GATE VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER

A gate valve assembly having a through bore adapted for fluid communication with a well bore and prepared for receiving an elongated member. The gate valve assembly comprises a gate element which is movably arranged in a gate valve housing, wherein the gate element has a gate bore arranged for receiving the elongated member, wherein a cutting tool is arranged in the gate bore first and second seats, wherein at least one of the first or second seat is arranged to provide sealing contact with a sealing surface of the gate element. A support member arranged with an opening encompassing the through bore and an expanded opening portion which is open to the through bore in the axial direction of the through bore, wherein a reduced section of the support member defines the expanded opening portion, and the opening has a decreasing radius along the reduced section in the axial direction of the support member toward a contact surface area arranged at an end portion of the support member adjacent the cutting tool, wherein the radius of the opening corresponds essentially to the radius of the through bore. The contact surface area is prepared for engagement with the elongated member and provides a counter acting area interacting with the cutting tool when shearing the elongated member. The invention also includes a method.