This article addresses pressure-relief valves used on high-pressure oilfield flowlines, pressure-pumping manifolds and pump discharge systems. Selection must distinguish the valve-body CWP from set pressure and define the protected system's allowable pressure, required relieving capacity, fluid properties, backpressure and discharge routing.
A relief valve opens at its calibrated set pressure to discharge through an engineered relief path. It is one layer of an overpressure-protection system and does not replace pressure monitoring, shutdown logic or an adequately sized and safely routed discharge system.
The displayed table lists 2 in Fig 1502 and Fig 2002 body/connection configurations at 15,000 psi and 20,000 psi CWP. Do not infer a set-pressure range from those CWP values; use only the model-specific calibrated range and capacity data.
In field layouts, the first question is where the component sits in the pressure path and what equipment it must connect to. The answer affects connection direction, pressure class, access for operation and future maintenance.
Key points to confirm
For Pressure Relief Valve, we normally recommend confirming the following items before quotation, production or replacement.
- Applicable relief-device, project and manufacturer specification; API Spec 6A interface requirements alone do not qualify the relief function or imply API Monogram status.
- Working pressure, test pressure, nominal size and bore requirement.
- End connection type, mating equipment, flow direction and installation space.
- Service condition: standard, low-temperature or sour service; for sour service, provide the environmental limits needed for NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 material selection.
- Required documents such as MTC, pressure test report, NDT report and third-party inspection.
Field use and inspection
Pressure Relief Valve should be checked as part of the complete high-pressure system. Sealing surfaces must be protected, connections should be clean before make-up, and the product should not be forced into alignment by side load, hammering or pulling. If leakage, abnormal operation or pressure-test instability occurs, the model, pressure, medium, photos and test conditions should be recorded for technical review.
Information for quotation
For new projects, please provide the line layout, operating pressure, medium, temperature, connection standard and document requirements. For replacement work, old-part photos, nameplate or body markings, end-connection close-ups and installation position help us confirm the correct Pressure Relief Valve quickly.