Methods and apparatus for protecting downhole deployment valves (DDV) from falling objects

A downhole deployment valve (DDV) system (100) comprises tubular string in a wellbore (104), and object stopping assembly (108) for stopping an object (106) falling toward the valve member (102) prior to the object contacting the valve member. Any combination of valve protection features may be used with or incorporated into the DDV such as redundant valve members (figure 5), an upward opening flapper valve or a metering flapper below a sealing valve. In one aspect, a barrier (101) or diverter (301, figures 3 and 4) located in the bore above a valve member of the DDV permits passage through the bore (104) when the valve member is open and actuates when the valve member is closed. Once actuated, the barrier or diverter either stops or diverts any dropped objects prior to the dropped object reaching and potentially damaging the valve member. In another aspect (figures 6 and 7), the tool string tripped in above the DDV includes an acceleration actuated brake (601, figures 6 and 7) that anchors the tool string to a surrounding tubular if the tool string is dropped.