Subsea valves - Informations needed

[Albator]

Hello all.
I hope I post this message at the right place...

I am currently benchmarking to get a foot on the subsea valves market.
My boss would like to promote this new project.

I found some general informations I needed (constructors, standards like the new API 6DSS,...),
but I'd like to get some more detailed ones.

- Are there particular specifications for the painting of subsea valves? Are there standards related?
- Do we have to get some specific certifications/test approvals/... before beginning to sell our subsea valves?
Like mandatory hyperbaric tests, integrals X-ray analysis on castings,...
- Does someone know actuators/gearboxes constructors for this specific application?
I found some, but none seems to be better than the other...
- Are there standards related to "piggable" valves other than API 6A?

Every other relevant information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[gerhardl]

I think the best way to do a market research, also in this field, is to contact directly possible customers, and ask for a brief talk, based on the outlines of what your company already does, and what you plan and can do.

Any qualified buyer of underwater valves will ask for tests, references and experience.

 

[BigInch]

You might find there are specific company standards out there that exceed the ASME/API norms too.

I always bought more or less standard mfgr valves from our company's line of approved offshore valve vendors, but specified extra time and higher pressures for certified pressure tests over the standard issue items, then had them painted with epoxy coating systems. That was sufficient for our purposes at the time, but it could depend on the severity of service and the depth (external pressure) of the specific market you're targeting.

As gerhardl suggests, go to the source. Ask your proposed clients what they want to see concerning performance specifications and ask for a copy of the company specs they're using now.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, its what we know for sure" - Mark Twain

 

[SJones]

ISO 14723 for subsea valves

EEMUA 194 for materials and corrosion guidance

NORSOK M-501 for generic coating systems and their qualification requirements. NACE TM0204 may also be of use in this respect.

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer

http://www.pdo.co.om/pdoweb/

 

[Albator]

Thanks for those answers!

SJones: isn't API 6DSS equivalent to ISO 14723?

 

[SJones]

No it isn't. It is ISO 14723 (Modified) which probably means that the US did the usual trick of adding an annex allowing all the stuff that the rest of the world wants removing back in! I prefer to reference the ISO because it is an international standard.

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer

http://www.pdo.co.om/pdoweb/