Metal Seated Valve Severe Services - Pipeline Slug Catchers

Valves Supplied

Size:  2” ANSI 1500 Class
Body Material:  WCC Carbon Steel
Internals:  Carbon Steel – QPQ   
Trim:  Metal Seated       
Port:  Full Port
Connections:  Raised Face Flanged

Service Conditions

Media:  Natural Gas with foreign materials   
Manual / Actuated:  Act - Pneumatic Spring Close
Temperature:  Ambient to 30F    
Pressure:  800-2500psig   
Cycles / Frequency:  Approx. 150 / year

Application/Service Conditions

2" Hemiwedge® valves were installed as test units to replace choke and traditional plug valves that were historically utilized in this difficult application. The first Hemiwedge® was installed in December 2008 and the second in early 2009. Both valves are operating as primary dump valves for slug catchers located at a major North American Pipeline Company facility in the Northeast United States. Operating pressures range from approximately 2500 psig at the beginning of withdrawal to approximately 800 psig at the end of the season.

These valves cycle about 150 times per year in this severe service handling natural gas including storage field fluids which contain solids, including well formation and salt, as well as hydrocarbons, hydrates, methanol, hydrate inhibitors, defoaming agents, biocides, inhibitors, and (brine) water.  Both valves have operated very well and have achieved positive shut-off after each cycle.

Both of the valve cartridges were returned to Hemiwedge for mutually agreed inspection/evaluation in June 2010.  Results were shown that the Hemi and seats held up very well under these extreme conditions.  Both cartridges have been reinstalled and are ready for the upcoming withdrawal operations.

After two years of service customer has audited Chromatic Industries adding the Hemiwedge® valve to their approved manufacturer list and purchased additional valves for similar applications.