Implementing API standards provides numerous benefits to businesses and developers. First and foremost, API standards maintain uniformity across applications and platforms. This consistency is critical for avoiding errors, speeding development processes, and ensuring that APIs are simple to incorporate into other systems.
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Developers can increase the security of their APIs by following established standards that protect sensitive data. API standards also improve API maintainability, allowing you to upgrade and extend services as your business grows.
API Standards are a set of principles and best practices produced by the American Petroleum Institute to assure safety, reliability, and sustainability in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. These standards include everything from equipment and operational procedures to environmental protection and management systems.
Companies in these areas can maintain a consistent level of quality and safety by adhering to API Standards and ensuring that their operations meet regulatory requirements. API Standards are globally recognized, making them critical for businesses that operate globally to ensure consistent operations regardless of location.
The API Document Standard consists of official regulations for oil and gas operations, updated regularly by industry experts. Each paper aims to provide clarity and uniformity in the implementation of industry best practices. The most widely utilized API document standards are for pipeline systems, refinery operations, and well construction.
These documents help to align industry operations with regulatory and safety objectives while maintaining high levels of performance and dependability.
The American Petroleum Institute (API), an association that represents the oil and gas industry in the United States, has arranged seminars, workshops, conferences, and symposia addressing public policy matters since its establishment in , focusing on recommended practices regarding safety.
Further, API covers equipment, operations, effective water management, spill prevention, and environmental protection as part of its concern. Commonly used in federal and state oil and natural gas regulations, API standards have become one of the most cited standards by international regulators.
API has also established specific standards with the aim of promoting personnel and public safety in the oil and gas industry, including drilling, refinery operations, and well-servicing operations.
API lays the ground rules for companies and manufacturers to develop safety programs suitable for their operational needs. As a leading association with over 800 produced standards, API offers training and certification programs for workers in the industry.
The API Specification provides detailed instructions for manufacturing, testing, and inspecting oil and gas equipment to meet safety standards. API Specification 5L defines the dimensions, material properties, and strength of pipes for oil, gas, and water transport.
API members include producers, refiners, suppliers, pipeline operators, marine transporters, and service companies across the oil and gas industry. API has a vast membership base of over 600 corporate members, including some of the industry’s largest and most well-known brands.
Some of the well-known members are from Petroleum companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP America, and Shell Oil Company. By connecting its members, API provides a forum to collaborate on common goals and advocate for policies that benefit the industry. If your company plans to join the community, you can check their official website.
American Petroleum Institute (API) standards promote established, reliable engineering, operational practices, and safe, interchangeable equipment and materials from drill bits to environmental protection. These encompass manuals, standards, specifications, recommended practices, bulletins, guidelines, and technical reports.
Companies can enhance their operational proficiency, guarantee compliance with regulations and safe procedures, and reduce the likelihood of equipment breakdowns leading to potential risks if they adhere to API codes and standards.
Oil and gas industry is usually compliant with API standards (credit: Pixabay)
The most used API Standards in the oil and gas industry are API 5L (for line pipe), API 650 (for welded tanks), API 570 (for piping inspection), API 510 (for pressure vessel inspection), API 653 (for tank inspection), and API RP 2A (for offshore structures design).
In the table below, you will find a list of the most popular API standards integrated into PetroSync’s training for the past thirteen years, attended by engineers from prominent companies.
Standards FocusAvailable Training
API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspection Maintenance, inspection, repair, and alteration of pressure vessels API 510 Training: Pressure Vessel Inspection API 570 – Piping Inspector Inspection, reparation, and alteration guidelines for metallic and fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) piping systems API 570 Training:Piping Inspector API 653 – Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction Maintenance, inspection, repair, relocation, alteration, and reconstruction of aboveground storage tanks API 653 Training: Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction API 580 – Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) Integrity Management of equipment in the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries API 580 Training: Risk-Based Inspection API 581 – Base Resource Document Assessment and management of risks associated with equipment integrity API 581 Training: Base Resource Document API 579 – Fitness For Service Structural integrity assessment and fitness for continued service of equipment API 579 Training: Fitness For Service API 571 – Damage Mechanisms The corrosion and materials degradation mechanisms in refining and petrochemical industries API 571 Training: Corrosion and Materials API 936 – Refractory Material Installation quality control of monolithic refractory linings and materials API 936 Training: Refractory Material Design, Application, Installation and Inspection API 560 – Fired Heaters for General Refinery Service Online Training The focus of API 560 standard is on the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of fired heaters in the oil and gas industry. API 560 Training: Fired Heaters for General Refinery ServiceSeveral standards are favored compared to hundreds of other Individual Certification Programs released by API. Most of these standards are available in API Training by PetroSync. Below are the brief foundations of each standard.
