What is the standard API for gate valves

• Core API standards

API 600

Applicable objects: steel gate valve with bolted bonnet for oil and gas industry (cast steel or forged steel material).

Technical Requirements:

Valve body material should be in accordance with ASTM A216 WCB/WCC and other standards;

full bore design to reduce fluid resistance;

sealing surfaces need to be surfaced with carbide to enhance wear resistance.

Test requirements: including shell strength test, high and low pressure sealing test and fire test (refer to API 607).

API 6D

Applicable objects: gate valves (including flat gate valves) for oil and gas transmission pipelines, covering long-distance pipelines and gathering systems.

Key technical points:

support the design of pilot holes to facilitate pipe cleaning operations;

require the valve body and pipeline the same diameter (full bore) to ensure zero pressure loss;

double cut-off relief (DBB) function mandatory requirements.

API 602

Applicable scene: small diameter (DN ≤ 100) forged steel gate valve, for high pressure, corrosive media conditions.

Characteristics: Compact design, suitable for wellhead installations or equipment pipelines where space is limited.

• Supplementary and related standards

API 6A: regulates gate valves for wellhead installations, reinforcing sealing reliability under extreme pressure and corrosive environments.

API 607/6FA: Fire test standard, requiring valves to remain sealed for at least 30 minutes in a fire.

API 598: General method for pressure testing of valves, applicable to factory inspection of API 600/6D gate valves.

• Guidelines for the selection of standards