Oilfield Valves

Choose the valve by its duty, then its connection

API 6A, API 6D, API 16C and NACE MR0175

Delivery

Oilfield Valves across the Gulf

Questions we get asked

About this range

01Gate valve or plug valve — which should I use?

A gate valve gives a full, straight bore and seals in both directions; it is multi-turn and slower to operate, and is the standard isolation valve on wellheads, Christmas trees and manifolds. A plug valve opens and closes in a quarter turn, is compact, and is used on frac, cementing and flowback lines where iron is rigged up and valves are cycled often. Lubricated plug valves need regular greasing to seal; non-lubricated designs do not. Neither should be used to throttle — that is a choke's job.

02How do I read an API 6A rating such as PSL 3, PR1, P+U, EE-1.5?

PSL 3 is the product specification level — the testing and documentation tier, from 1 to 4. PR1 is the performance requirement; PR2 adds cycle testing. P+U is the temperature class: P covers -20 to 180°F and U 0 to 250°F, so P+U spans -20 to 250°F. EE is the material class (AA to CC general service, CC being stainless for CO2-corrosive wells; DD to HH sour service, HH in corrosion-resistant alloy), and the number after a sour class is the maximum H2S partial pressure in psia that the materials are qualified for.

03What does bean size mean on a choke?

The bean is the orifice that restricts flow, and its size is quoted in 64ths of an inch: a 32/64 bean is a 1/2″ opening. A positive choke uses a fixed bean that is changed to change the rate; an adjustable choke has a variable opening, and its "max bean" is the largest opening its trim allows.

04What is a surface safety valve (SSV)?

A fail-closed, actuated gate valve on the wellhead or flowline that shuts the well in automatically when its control pressure is lost — on an emergency shutdown signal, a high or low pressure pilot, a fire or a manual trip. Its hydraulic or pneumatic actuator holds it open against a spring; remove the pressure and it closes. SSVs are covered by API 6A and are controlled from an ESD panel.

05Spring-loaded or pilot-operated relief valve?

A spring-loaded relief valve is direct-acting: the spring holds the seat shut until pressure overcomes it, which makes it simple and robust. A pilot-operated valve uses a small pilot to control a larger main valve, which keeps the seat tight closer to set pressure and suits high pressures and tight margins between operating and set pressure. Both are listed; choose by the set pressure, the relieving capacity needed and the fluid.

06Do you supply DEMCO gate valve repair parts?

Yes — gates, seats, seat inserts and seal kits for DEMCO DM gate valves. The DM 2000–5000 and DM 7500 families look alike but their parts do not interchange, so send the model from the nameplate, the size and the pressure rating, or the kit number, and we confirm the right parts before quoting.

07Can valves be supplied with third-party inspection or witnessed testing?

Valves ship with the manufacturer's test and material certification listed on each product page. Third-party inspection, witnessed hydrostatic or gas testing, a higher PSL or a particular certificate format can be arranged on request; put it on the RFQ, because it affects the price and the lead time.

08Which oilfield valve brands do you supply?

Indus supplies Cameron (SLB), WOM, TechnipFMC, SPM, Anson and Stream-Flo, and DEMCO gate valve repair parts and its own oilfield valves.