API 510, as an inspection code, covers the maintenance, inspection, repair, and alteration of pressure vessels. In October , API released the latest edition.
Though refining and chemical processing vessels are the ones who apply the API 510, other companies such as pharmaceutical, electrical, food and beverage, or any other industry where pressure vessels are utilized can also implement this standard.
To maintain the fitness of the pressure vessels, API provides API 510 certification for individuals with an extensive understanding of the pressure vessels topic. The certification is designed to improve the employers and the industry with the expected results below:
API 510 certification is a globally recognized certification. PetroSync offers API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector training course with extensive research of course material covering not only Pressure Vessel Systems but also all the relevant details to help you master the industry knowledge. Reserve your spot now!
API 570 provides inspection, reparation, and alteration guidelines for metallic and fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) piping systems, including their associated pressure relief devices that are currently operated.
Hence API 570 certification serves as proof of your competence, expertise, and experience in the field of piping inspection and maintenance. The standard will assess your comprehension and ability to apply the piping systems knowledge in practical situations. Because of that, all applicants of API 570 must meet education requirements and have specific experiences.
With a mixture of lectures, case studies, and discussion, API 570 training by PetroSync can help you acquire theoretical and practical skills in the field of In-Service Piping Systems that can be readily applied to your piping inspector job. Enroll today and take your career to the next level.
One of the most popular standards is API 653. The code covers the maintenance, inspection, repair, relocation, alteration, and reconstruction of aboveground storage tanks constructed per API 650 and its predecessor, API 12C. API 653 outlines the minimum requirements for ensuring these tanks’ structural integrity after being put into service.
The standard is designed for companies with engineers or inspection personnel completed with experience in tank design, fabrication, repair, construction, and inspection as part of the tank maintenance effort.
Not only beneficial for tank inspectors, API 653 certification universally equips your organizations with the knowledge to ensure that your personnel carries out the highest quality standards regarding storage tank inspection. Before taking the certification program, preparing with sufficient knowledge of API 653 standards is best.
PetroSync provides API 653 Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction training course. Hence the in-house training can be tailored to meet your organization’s specific needs at your preferred location and time. Reserve your spot and master the tank inspection strategy with PetroSync!
API 580 standard evaluates a candidate’s comprehension of risk-based inspection (RBI) principles, methods, and practices within the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas sectors. The certification is renowned as a measure of proficiency in RBI. Employers and regulatory agencies usually demand this certification.
Meanwhile, API 581 guides assessing equipment failure risks, prioritizing inspections, data management, and program implementation. API 581 is widely used to ensure equipment safety and reliability in high-risk environments.
If both standards cover risk inspection, what is the difference between API 580 and API 581? API 580 relies on the RBI development guidance program, while API 581 modulates quantitative methods for COF, POF calculation, and establishes risk-based inspection plans.
Considering how API 580 and API 581 Risk-Based Inspection & Base Resource Document training course help you in the field of asset integrity management, most experts in the industry recommend taking the API 580 and API 581 certifications.
You can enroll in API 580 and 581 training crafted by PetroSync to master the knowledge of risk-based inspection with active learning, combining case studies, lectures, and discussion. Reserve your spot today!
Fitness for Service (FFS), popularly known as API 579, is one of the most commonly used methods regulating the correct approach in assessing equipment’s safety and efficiency for a desired future period. This standard is a result of collaboration between API and ASME (in the name of ASME FFS-1) to cater to any flaws, damage, or aging conditions that may happen in monitoring pressure vessels, piping, and tanks.
Though API does not open any certification for this particular standard, this does not diminish the value of mastering API 579. The standard is highly recommended for individuals in various roles, including inspection personnel, chemical or mechanical engineers, and process engineers.
This standard has wide-ranging applications, so design engineers and maintenance engineers who are involved in the repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting of plant equipment in the refining, petrochemical, and chemical industries may also find it beneficial.
Dive deeper into the knowledge of API 579 Fitness For Service training course with PetroSync! We deliver a 90% success rate in helping students pass the exam, PetroSync commits to helping you achieve your career aspirations.
The purpose of API 571 is to cover a comprehensive understanding of damage mechanisms in refining, petrochemical, and other process industries. API 571 can also act as a valuable reference document either on its own or on its complementary support for different API standards and recommended practices. Nearly 70 different damage mechanisms are covered under API 571, along with the critical factors of causality.
