The Top Ten Considerations when Choosing a Pressure Control Valve

Within the oil and gas industry, reducing overall production costs is crucial to meeting business goals that contribute towards the challenges posed by the sector.

1. Design
2. Material
3. Flow Control
4. Lead Times
5. Application
6. Service & Support
7. Cost
8. Sustainability
9. Maintenance/Replacement
10. Complete Solution

Design
Valve design features should include high erosion resistance, noise reduction and seat tightness to class V as standard.

Other considerations include:
• New Technology
For example new valve development - Typhoon Technology, which is a patented cyclone concept that ultimately delivers cleaner production.
• Flexible Face to Face Dimensions
Pressure control valves manufactured on a modular design can be engineered to fit exact face to face dimensions of existing pipework. Benefits include no re-design or modification to pipework or assembly, minimal downtime and provides assurance that no ‘hot works’ or HSE is required. Valves engineered to order provide flexibility in both design and process.

Material
Material of the valve must be resistant to the flow medium. Tungsten Carbide is well known for its cavitation and erosion resistant properties and discs and internals made using this material provide the very best results under severe conditions. A recent technology breakthrough that has proven highly effective is inserting discs that have industrial diamond facings.

Flow Control
Pressure reducing valves are highly instrumental in maintaining overall process control and reducing variability. Despite the diverse range of technical occurrences that can affect the control valve, its role is often largely overlooked when it comes to process performance.

Using a variety of shapes and sizes in terms of orifices in the rotating discs maximises flow control. In turn this affects the Cv value which has an enormous impact on process control. Valves that provide a range of Cv values from as small as 0.01 ensure optimum flow control is achieved.

Lead Times
Short lead times are one of the most important considerations. To avoid extended downtime and potentially gargantuan costs, it is absolutely essential to ensure the right valve is delivered on time.

Application
Careful consideration must be given to ensure the right valve is selected for the right application. This will take into account many factors to include, flow medium, production output, Cv requirements, pipework and assembly and external conditions.

Service & Support
Receiving first class service and support is paramount to any successful project. Standard service and support should include good lines of communication from initial enquiry, quotation and documentation through to reliable delivery, testing, onsite installationand commissioning (if applicable) and seamless after sales. A continuous commitment to service and support should be fuelled by a dynamic and innovative research and development programme.

Cost
Reducing total cost of ownership is paramount. This is achieved by choosing a pressure control valve engineered with quality design features, repairable internals and easy maintenance. This ensures maximum production output, lowers life cycle costs and extends the mean time between failure.

Sustainability
The oil and gas industry are deemed a linchpin in contributing towards a greater sustainable global economy. Therefore, significant consideration must be given to choosing products and services that reduce the impact on the environment and that are developed from integral strategies with agendas on sustainability.

Maintenance/Replacement
Control valves with superior design features coupled with reusable and repairable internals enable low cost, easy maintenance with minimum downtime. Valves engineered to face to face dimensions ensure replacement costs are substantially reduced.

Complete Solution
To provide a cost effective, consistent and efficient service, valve solution packages can provide design and build of valve and assembly of valve, actuator, positioner and controls in one complete unit. In addition services may include on shore and off shore site survey, post manufacture testing and calibration and on-site installation and commissioning.

Considering the above factors when choosing a pressure control valve will maximise output, reduce costs and ultimately extend the mean time between failure resulting in a reduction in the total cost of ownership.

Duxvalves
Tel: 44 (0)116 277 0077
www.duxvalves.co.uk

Published: 28th June 2013