SOVIET-U.S. COMBINE PRODUCING BALL VALVES

A pending Soviet-U.S. joint venture has begun manufacturing ball valves at a factory in Kuibyshev. The ball valves, key components in natural gas pipelines, are being produced under a protocol between Cooper Oil Tool Division of Cooper Industries, Houston, and Neftemash, a unit of the U.S.S.R. Oil and Gas Ministry. The protocol also calls for the Soviet plant eventually to produce gate valves. Soviet and U.S. parties to the protocol hope to formalize the agreement with a 50-50 joint venture

Jan. 28, 1991

A pending Soviet-U.S. joint venture has begun manufacturing ball valves at a factory in Kuibyshev.

The ball valves, key components in natural gas pipelines, are being produced under a protocol between Cooper Oil Tool Division of Cooper Industries, Houston, and Neftemash, a unit of the U.S.S.R. Oil and Gas Ministry. The protocol also calls for the Soviet plant eventually to produce gate valves.

Soviet and U.S. parties to the protocol hope to formalize the agreement with a 50-50 joint venture contract early this year. More details about the joint venture won't be known until then.

Under terms of the protocol, Cooper is providing training and technology, specialty welding equipment, and some materials and machine tools. Kuibyshev Neftemash is contributing Soviet engineering and production manpower, plant facilities, and machine tools.

The initial protocol was signed about 2 years ago by the Soviet Oil and Gas Ministry and Cameron Iron Works. When Cooper Industries acquired Cameron late in 1989, it assumed Cameron's role in the project.

Operations at the factory began about 7 months ago.

Partners expected to complete about 50 ball valves by the end of 1990.