Pipeline Ball Valves for Oil and Gas Projects
FZV manufactures floating and trunnion mounted ball valves for pipeline and process isolation. Compare side-entry, top-entry and fully welded constructions, with metal-seated and double block and bleed products for specific service requirements.
Explore Our Pipeline Ball Valves
Begin with the valve construction, then evaluate sealing and isolation requirements. Body access, seat design and the number of shutoff elements describe different aspects of a ball valve.
Side Entry Floating Ball Valves
A floating-ball design for smaller line sizes and lower pressure classes within the FZV range. Available with flanged or butt-weld ends and manual or powered operation.
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Side Entry Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves
A supported-ball design with two-piece or three-piece split-body construction. Flanged, butt-weld and hub connection options support different piping interfaces.
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Top Entry Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves
Top access allows internal components to be serviced while the valve body remains installed in the pipeline. Maintenance planning must include access above the valve and safe isolation of the line.
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Fully Welded Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves
A welded-body construction for oil and gas pipeline service. Stem extensions and transition pieces can be specified for buried installations and connection to the line pipe.
Explore Fully Welded Ball ValvesSealing and Isolation Requirements
Metal Seated Ball Valves
Hardened metal sealing surfaces provide an alternative for service involving elevated temperatures or particles. Selection depends on the medium, operating conditions and required shutoff performance.
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Double Block and Bleed Ball Valves
Two balls within one valve body provide a compact double block and bleed arrangement. Long and short configurations address different installation layouts.
Explore DBB Ball ValvesCompare Connections, Materials and Operation
The piping interface and material specification are as important as the body construction. Use these configuration differences to narrow the suitable product family.
| Product | Body Material Options | End Connections | Operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side Entry Floating Ball Valves | Carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, duplex stainless steel and nickel alloys | Flanged, butt weld | Manual, pneumatic, electric or hydraulic |
| Side Entry Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves | Carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, duplex stainless steel and special alloys | Flanged, butt weld, hub | Manual, pneumatic, electric or hydraulic |
| Top Entry Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves | Carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, duplex stainless steel and nickel alloys | Flanged, butt weld | Manual, pneumatic, electric or hydraulic |
| Fully Welded Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves | Carbon steel | Butt weld, flanged | Manual, pneumatic, electric or electro-hydraulic |
| Double Block and Bleed Ball Valves | Carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel and duplex stainless steel | Flanged RF or RTJ | Manual, pneumatic, electric or hydraulic |
Configuration availability depends on the selected valve design. Pressure, temperature, materials, seats and seals must be evaluated together; the options shown are not interchangeable across every size and pressure class.
Choose Around the Installation, Not Just the Line Size
When Removing the Valve Would Disrupt the Pipework
A top-entry construction provides access to internal components from above, allowing the body to remain in the line during servicing. This can simplify maintenance access where removing the complete valve is difficult. It does not permit maintenance under pressure.
When the Valve Body Will Be Buried
A fully welded body removes bolted body split joints. FZV offers stem extensions and transition pieces for project-specific buried arrangements. Extension height, pipe interfaces and access to operating equipment should be considered before installation.
When Two Separate Valves Take Too Much Space
FZV double block and bleed ball valves place two balls in one body, offering a compact alternative to a two-valve arrangement. The required isolation direction, bleed connection and operating sequence remain part of the selection.
Valve Construction and Operation from One Manufacturer
A Choice of Body Constructions
Floating, side-entry trunnion, top-entry and fully welded products allow different isolation points within a project to be evaluated within the FZV range.
Manual and Powered Operation
Manual, pneumatic, electric and hydraulic operating options are available across relevant product families. The selected arrangement must match valve torque, available utilities and the project’s control requirements.
Interfaces for the Piping Layout
Flanged and butt-weld connections, selected hub connections, and fully welded valve extensions support different installation requirements. These details help align the valve assembly with the surrounding pipework and access conditions.
Pipeline Ball Valve Selection Guide
Should I Choose a Floating or Trunnion Mounted Ball Valve?
A floating design allows the ball to move against the downstream seat under pressure. A trunnion design supports the ball mechanically and uses moving seats to establish sealing contact.
Within the FZV range, floating products provide a starting point for smaller, lower-pressure duties. Trunnion products provide side-entry, top-entry and fully welded choices for broader pipeline requirements. Final selection also depends on operating differential pressure, seat design and actuator sizing.
Does “Fully Welded” Mean the Same as “Butt-Weld Ends”?
No. Fully welded describes how the valve body is assembled. Butt-weld describes how the valve connects to the pipeline.
FZV offers butt-weld connections on several body constructions. A side-entry or top-entry valve with butt-weld ends is therefore not automatically a fully welded body valve.
When Should Metal Seating Be Considered?
Metal seating deserves consideration when temperature or particles make a soft-seat arrangement unsuitable. It is not a universal upgrade: sealing surfaces, material compatibility and the specified leakage acceptance criteria still matter.
FZV offers metal seated ball valves as a separate product option. For LNG and other cryogenic duties, review the dedicated cryogenic valve range instead of assuming that a general pipeline valve is suitable.
Is a DBB Valve Automatically Suitable for DIB Requirements?
No. The product name alone does not establish double isolation and bleed performance. A two-ball body arrangement and a valve’s seat behaviour are separate design considerations.
For a specified isolation duty, evaluate the pressure direction, seat arrangement, bleed provision and required verification. FZV’s two-ball DBB construction should be assessed against that duty rather than treated as a blanket substitute for every DIB requirement.
Manufacturing and Inspection at FZV
FZV operates manufacturing facilities in Wenzhou and Shanghai, with capabilities covering machining, welding and overlay, assembly and valve testing.
Inspection capabilities include material identification, dimensional checks, non-destructive examination and pressure testing. The inspection scope and acceptance criteria are defined for the selected product and project requirements.
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Material Verification
Material identification and testing support checks against the specified material requirements.
Assembly and Testing
Dimensional inspection, assembly checks and pressure testing address the completed valve as well as its components.
Traceability
Material and inspection records support traceability through manufacturing and final inspection.
Looking for a Different Service Duty?
Cryogenic Ball Valves
Explore dedicated ball valve designs for LNG and other cryogenic applications.
API 6A Valves
Review the separate product range for upstream wellhead and production equipment requirements.
Request a Pipeline Ball Valve Quotation
Share the valve type, size, pressure class, medium and operating temperature. Include connection details, actuation and quantity where available so we can review the required configuration.