A system including a valve. The valve includes a valve body having an interior volume and a bore along a first axis. A stem extends along a second axis and a flow control element couples to the stem. The stem selectively moves the flow control element through the interior volume between a closed position and an open position relative to the bore. A valve insert system retains a pressurized lubricant in the interior volume.

An embodiment includes a gate valve comprising: a valve body including a cavity coupled to a channel having proximal and distal portions; a gate to seal and unseal the channel; proximal and distal seats adjacent the gate; wherein (a) the proximal seat traverses towards the gate and stops at a first position when the gate is closing and the proximal channel portion is more highly pressurized than the cavity, and (b) the distal seat slides away from the gate and stops at a second position when the gate is closing and the cavity is more heavily pressurized than the distal channel portion. Other embodiments are described herein.

An embodiment includes a gate valve comprising: a valve body including a cavity coupled to a channel having proximal and distal portions; a gate to seal and unseal the channel; proximal and distal seats adjacent the gate; wherein (a) the proximal seat traverses towards the gate and stops at a first position when the gate is closing and the proximal channel portion is more highly pressurized than the cavity, and (b) the distal seat slides away from the gate and stops at a second position when the gate is closing and the cavity is more heavily pressurized than the distal channel portion. Other embodiments are described herein.

A singular piston included behind a valve seat within a gate valve assembly can be energized by external pressure through a hydraulic port within the valve body. When the back side of the singular piston is energized, the singular piston applies force in one direction against the adjacent valve seat, valve gate, opposing valve seat and valve seat pocket in both the valve open position and the valve closed position to block any unwanted matter from moving into the valve backside cavity. A singular piston has a pressure sealing surface and a piston pocket with an adjacent pressure sealing surface that allows the valve to seal in the closed position with the contained fluid bore pressure against the opposing valve body flow path side to the piston without the piston being energized.

A gate valve for controlling a flow of a fluid. The gate valve includes a valve body with a first seat pocket and a flow bore, a gate which is movable so as to intersect the flow bore, a seat with a gate end and a body end, a plate with an opening which is positionable on the seat at the gate end, and a plate retainer which is positionable between the seat and the plate so as to prevent an axial movement between the seat and the plate with respect to an axis of the flow bore. The flow bore extends through the valve body for the flow of the fluid. The gate end is arranged to face the gate, and the body end is positionable within the first seat pocket of the valve body.

A valve insert for a valve assembly, the valve insert positionable within a valve inlet end and/or a valve outlet end and including a fluid passageway to permit fluid flow through the valve assembly. The valve insert is formed having an outer surface for supporting the valve insert within the bore and an inner surface defining a fluid passageway, the inner and outer surfaces extending longitudinally between a proximal face configured to engage a valve seat, and an opposed outer face. The valve insert further includes a recessed portion formed on the outer surface, the recessed portion being configured to receive a seal to sealingly engage the bore.

A valve for use in oil and gas production or similar applications includes a plug or other flow barrier disposed in a cavity of a hollow valve body with a metal-to-metal sealing surface that is not reliant on any rubberized or elastomeric material to effect a seal.

A manual operator a hydraulic operator is connected to move a gate within a gate valve body between a valve open and a valve closed position. The manual operator is used to operate the gate valve when the hydraulic operator is not used. On the other hand, a handwheel for the manual operator can be removed when the hydraulic actuator is used to operate the gate valve.

The present invention discloses a gate valve with a first side and a second side relative the throughbore. A circular body cavity is on the first side and a rectangular body cavity on the second side and a portion of the first side whereby the gate is operable to move up and down within the body cavities. Due to the rectangular body cavity, the seats are slimmer than the gate. A skirt assembly is used which is inserted over the gate to cover the gate opening when the gate is moved to the closed position to prevent debris and other contaminants from entering the body cavity. Four U-shaped seals are mounted to provide that the gate valve is a bidirectional gate valve with upstream sealing having back up downstream sealing in case an upstream seal fails.

A valve assembly includes a valve body having a flow bore extending along a valve body axis from a first end to a second end, wherein at least one of the first end or the second end includes an opening adapted to receive a fluid end, the opening having an opening diameter sized to enable at least one of a valve member, a valve stem, or a valve seat to be installed through the opening. The valve assembly also includes an actuator adapted to drive movement of a valve member between an open position and a closed position. The valve assembly further includes a bonnet coupled to the actuator, the bonnet being coupled to the valve body at a top location, the bonnet being coupled to the valve body while at least one of the valve member, the valve stem, or the valve seat is installed through the opening.