Session: 11-06-01 Production Systems and Subsea Operations

Paper Number: 124575

124575 - Enhancing Subsea Ball Valve Performance: A Material and Design Approach 

Subsea field development is a critical aspect of offshore oil and gas operations. One of the key components in the production system is the subsea actuated valves, installed on Christmas trees and manifolds to control the produced fluid flow from the well to the manifold, and then to onshore facilities or vessels. With the shift towards All Electric Control Systems (AES) in subsea operations, ball type subsea valves are seen as a better fit for electric actuation since they operate with rotational movement, which aligns well with electric actuation mechanisms, eliminating the need to convert rotational movement to axial movement as in gate type valves. However, with the current use of tungsten carbide (WC) based coatings on the contact surfaces and sealings, the friction forces, and consequently the required power for actuation, are quite high. This leads to an extended valve opening duration which exposes the internal parts, especially the seals, to solid particles in the fluid. This results in high wear and damage rate of the valve components over time and eventually the risk of sealing failure.

Initial lab tests from another ongoing research on enhancing the material and coatings of the contact surfaces have shown a promising coefficient of friction of 0.08. To quantify the possible force and power reduction through material innovation, a 3D model of the 12-inch subsea ball valve is created, and the model is exposed to the subsea conditions. Finite element method is employed during analysis. Subsequently, the paper investigates the design structure of the subsea ball valve aiming to pinpoint and remodel the sections where there is room for enhancement.

This research contributes to the transition to electric control system in subsea operations by addressing the challenges resulted by high power requirements of subsea ball valves. Through material and coating enhancements, it aims to reduce actuation power and maintenance needs, aligning with environmental considerations and operational efficiency.

Presenting Author: Mehman Ahmadli Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Presenting Author Biography: Mehman Ahmadli received a B.Eng. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, in 2019 and the M.Sc. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, in 2021 where currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate. His research topic is “Valves and Materials: Design Concepts for Simplifications” which aims to create a new valve system design, address the challenges of the electrification process, reduce the costs, and further contribute to the development of subsea technology.

Authors:

Mehman Ahmadli Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Tor Berge Gjersvik Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Sigbjørn Sangesland Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Christian Reynes TotalEnergies