Ball valve

Abstract

A ball valve comprises a housing, a ball seat arranged in the housing and a ball member mounted within the housing and being rotatable relative to the ball seat between open and closed positions. The ball seat and ball member define respective through bores each having a bore edge, wherein the bore edge of at least one of the valve seat and ball member defines a recessed cutting region for cutting a body extending at least partially through the valve upon closure of the ball member.

1 . A ball valve comprising:
 a housing;   a ball seat arranged in the housing;   a ball member mounted within the housing and being rotatable relative to the ball seat between open and closed positions;   wherein the ball seat and ball member define respective through bores each having a bore edge, and wherein the bore edge of at least one of the valve seat and ball member defines a recessed cutting region for cutting a body extending at least partially through the valve upon closure of the ball member.   
     
     
         2 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective through bores of the ball seat and ball member define a flow path through the valve, wherein the ball member is rotated relative to the ball seat to misalign the respective through bores to prevent or restrict flow through the valve, and is rotated relative to the ball seat to align the respective through bores to permit or increase flow through the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , defining or forming part of at least one of a Subsea Test Tree (SSTT), a retainer valve and a lubricator valve. 
     
     
         4 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the recessed cutting region is configured to cut an elongate body including at least one of tubing, coiled tubing, wireline, slickline and a tool string. 
     
     
         5 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein both the ball seat and ball member define a recessed cutting region. 
     
     
         6 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein only one of the ball seat and ball member define a recessed cutting region. 
     
     
         7 . The ball valve according to  claim 6 , wherein only the ball member defines a recessed cutting region. 
     
     
         8 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a recessed cutting region is recessed relative to an associated through bore. 
     
     
         9 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a recessed cutting region defines a cutting edge. 
     
     
         10 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a recessed cutting region defines at least two cutting edges to permit simultaneous cutting into separate regions of a body at least upon initial contact with the body. 
     
     
         11 . The ball valve according to  claim 10 , wherein the cutting edges define respective points of cutting contact with a body during cutting thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The ball valve according to  claim 11 , wherein during initial contact with a body the at least two points of cutting contact are offset from a central region of the body, and during cutting the at least two points of cutting contact with the body propagate relative to the body until converged together. 
     
     
         13 . The ball valve according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two cutting edges are defined by two distinct cutting edges. 
     
     
         14 . The ball valve according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two cutting edges are defined by separate regions of a single cutting edge. 
     
     
         15 . The ball valve according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two cutting edges are aligned substantially obliquely relative to a rotation axis of the ball member. 
     
     
         16 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a recessed cutting region is defined by a v-shaped notch. 
     
     
         17 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the bore edge of at least one of the valve seat and ball member defines a single recessed cutting region. 
     
     
         18 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the bore edge of at least one of the valve seat and ball member defines at least two recessed cutting regions. 
     
     
         19 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a recessed cutting region comprises a projection to pierce a body. 
     
     
         20 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball member defines a sealing area which cooperates with an appropriate sealing area of the ball seat, at least when the valve is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The ball valve according to  claim 20 , wherein a recessed cutting region is defined within the ball member, wherein said cutting region is recessed towards the sealing area. 
     
     
         22 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is securable in-line with a fluid conduit system, wherein the ball seat and ball member cooperate to control flow along the fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         23 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is securable in-line with a landing string. 
     
     
         24 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises first and second connectors for securing in-line with a fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         25 . The ball valve according to  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises a flange connector. 
     
     
         26 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an outer housing configured to be mechanically secured in-line with a fluid conduit system and an inner housing located within the outer housing and configured to contain pressure. 
     
     
         27 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the outer housing comprises a connection arrangement for permitting mechanical connection with a fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         28 . The ball valve according to  claim 27 , wherein the connection arrangement comprise first and second connectors for securing in-line with a fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         29 . The ball valve according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises a flange connector. 
     
     
         30 . The ball valve according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second connectors defines a preloaded connector. 
     
     
         31 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the inner housing is axially contained within the outer housing. 
     
     
         32 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the ball seat is axially contained between the inner housing and the outer housing. 
     
     
         33 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the outer housing comprises an axially extending wall section to encapsulate the inner housing. 
     
     
         34 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the outer housing is split. 
     
     
         35 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the outer housing is longitudinally split. 
     
     
         36 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the outer housing comprises at least two housing segments. 
     
     
         37 . The ball valve according to  claim 36 , wherein the housing segments are securable together when in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         38 . The ball valve according to  claim 37 , wherein the housing segments are secured together in a closed configuration when the outer housing is secured to a fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         39 . The ball valve according to  claim 37 , wherein the housing segments are secured along a length of separation. 
     
     
         40 . The ball valve according to  claim 37 , wherein the housing segments are secured together by a bolting arrangement. 
     
     
         41 . The ball valve according to  claim 36 , wherein adjacent segments comprise one or more connecting portions extending at least partially along the length of split defined between the adjacent housing segments, wherein opposing connecting portions of each segment are secured together. 
     
     
         42 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of the outer housing defines a generally cylindrical outer profile. 
     
     
         43 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of the outer housing defines a non-cylindrical outer profile having different dimensions in mutually perpendicular lateral directions. 
     
     
         44 . The ball valve according to  claim 26 , wherein the inner housing is isolated from mechanical connection with a fluid conduit system. 
     
     
         45 . The ball valve according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of respective ball seats and ball members. 
     
     
         46 . A method for isolating a fluid conduit system having a body extending internally therethrough, comprising:
 securing a ball valve in-line within the fluid conduit system, wherein the ball valve comprises a housing, a ball seat arranged in the housing and a ball member mounted within the housing and being rotatable relative to the ball seat between open and closed positions, wherein the ball seat and ball member define respective through bores each having a bore edge, and wherein the bore edge of at least one of the valve seat and ball member defines a recessed cutting region; and   rotating the ball member to close the valve and to cut a body extending at least partially through the valve with the recessed cutting region.