Knowing Subsurface Safety Valve- API14A
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Disaster Drives Development<br />
The first safety device to control subsurface flow was used in US inland<br />
waters during the mid- 1940s. This Otis Engineering valve was dropped into<br />
the wellbore when a storm was imminent and acted as a check valve to shut<br />
off flow if the rate exceeded a predetermined value. A slickline unit had to be<br />
deployed to retrieve the valve. Those first valves were deployed only as<br />
needed, when a storm was expected.<br />
The use of subsurface safety valves was minimal until the state of Louisiana<br />
passed a law in 1949 requiring an automatic shutoff device below the<br />
wellhead in every producing well in its inland waters. Unfortunately, most<br />
disastrous situations occur unexpectedly. Surface facilities, including the<br />
surface safety systems, can be damaged by storms or vehicles impacting<br />
them. Boats dragging anchors or other devices can damage facilities on the<br />
bottoms of lakebeds or on the seafloor. Accidents have sometimes occurred<br />
when surface safety equipment is temporarily bypassed during logging and<br />
well intervention operations.<br />
Charlie Chong/ Fion Zhang<br />
https://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/resources/oilfield_review/ors02/win02/p52_64.pdf
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