Proven Results Across Industries
For over 10 years, Atlas valve has been deployed in conditions that standard valves do not survive. Each case below tells the same story from a different angle: a real problem, a demanding application, and a valve that keeps running where others have failed.
CASE #1 - ESP MANUFACTURER
One Valve to Replace an Entire Fleet of Chokes
Industry: Oil & gas production — Electric submersible pump (ESP) testing
Models deployed: Atlas 15, then standardization on Atlas 21 ; Atlas 21 + Atlas 32 in parallel (second manufacturer)
The problem
The electric submersible pump (ESP) has been central to the artificial lift industry for 80 years. With the rise of hydraulic fracturing and the rapid growth of U.S. oil and gas production since the early 2000s, ESPs began to be used in surface horizontal pumping systems (HPS) to manage produced water separated from hydrocarbons. Larger pumps, higher flow rates, higher pressures.
Every pump must be tested before delivery. And every test requires a control valve at the pump discharge, capable of varying flow rate while maintaining the expected differential pressure. The valve must have high capacity to handle the high flow rates of HPS-designed pumps, and the ability to control low flow rates at high pressure under full pressure drop.
The problem with standard adjustable chokes: their limited control range forced operators to select a different choke for each pump being tested. A manufacturer testing a varied product line had to maintain an inventory of multiple chokes — with all the associated logistics, spare parts stock, changeover time between tests, and total cost of ownership.
What happened with Atlas
During a field trial, the manufacturer found that a single Atlas 15 could replace the two chokes previously required on one test bench. After a thorough reliability evaluation period, the manufacturer made a decisive call: standardize their entire operation on Atlas 21 — a higher-capacity model — to handle all their high-pressure pumps and the majority of high-volume units.
A second manufacturer, looking to significantly expand production of large-capacity pumps, needed a valve well beyond what available oilfield chokes could offer, but without the prohibitive cost of standard industrial severe-service control valves. For a completely new test bench, they specified an Atlas 21 and an Atlas 32 mounted in parallel. This system allows both valves to work together to precisely restrict flow to the prescribed values for every pump in their product line.
What this changes in practice
Before Atlas, the question before every new test was: “Which choke do we need to install?” After Atlas, that question no longer exists. The valve adapts to the pump, not the other way around. The savings are not only technical — they are organizational: less inventory, fewer changeovers between tests, fewer configuration errors.
Key figures from sources
- 1 Atlas 15 replaced 2 chokes on a single test bench
- Validated field control range up to 700:1 (confirmed general Atlas spec in operation)
- Accuracy: ± 3% of set point
- Service differential pressure: up to 6,000 psi ΔP in continuous service
CASE #2 — HALLIBURTON
From First Deployment to a $250,000 Follow-On Order
Industry: Oilfield services
Models deployed: Atlas 21 + Atlas 32 (combination)
The problem
At Halliburton’s service facilities, control valve operating conditions are among the most demanding in existence. High flow rates, significant differential pressures, continuous service. Cavitation — the progressive degradation of internal components caused by the collapse of vapor bubbles in the fluid — is a daily reality with standard valves. Seat erosion, loss of precision, periodic replacement: the usual cycle.
That cycle has a cost. Not just in spare parts, but in downtime, maintenance interventions, and control instability toward the end of a valve’s service life.
What happened with Atlas
Halliburton deployed a first Atlas 21 + Atlas 32 combination. The valves delivered consistent results: no internal erosion, no control drift. Faced with these performances, Halliburton acted decisively: a follow-on order of $250,000 was placed. Not because a valve had failed — but because the first ones had performed so well they wanted to extend the solution to other facilities.
The technical reason lies in Atlas’ design: the axisymmetric annular flow path directs vaporized fluid away from valve surfaces during choked-flow conditions. Pressure recovers gradually after the restriction, not abruptly before it. Vapor bubbles do not implode against the walls. Surfaces do not erode.
What this changes in practice
The true cost of a control valve is not calculated at purchase. It is calculated over time: how many interventions, how many replacements, how much does it cost to shut down an installation for maintenance. With Atlas, Halliburton moved from a consumable valve replaced on a regular cycle to a durable valve that maintains its performance over time.
Key figures from sources
- 0% cavitation across the full control range
- No internal erosion, no control drift documented
- Follow-on order: $250,000 after initial performance validation
- Noise < 60 dB in severe service — documented general Atlas performance; note: noise reduction to the point of eliminating mandatory hearing protection is documented at compressor stations using Atlas in general, not specifically attributed to Halliburton installations alone in available sources
CASE #3 — SLB (Schlumberger), BARTLESVILLE
8 Valves Ordered Since 2018. Field Feedback: "Awesome."
Industry: Integrated oilfield services
Models deployed: Multiple Atlas units, recurring orders since 2018
The problem
SLB is one of the most demanding operators in the global oil and gas industry. A valve that drifts, cavitates, or requires frequent intervention has no place in their facilities. Standards are high, operating conditions are tough, and long-term performance expectations are non-negotiable.
