Abstract: The invention is a butterfly valve assembly for above-ground pipelines wherein the valve assembly is inserted between adjacent pipe sections, the pipe sections terminating in a pipe flange. The invention has a valve body which can be directly attached to the pipe flanges of adjacent pipe sections by welding, for example. The valve body includes first and second flange abutment members which align with the flanges of the adjacent pipe sections and can be permanently fastened to the flanges. The butterfly valve and valve seal can be removed from the valve body and replaced or serviced without having detach the remainder of the valve body from the pipeline.