safety Valve
• Wireline Retrievable Safety Valves (WLRSV)
– Installed Inside the Tubing by Using a Locking Device to Secure
Them Inside a Safety Valve Landing Nipple (SVLN) or a
standard Landing Nipple in the case of a SSCSV
– WLRSVs can be Installed and Retrieved Without Removal of
the Tubing
• Closure Mechanisms
– Flapper
– Ball
– Poppet (Used only in SSCSVs)

Internal Use Only

Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valves (SCSSV)

• Uses a Piston Which Hydraulic Pressure Acts to

Open the Closure Mechanism
• Spring Acts in Opposite Direction on Piston to Close
the Closure Mechanism as Hydraulic Pressure is
Lost
• In Most Designs, Well Pressure Acts With the Spring
to Oppose the Hydraulic Pressure and Close the
Valve

Internal Use Only

Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valves

• Preferred SSSV In Use

Today
• Can Be Shut-in From The
Surface Using The Control
Manifold, For Testing And
Well Maintenance.
• Can Be Tied Into The
Surface Safety System To
Shut-in The Well In
Response To ESD And
Fire Alarms

Internal Use Only

Hydraulic Control Line

•A ¼” OD Control Line is used to

connect the Control Manifold to
the Safety Valve.
•The Control Line comes on a
spool and has been filled with
control fluid and tested.

Internal Use Only

Hydraulic Control Line

•Control line is attached to

the tubing using either:
•Control line protectors
•Steel banding straps
•Tie wraps
•Combination

Internal Use Only

How Does a SCSSV Work?
Hydraulic Pressure

• Valve is closed  Well (Tubing) Pressure is

Hydraulic P contained by the SSSV Flapper
Control Line
Pressure • Apply Hydraulic Pressure to the Control Line
 Acts on the piston
 Moves the SSSV towards the open position.
Subsurface
Safety Hyd. Press. ≥ Well Press. + Open Press.
Valve
• Pressure is maintained in Hydraulic
the Control Line to
Pressure
OPEN
CLOSED  Valve is open. Flow is established
operate thetovalve
surface.
Formation • If pressure is bled off  Valve goes to its
Pressure “fail safe” closed position.
Fail Safe Condition

Well Pressure acting

on the back side of
the piston

Internal Use Only

How A Control Manifold Works

•Supply gas (blue) is fed to the manifold.

MANUAL
SHUTDOWN •This gas runs a hydraulic pump and is
FUSIBLE also regulated (yellow) to feed Fusible
PLUG
Plugs, Manual Shutdown Stations, or
other controls used to monitor the
CONTROL Production System.
MANIFOLD
SUPPLY TO
GAS SCSSV •The hydraulic pressure created by the
pump (red) is applied downhole to the
Safety Valve.
•This pressure is used to equalize and
open the safety valve, then hold it open
during normal flowing conditions.

Internal Use Only

How A Control Manifold Works

•If for any reason (e.g. Fire,

CONTROL
Catastrophe, Control Failure, etc.),
PRESSURE the control pressure (yellow) is
RELEASED
released.

CONTROL •The hydraulic pump in the manifold

SUPPLY
MANIFOLD
TO
is by-passed by a control valve.
GAS SCSSV
• Hydraulic pressure is released
back into the reservoir.
•Allows the downhole safety valve to
close.

Internal Use Only

Halliburton Surface and Subsurface Safety
System for a Producing Well
TO
SALES
LINE
PNEUMATIC
ACTUATOR INSTRUMENT AIR
SUPPLY

SAFETY
PNEUMATIC CONTROL
PRESSURE PANEL LEVEL SWITCH
TO SSV
LO AND HI SEPARATOR
MONITOR PILOT FUSIBLE LO AND HI
QUICK PLUG MONITOR PILOT
EXHAUST
HEATER LEVEL
SWITCH

FUSIBLE SAND
PLUG EROSION
PILOT
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO DHSV TO SALES STORAGE

Legend

Pneumatic Line
Hydraulic Line

Internal Use Only

 Tubing Retrievable Safety Valve
Tubing Pressure

Hydraulic Control Line Pressure, Used To Open Valve

Hydraulic Control Line, Typically 1/4” OD

Nipple Profile For Secondary Insert Lock

Mandrel / WLRSV Assembly

Piston / Flow Tube

Spring (Used to close valve by offsetting hydrostatic

head of C/L fluid and moving flowtube up to allow
flapper to close)

Self-Equalizing Feature (TRSV’s are also available

in Non-Equalizing Designs)

Flapper Closure Mechanism

Lower Honed Bore For Insert Lock Mandrel /

WLRSV Assembly
Open Closed
Internal Use Only
TRSV
TRSV vs WLRSV
WRSV
•TRSVs are the primary SSSV used in new
well completions today due to:
• ID nearly equivalent to tubing
• No restriction to flow or tool access
below valve
• Improved reliability
• Provision secondary WLRSV in the
event the TRSV fails
•WLRSVs are mostly used today in:
•Secondary insert valve in TRSV
•Casing restriction allowing only SVLN to
be installed
•Existing fields with SVLN

Internal Use Only

Wireline Retrievable Safety Valve

Lock Mandrel
• X, R Nipple
Profile
• Single
Control Line
• Same Size
Packing
Bores
Safety Valve

Landing Nipple

Internal Use Only

Sliding Side Door Safety Valve L/N

Features

• Sleeve Opens when valve is

inserted
• Sleeve Closes when valve is
removed
• Control Line Fluid
Protected from
Contamination

Internal Use Only

 Regulatory Requirements

• Subsurface Safety Valves are manufactured and tested to

API Specification 14A / ISO 10432
• Subsurface Safety Valve Systems are designed, installed,
repaired, and operated in accordance with API
Recommended Practice 14B / ISO 10417.

Internal Use Only