API 571 is hoped to give a strong grounding and fundamentals to the engineers, supervisors, and managers before making an informed decision. With that being said, API 571 certification can help individuals ensure the safety of the environment and involved personnel.
PetroSync crafts API 571 Damage Mechanism Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry training course with in-depth research of course material. Claim your spot and learn a handful of processes and environmental parameters with experienced instructors in the industry with PetroSync!
API 936 is a standard that focuses on everything related to refractory materials used in industrial settings. It explains how designers design, apply, install, and inspect these materials to ensure they work effectively.
The standard guides the selection of the right refractory material for specific applications and ensures its correct installation.. It outlines procedures for inspecting refractory linings to identify defects that could impact performance, ensuring safety and quality.
API 560 is a standard that focuses on fired heaters used in refineries for heating various substances during the refining process. These heaters play a crucial role in heating crude oil and other materials to specific temperatures for processing.
The standard covers everything from the design and construction of these heaters to their operation and maintenance. It provides guidelines for ensuring that fired heaters are built safely and efficiently, meeting industry standards for performance and environmental protection.
API 560 outlines specifications for different types of fired heaters, including their components like burners, tubes, and refractory materials. It also includes requirements for safety systems and emissions control to minimize risks and environmental impact.
Following API 560 helps ensure that fired heaters in refineries operate reliably, efficiently, and safely, contributing to the smooth operation of refinery processes and compliance with regulatory standards.
API is primarily a standards body, not a code authority. Regulatory agencies often require and enforce codes, while they largely leave API standards as voluntary. However, they frequently mention API standards in codes, which makes them de facto obligations in some jurisdictions. In some cases, legal frameworks or contracts may adopt API standards.
Effectively giving them the same status as a code. While API provides guidelines for safe and effective operations, the primary difference lies in the fact that API Standards serve as recommendations, while codes are legally enforceable regulations. Nonetheless, adherence to API Standards can greatly enhance operational safety and regulatory compliance.
What Is The Difference Between API Standard, API RP, and API MPMS?
API Standards are like rulebooks for the oil and gas industry. They provide detailed instructions on how to design, build, and operate equipment and systems used in the industry. These standards are essential because they ensure that everything, from storage tanks to wellhead equipment, meets specific technical requirements.
By following these standards, companies can maintain safety, quality, and consistency in their operations. For example, API STD 650 lays out the guidelines for constructing storage tanks, while API STD 6A defines the requirements for wellhead and Christmas tree equipment.
API Recommended Practices are helpful guides that provide advice on how to perform various tasks in the oil and gas industry. These practices are not mandatory but are considered industry best practices. They focus on specific areas and offer guidance on how to achieve desired outcomes safely and efficiently.
For instance, API RP 581 offers guidelines and a structured approach for assessing and managing the risk associated with the operation of equipment in the oil and gas industry. These recommended practices help companies make informed decisions and improve their processes.
The API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards explains procedures for accurately measuring petroleum and related products. This manual ensures accurate measurements, preventing costly errors and maintaining consistency for fair transactions and efficiency.
The petroleum industry mostly designs API standards, addressing aspects like equipment design, fabrication, inspection, testing, and operational practices. Meanwhile, ASME standards have a broader application, extending to various engineering fields like mechanical, civil, chemical, and nuclear engineering. API and ASME standards ensure safety in engineering, with API focusing on oil and gas, and ASME covering various industries.
To become an API Inspector and obtain certification, you must pass an exam that assesses your API skills and specialization. Here are several typical procedures that one follows to acquire the API Individual Certification Program.
Each certification has specific requirements that applicants must fulfill. Read the full articles on API Certification Program. This step is crucial as API deems applicants unqualified if they don’t meet the minimum standards. The committee will not refund the submitted application either. You can refer to the API Refund Policy for more information.
Thoroughly read the login instructions provided by API in this document and complete the online application process.
Make sure you have contact details for each employer to confirm your employment dates, skills, and experience. You must also provide the relevant documentation (educational diplomas, transcripts, certifications, or bank details for electronic payments). Note that you need to prepare all of the officially translated certificates and transcripts.
API commonly recommends study materials in preparation for the certification exam. You can also sign up for oil and gas training with PetroSync to help you prepare. PetroSync partners with the most experienced and knowledgeable international instructors in their fields.
You can take the exam at a testing center or remotely, and passing grants API certification.
A company can renew its certification by meeting continuing education or professional development requirements or retaking the exam.
All in all, API codes and standards are essential guidelines for the oil and gas industry. Companies with API certification have complied with API codes and standards for equipment design, manufacture, and testing.
