Baker Hughes Introduces First V1-Validated Deepwater Safety Valve

Baker Hughes announced the commercial release of its DeepShield™ deepwater safety valve, the industry’s first V1-validated subsurface safety valve tested to help ensure fail-safe operations as defined in the new API Spec 14A. The DeepShield valve is designed to close if well control is lost—even in the presence of debris buildup—establishing a reliable safety barrier to help minimize the likelihood of reservoir fluids escaping up the wellbore and any resulting health, safety and environmental impacts.

The DeepShield valve features a patented, redundant operating system that enables the valve to function at extreme depths and pressures. Unlike conventional valves, the DeepShield valve can be held open at lower pressures, reducing infrastructure costs required to maintain higher wellbore pressures during operations.

“We are committed to protecting people, habitats and the environment, and the DeepShield valve reinforces this commitment in offshore deepwater wells,” said Zac Crouch, Vice President, Completions and Wellbore Intervention at Baker Hughes. “Because our rigorous safety valve testing protocols already exceeded earlier validation standards, we were able to quickly integrate the new specifications into our testing program. Baker Hughes is the first company to meet the new V1 validation, which marks a new standard for safety and reliability in the Gulf of Mexico.”

The American Petroleum Institute announced the Twelfth Edition of API Specification 14A, Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment, in February 2015 with an effective date of 15 January 2016.

The DeepShield subsurface safety valve is the latest example of Baker Hughes’ strategy to improve well efficiency, optimize production, and increase ultimate recovery.