R-20-02-B-PB Barrier Series injection-pressure-operated (IPO) gas lift valves are used for continuous or intermittent gas lift production. Based on field-proven technology, these 1.5-in-OD retrievable valves feature a barrier-qualified integral back-check system—incorporating a metal-to-metal seal—that has been developed and tested to meet API Spec 19G2 V0 standards. The back-check system has enhanced geometry to minimize erosion while maintaining dart stability during high-rate operations.
The seal stack has been tested beyond API specifications to meet zero-bubble requirements. The increased performance and reliability enabled by these features permit installing the R-20-02-B-PB valve as a well barrier element.
A nitrogen-charged bellows provides the force necessary to maintain the valve in a normally closed position. The bellows design features a balanced system to increase valve life by reducing load, while the dome capacity has been maximized to enable deeper gas lift completions.
The R-20-02-B-PB valve is injection pressure operated. Precharged nitrogen pressure in the dome acts on the bellows assembly to hold the valve closed by creating a seal between the orifice seat and the ball. Injection gas enters the valve and acts on the effective bellows area, while tubing pressure acts on the effective port area of the ball. As these pressures overcome the precharged pressure in the dome, the bellows compress, lifting the stem tip and ball off the seat. Injection gas then flows through the seat, past the back-check system, and into the production conduit.