API certification builds trust with customers, investors, and regulators, ensures safety and reliability, and promotes environmental responsibility. PetroSync designs its API Training to suit you in seeking a career boost with its public training.
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Revisions in the API 6A, 17th Edition, have resolved a number of long-term problems and expanded its scope and coverage of wellhead and christmas tree equipment.
The 17th Edition, Feb. 1, , represents the state-of-the-art in international requirements for wellhead and christmas tree equipment. The design, materials, and quality control aspects of API 6A have all been improved with an emphasis on making the document more acceptable around the world.
However, there are unresolved issues that raise many questions about the future direction of efforts aimed at international standardization of wellhead and christmas tree equipment. Unfortunately, these unresolved issues confuse both manufacturers and companies purchasing this equipment. This ultimately increases wellhead and christmas tree costs, so it is to everyone's advantage to resolve these issues.
This article describes the significant revisions that are included in API 6A, 17th Edition. Also discussed are the regulatory, standardization, and customer acceptance issues that cloud the future of API 6A, 17th Edition.
The roots of the current API 6A can be traced back to , when API issued Standard 5-G-2, "Standards On Well Control Valves, Flanged Non-Rising-Stem Solid Wedge Steel Gate Valves For Drilling And Production Well Control Service," and to when the 1st Edition of API Specification 6A was released.
The 17th Edition includes an expanded listing of components and includes three new appendices that drastically improve the document. This edition contains changes that have been balloted and approved by API Committee 1, Subcommittee 6 (C1 5C6) since Supplement 2 to API 6A, 16th Edition, was released in . These changes can be subdivided into broad categories based on the reasons for being developed, as follows:
Many API specifications are now interrelated because of references back and forth to specific sections in the various documents. Although this interrelation helps to promote standardization, there are some negative effects.
In some instances, problems can be caused when several standards start off with identical requirements, but then fail to stay synchronized because of different revision schedules. Correcting problems such as these were part of the focus of the 17th Edition.
In the 17th Edition, one significant change is the addition of design, materials, welding, and quality control requirements for surface safety valves (SSVs) and underwater safety valves (USVs). API 14D previously covered these requirements, but conflicts between supposedly similar requirements in 6A and 14D have been a confusing and costly problem for equipment manufacturers.
Although the two API committees responsible for these two documents had attempted to duplicate the requirements, different revision schedules had a synchronization problem, with API 14D lagging behind.
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With the 17th Edition, the basic SSV and USV design and manufacturing requirements have been unified in the API 6A with PSL 2 as a minimum. PSLs are product specified levels listed in API 6A.
The verification testing requirements that were in Section 900 of API 14D, 9th Edition are now in the new API 6AV1 1st Edition, "Specification for Verification Test of Wellhead Surface Safety Valves and Underwater Safety-Valves for Offshore Service."
The new API 6A and 6AV1 requirements maintain the basic design, material, quality, and testing levels required in API 14D, 9th Edition; therefore, the standards have not been weakened.
It should be noted that existing SSV and USV design verification testing completed under API 14D will satisfy the requirements of the new API 6AV1. Therefore, existing designs will not have to be requalified by the manufacturers to switch from API 14D.
As part of this move from API 14D to API 6A and API 6AV1, the recommended practice for failure reporting that was covered in Appendix C of API 14D is now covered by Appendix L of API 6A.
In summary, while two documents must still be referenced to cover SSV and USV equipment, the costly problem of conflicting design, materials, welding, and quality control requirements has been solved. The only downside is the problems that may arise during the transition period that will exist until API 14D can be withdrawn.
When API 17D, 1st Edition, was released in , it referenced back to API 6A for most of the materials, welding, and quality control requirements; however, API 17D introduced a new "operating temperature rating," not covered in API 6A.
To correct this situation, API 6A, 17th Edition adds an Operating Temperature Class Rating "V" that covers from 35 to 250 F. (2-121 C.). To meet the API 17D impact testing requirements, API 6A also includes a new requirement that equipment for Operating Temperature Class V shall be impact tested at 0 F. (-18 C.).
Independent screwed wellhead equipment has been manufactured for years to requirements much different than specified for API 6A equipment.
In spite of API 6A containing requirements for independent screwed wellhead equipment, these components were typically manufactured to requirements very similar to API Spec 11 equipment. Therefore, all requirements for independent screwed wellhead equipment have been removed from the 17th Edition and plans call for these requirements to be issued as a stand-alone document, API Spec 11 IW.
