Valve Standard Reference
API 6D
AmericanSpecification for Pipeline and Piping Valves
API 6D is the most widely cited standard for pipeline and piping valves in the oil and gas industry.
What is API 6D?
API 6D (Specification for Pipeline and Piping Valves) is an industrial valve standard issued by American Petroleum Institute (API). Applies to full-opening and reduced-opening ball valves, gate valves (including through-conduit and slab types), check valves (swing type), plug valves, and through-conduit gate valves for pipeline service.
- Issuing Body:
- American Petroleum Institute (API)
- Category:
- design
Overview - API 6D
API 6D is the most widely cited standard for pipeline and piping valves in the oil and gas industry. It covers design, manufacturing, testing, inspection, and documentation requirements for ball valves, gate valves, check valves, plug valves, and through-conduit gate valves used in petroleum and natural gas pipelines. API 6D compliance is mandatory for all major oil companies including Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, ONGC, IOCL, and GAIL.
Scope
Applies to full-opening and reduced-opening ball valves, gate valves (including through-conduit and slab types), check valves (swing type), plug valves, and through-conduit gate valves for pipeline service. Covers NPS ½" to 60" in pressure classes 150 to 2500.
Vajra Industrial Solutions manufactures and supplies valves engineered to comply with API 6D, each delivered with API 6D monogram licence certificate and Material Test Reports (MTRs) per EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 as standard.
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Applicable Valve Types
Ball Valves - floating and trunnion-mounted
Gate Valves - through-conduit, slab, double-expanding
Check Valves - swing type
Plug Valves - lubricated and non-lubricated
Applicable Pressure Classes
Key Requirements - API 6D
Body and bonnet wall thickness per pressure class and temperature
Body cavity relief (BCR) provision for thermal expansion of trapped fluid
Anti-static device between ball/disc and stem
Emergency sealant injection fittings on stem and body seats
Double-block-and-bleed (DBB) capability for isolation service
Fire-safe design per API 607 or API 6FA (when specified)
Pigging capability - full-bore (ID ≥ pipe bore) for piggable pipelines
Positive material identification (PMI) of all pressure-containing parts
Low-emission stem packing per ISO 15848-1/2 (when specified)
Testing Requirements - API 6D
Shell test: 1.5× rated pressure, 15 minutes minimum, zero leakage
Seat leakage test: 1.1× rated pressure, per API 598 leak class
Back seat test (if applicable): 1.1× rated pressure
Anti-static device test: <10 ohm resistance
Torque measurement at maximum differential pressure
Hydrostatic test certificate required for all valves
Documentation Required for API 6D Compliance
API 6D monogram licence certificate
Material Test Reports (MTRs) per EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2
Dimensional inspection report (DI report)
Hydrostatic test certificate (per API 598 / API 6D)
Anti-static test record
Functional operation test record
Positive Material Identification (PMI) report
Related Standards
Browse API 6D Compliant Valves
Technical Articles Referencing API 6D
Ball Valve vs Gate Valve: Technical Comparison for Industrial Applications
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API 6D Ball Valves: Complete Technical Guide for Pipeline and Oil & Gas Applications
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Ball Valves in Oil and Gas: Applications, Standards and Selection Guide
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Check Valve Types: Swing, Dual Plate, Lift, Tilting Disc & Wafer - Complete Guide
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All Standards
API 6D by Valve Type
Engineering references
Connected Engineering
Need API 6D Compliant Valves?
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