Choke Valve

Mostly used to control flow in Oil and Gas production wells, choke valves relieve the pressure of the Wellhead to regulate its pressure downstream in the flow lines. Generally, there are two Choke valves used in series in well applications, one is controllable and the other is non-controllable. The Regulating Choke valve is usually seen after the Non-regulating valve.

Non-controllable Choke Valves are primarily used On-Off and are used to reduce the reservoir pressure to a desired operating value. This valve type is not used for flow regulation purposes. Controllable Choke Valves are a flow control valve that is controlled by an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic signal, usually from a control panel. These valves are used to maintain constant production levels in suitable pipelines.

Choke valves have a heavy-duty design to withstand the rigors usually seen during wellhead operations. The design focuses on providing ease of maintenance and reliability. They are usually designed to API6A and utilize a wear-resistant trim to ensure the longest possible service life.

Choke valves represent critical components in both surface and underground wellhead assemblies. Wellheads require the pressure within the pipeline to be reduced to ensure that the pipeline pressure is not exceeded and that the integrity of the pipeline and its components remains intact. In addition to ensuring that the pressure drop is appropriate, the flow of raw media also needs to be controlled to ensure that production levels are met and maintained.

Due to the nature of this application, valve internals can be subjected to very harsh conditions, from being chemically bonded to experiencing erosion or cavitation. It is therefore vital that the correct Disk and/or cage is selected for the appropriate application to ensure that the valve can serve for its entire lifetime.

PAC experience in the Oil & Gas industry allows us to excel in supplying valves for extremely harsh conditions where complex material or design combinations are required.

Choke Valves are designed according to API 6A norm.

Non Regulating Choke Valves (Non Controlling Choke Valves)

The function of Non Regulating Choke Valves is to act as an On Off valve and reduce the Well pressure in the flow line to a desired operating value. The opening in the Choke Valve is sized to cut off the pressure when the valve is fully open. Non Regulating Choke valves are not used for flow regulation and therefore are not designed to control flow.

Over the life of an oil production well, reservoir pressure drops as fluids in the reservoirs are depleted. Therefore, as the reservoir pressure drops, non-regulating valves may need to be replaced to maintain the same well production levels. Therefore, over the life of an oil production well, non-regulating Choke Valves may be replaced by valves with increasingly larger openings for flow.

Regulating choke valves (Controllable Choke Valves)

Regulating Choke Valves are a flow control valve designed to maintain a constant production level in the flow lines and production head. Regulating Choke Valves are an automatic valve and the valve opening can be controlled by electrical or pneumatic signal from the control panel to regulate the flow in the flow lines.

Among other applications, the choke valve can be used in liquid lines operating at very high pressures.

Application Areas:

• Wellhead control valve / Choke
• Kuyubasi Coke Valves help reduce hydrates
• Pump bypass control
• Remote control of wellhead flowlines (operated)
• Water and CO2 injection wellhead control valve
• Gas storage wellhead control
• Injection control valve in Gas Lift Processes
• Gas plant flow control valve
• As a backpressure valve in a downhole pump
• As a remote control for linear drilling
• Pump operation
• Gas lines
• Automatic line heaters

What are the Types of Choke Valves?

Fixed Orifice choke valve (Fixed Choke Valve)

-Positive choke valve (Positive Choke Valve)

Adjustable orifice choke valve (Adjustable Choke Valve)

-Needle and Seat type choke valve (Needle and Seat Choke Valve)

-Multiple orifice choke valve (Multiple Choke Valve)

-Cage choke valve. (Cage Valve)