Ball Valves
their monoblock design , lowering manufacturing and material costs ( Zhang & Li , 2024 ).
• Lower lifecycle costs : despite a higher initial cost , the durability of wafer monoblock valves and their reduced maintenance needs lead to lower lifecycle costs ( Chen & Zhao , 2024 ).
6 . Simplified installation
Both pig ball valves and wafer monoblock valves simplify the installation process , resulting in significant savings in time and labour .
Pig ball valves :
• Streamlined design : the integrated design reduces installation complexity , saving time and costs ( Harris & White , 2023 ).
• Faster setup : with fewer components to install , the setup is quicker , allowing offshore platforms to resume operations faster ( Evans & Brown , 2023 ).
Wafer monoblock valves :
• Ease of deployment : the single-piece design of wafer monoblock valves eliminates the need for multiple
Figure 4 . Vietsovpetro Offshore Platform technician demonstrating the use of advanced pig ball valve technology , replacing traditional pigging systems for improved efficiency and space optimisation .
connections , leading to faster and simpler installation ( Zhang & Li , 2024 ).
• Seamless integration : their compact nature also simplifies integration into existing systems , speeding up the
overall installation process ( Chen & Zhao , 2024 ).
7 . Improved efficiency
Both pig ball valves and wafer monoblock valves contribute to improved efficiency in
Table 1 : Comparison of pig ball valves , wafer monoblock valves , and traditional valve systems Aspect Pig Ball Valve Wafer Monoblock Valve Traditional Valve Systems
Space Efficiency
Weight Reduction
Installation Time
Maintenance Frequency
Operational Downtime
Saves up to 40 % by integrating multiple functions
25 % lighter compared to traditional pigging systems
15-20 % faster due to integrated design
30 % less due to fewer components
Up to 20 % reduction due to easier repairs
Reduces space by 30 % due to monoblock construction
20 % lighter compared to traditional flanged valves
Faster by up to 30 % due to single-piece design
25 % less maintenance due to fewer parts
10-15 % reduction due to reliability
Service Life Extended by 25-30 % 20-30 % longer service life
Leakage Reduction
30 % reduction in methane leakage
Energy Efficiency Reduces energy use by 10-15 %
25 % reduction in leakage
10 % reduction due to lower internal resistance
Requires up to 50 % more space due to multiple components
Generally 30-40 % heavier due to multiple components
25-35 % longer due to complexity and components
30-40 % more frequent maintenance
40-50 % higher downtime due to complexity and failure
20-30 % shorter service life due to wear
Higher leakage risk due to multiple seal points
10-20 % more energy consumption
Material Use 25 % more durable materials 15 % less material waste 40-50 % more material usage
Environmental Impact 25-30 % reduced emissions 20 % reduction in emissions
Higher emissions due to inefficiencies
Initial Installation Cost 15-20 % lower 10-15 % lower 15-25 % higher
Operational Costs
Lifecycle Costs
20-25 % lower operational costs
25-30 % lower due to extended service life
15-20 % lower due to fewer components
15-20 % lower due to durability
30-40 % higher operational costs
40-50 % higher due to frequent repairs
30 Valve World March 2025 www . valve-world . net