Selection and Sizing of Velocity-Actuated Subsurface Safety Valves

Subsurface safety valves (SSSVs) are installed in offshore oil and gas wells to shut in the wells in case of pressure loss at the wellhead. The selection of these SSSVs requires prediction of the oil and gas flow rates at which the valve will close. A study was performed to improve the design criteria used in the selection. Improved correlations were developed to predict pressure drop across a SSSV as a function of flow rates, and the pressure drop at which a SSSV will close.