According to engineerlive.com, JB Valves positions itself as a “legacy library” for subsea operations, offering proven interfaces and components that work with existing infrastructure. The company advocates for a hybrid approach combining new-build equipment with legacy-compatible solutions to maximize uptime and reduce obsolescence risk. Their methodology includes rigorous API validation testing with hydrostatic and gas tests, pressure cycling from full rated working pressure to near-zero, and endurance cycling of connector halves. They’ve developed specific solutions like GO/NO-GO interface gauges for critical manifolds and drop-in slide valves that eliminate reverse-flow seal collapse failures. The approach aims to extend asset life while avoiding unnecessary capital expenditure that could render mature assets uneconomic.
The hybrid reality check
Here’s the thing about subsea operations: nobody gets to start from scratch. These are billion-dollar assets with decades of expected lifespan, and the original equipment manufacturers often disappear long before the infrastructure stops being useful. So operators face this brutal choice – either accept rising downtime as parts become unobtainable, or fund wholesale replacement that might not make economic sense.
JB Valves is basically arguing for a third way. Instead of treating legacy equipment as a problem, they’re treating it as an asset. Their “plug-and-play” philosophy means you don’t have to rip everything out to get modern performance. That’s actually pretty smart when you think about the carbon footprint of manufacturing all new equipment versus adapting what’s already on the seabed.
Why testing actually matters
Now, legacy compatibility sounds great until you realize it could mean cutting corners. But their testing protocol is no joke – hydrostatic tests, gas tests, pressure cycling, the whole nine yards. The acceptance criteria is simple and brutal: no visible leakage during hold periods. Period.
That’s the kind of rigor that keeps people safe and regulators happy. In an industry where failure isn’t an option, having documented chart records for every test stage isn’t just paperwork – it’s what separates professional engineering from wishful thinking.
Beyond mere compatibility
But here’s where it gets interesting: they’re not just making copies of old parts. They’re actually improving things while maintaining compatibility. Take that slide valve example – they didn’t just recreate the original design, they engineered out a known failure mode. That’s compatibility plus progress.
And moving from single isolation to double block-and-bleed? That’s not just keeping things running – that’s making them safer and more maintainable. It’s the kind of incremental improvement that makes brownfield projects actually worthwhile.
Where this is heading
So what does this mean for the industry? We’re looking at a future where the most valuable manufacturers might not be the ones with the flashiest new technology, but the ones who can bridge generations of equipment. As assets age and original suppliers disappear, this hybrid approach becomes essential rather than optional.
The sustainability angle is huge too. Reusing existing infrastructure means less waste, lower embodied carbon, and shorter lead times. In an industry under pressure to clean up its act, that’s becoming a competitive advantage, not just a cost savings.
Basically, the companies that master this hybrid approach – respecting the past while improving performance – are going to own the mature asset space. Because let’s be honest: most of the world’s energy infrastructure isn’t new, and it’s not getting replaced anytime soon. The real innovation might be in keeping what we have working better, longer, and safer.