What happened with Atlas
The relationship between SLB (Bartlesville site) and VSI began in 2018 with a first order. Since then, 8 Atlas valves have been deployed. That number speaks for itself: in this industry, you do not order 8 units of a technology without established confidence. Each new order is a validation of the previous one.
The direct field feedback from SLB operators comes down to one word: “awesome.” That is not the usual vocabulary of petroleum engineers describing a control valve. It is the language of people who tried something else before, experienced the classic problems, and found something that genuinely works differently.
Maintenance was limited to the essentials: minor stem leakage on some units, serviceable on-site by the customer without removing the valve. No internal component replacement linked to erosion is documented in available sources for this client.
What this changes in practice
Eight orders since 2018 is also proof that VSI delivers continuity: supply, consistent performance from one unit to the next, field support. Standardizing on a technology means trusting not just the product, but the supplier. This relationship has been active for over 6 years.
Key figures from sources
- 8 Atlas valves ordered since 2018, Bartlesville site
- Direct operator feedback: “awesome”
- Maintenance reduced to minor stem leakage, corrected on-site
- Note: the < 60 dB noise performance is a documented general Atlas specification, observed across Atlas installations in general (notably compressor stations), but not specifically attributed to SLB in available sources
CASE #4 — PUMP TEST FACILITY, TEXAS
2 Years of Daily Service. Still Running. "Doing Fine."
Industry: Industrial pump testing and qualification — Intensive continuous service
Location: Texas (confirmed in sources)
The problem
An industrial pump test bench is one of the most demanding environments for a control valve. Service is continuous, often every day of the week. Pressure cycles repeat thousands of times per year. Conditions vary constantly — low differential pressure at pump start-up, very high in steady-state operation. And the valve must control precisely at every point in the cycle, without drift, without instability.
Standard valves in this type of application rarely last more than 12 to 18 months before requiring a major intervention. Internal erosion does its work, precision degrades, and the installation loses measurement repeatability — which is unacceptable in a test and qualification context.
What happened with Atlas
This Texas facility has been running the same Atlas valve for over 2 years, in daily use. The field report is unambiguous: “The valve survives the application — cavitation damage seen in standard valves does not occur in Atlas.” And more simply: “doing fine with very few maintenance issues.”
The valve has gone through thousands of test cycles, repeated pressure ramp-ups and ramp-downs, continuous choked-flow conditions that would have progressively destroyed the internal components of a standard valve. The only documented intervention over that entire period: minor stem leakage, addressed on-site. No removal. No shop repair. No installation downtime.
This result is explained by Atlas’ geometry. In a standard globe valve, fluid changes direction abruptly in the lower body. Velocity rises sharply, static pressure drops below vapor pressure, and the bubbles that form implode in the pressure recovery zone — exactly where the metal surfaces are. In Atlas, the flow path does not change direction. The restriction occurs gradually in the annular trim. Static pressure remains below vapor pressure throughout the restriction zone — the bubbles never encounter the abrupt recovery region that would cause them to implode against the surfaces. This is not cavitation mitigation. It is its absence.
What this changes in practice
In a test facility, measurement repeatability is everything. A valve that degrades progressively alters the test conditions, introduces bias, and forces recalibration or replacement. With Atlas, the test bench delivers the same results on day 1 and day 730. What is at stake is not just valve longevity — it is the integrity of the test data itself.
Key figures from sources
- > 2 years of daily service, Texas, with no critical component replacement
- Service range: 0 to 6,000 psi ΔP continuous, tested up to 10,000 psi with reduced trim
- Service temperature: up to 450 °F
- Compliance: ASME B16.34 CL1500 | API 6A 5000
- Documented maintenance: minor stem leakage, corrected on-site by the operator
What All These Cases Have in Common
Different industries, different applications, different models. But in every case: a valve that holds, clients who come back to order more, and maintenance reduced to what it should always be — the exception, not the rule.
To date, VSI has successfully completed 4 Atlas refurbishment operations. Our clients prefer to rebuild their valve rather than replace it — because the structure holds, because internal components are not destroyed by cavitation, and because a refurbished Atlas goes back into service for years more.
Is Your Control Valve Costing More Than It Should?
Excessive noise in service. Internal component replacement every 12 to 18 months. Loss of precision at low opening. Two valves where one should be enough. Unplanned maintenance interventions on critical installations.
If your installation shows any of these symptoms, there is a strong chance cavitation is the cause — and that Atlas is the solution.
Request an audit of your application → Our engineers analyze your service conditions, your maintenance history, and your control requirements. You walk away with a clear assessment: can Atlas outperform what you have today, and by how much.
Results Summary: Atlas SSCV vs. Standard Valves
Aggregated data from all documented case studies.
| Metric | Standard Globe Valve | Atlas SSCV |
|---|---|---|
| Average Valve Life | 3–12 months | 3–10+ years |
| Cavitation Damage | Severe & recurring | Eliminated |
| Noise Level | 85–110 dB | <60 dB |
| Unplanned Shutdowns | 2–6 per year | Zero |
| Avg. Annual Maintenance Cost | $150K–$400K | Near zero |
| ROI Payback Period | — | <6 months |
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