Product safety, standardization (or interchangeability), and a high level of quality control are the primary interests of customers purchasing API 6A equipment. In these areas, the 17th Edition provides a number of improvements.
A significant addition to the 17th Edition is Appendix G for new design and equipment rating options for elevated temperature service. These new options are the result of a long-term, in-depth collaboration between the C1 SC6 materials task group and the C1 SC6 design task group.
The 16th Edition was limited in that it only provided a standardized means of rating 6B flanges at 2,000, 3,000, and 5,000 psi for service above 250 F., (121 C.). The new provisions in Appendix G provide the manufacturer with options for rating all API 6A equipment.
Furthermore, the manufacturer can select various options to provide the customer equipment with the best derated working pressure, or in many cases, equipment with a full-rated working pressure. The new options include:
The 17th Edition now contains quality control requirements for choke trim. Choke trim is defined as "pressure controlling choke components, including choke beans." Choke trim was not included in prior editions of API 6A.
The new requirements stipulate that choke trim must be subjected to the same surface non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and serialization requirements as valve bore sealing mechanisms, with an exemption for brazed, press-fit, and shrink-fit joints from the surface NDE requirements.
In many cases, valves and the actuators used to operate them are manufactured by different companies. Unfortunately, the requirements in prior editions of API 6A made it difficult to monogram these components independently.
The 17th Edition now includes specific requirements for valves adapted for actuators, allowing them to be monogrammed after testing with a "simulated" bonnet instead of with an actuator.
The valve adapted for an actuator must successfully complete all tests except for the backseat test. If the bonnet and actuator are furnished as a unit for PSL 4, then a gas backseat test shall be conducted.
In addition to these new requirements, a number of revisions were made to clarify the intent of the requirements for valves adapted for actuators.
Restricted area packoffs are a proprietary part of manufacturers' designs, and the requirements specified in the 16th Edition failed to provide adequate flexibility for the various designs.
The maximum seal area requirements shown in the 16th and earlier editions were an attempt to show "how to" in the strength of design. In some cases, the dimensions shown did not correlate with calculations. These dimensions were undocumented and appear to be incorrect.
The minimum crossover connection seal diameter is dependent on the restricted area packoff design. The manufacturer must account for all loading on each component of the lower connection. Section 300 of the 17th Edition covers these requirements, and no specific dimensions need to be provided.
The requirements in the 17th Edition properly identify what must be accounted for, but leaves the "how to" up to each manufacturer, based on his particular design or designs.
New analysis of old designs can sometimes render them obsolete, and this has happened to segmented flanges. After a detailed study, triple and quadruple segmented flanges have been deleted from the 17th Edition. The high-strength bolting required for triple and quadruple flanges simply does not meet the requirements for H2S service.
Present surveys indicate triple and quadruple segmented flanges are less than 10% of the total segmented flanges being manufactured. Therefore, only a small portion of the market will be affected.
This change does not affect dual segmented flanges.
The original intent for the 16th Edition was to allow other end connectors (OECs) to be used on mandrel hangers when they met the specified requirements. Unfortunately, the wording did not reflect this intent.
This has been corrected in the 17th Edition to clearly show that mandrel casing hangers and mandrel tubing hangers can now be monogrammed with any threaded connections, provided that they meet the specified design requirements.
Adapter spools had been listed as an API 6A product in prior editions, but were not covered by detailed requirements. A new section in the 17th Edition permits manufacturing this important class of equipment under API rules.
Previous requirements did not permit changing the pressure ratings in a wellhead component without a means of sealing the restricted area. In addition, a simple spacer spool was not covered by the previous requirements because heads and housings were required to have a means for suspending casing or tubing within them. The practice was to make this equipment under API rules prior to the 15th Edition.
The key provision of the new requirements is to limit the working pressure rating of the body to the lowest rating of the end and outlet connectors rather than the highest as is permitted in a crossover spool.
To ensure that components destined for sour service meet the required maximum hardness values, wording has been added to a number of sections to clarify that hardness testing of individual components is required.
While NACE MR has been interpreted to allow hardness sampling, it is quite clear now in particular sections of API 6A that each part must be individually tested.
A small yet significant addition was made to the requirements for storage and age control of elastomeric materials.
While the requirements for storage and age control were left up to the manufacturer in prior API 6A revisions, the 17th Edition now includes detailed requirements as to how elastomers should be stored to prevent rapid deterioration.
The equipment marking requirements have been revised in the 17th Edition to clarify exactly what is necessary for each piece of equipment.
Also, the 17th Edition contains new requirements for several items for which no marking was identified in the prior revisions.
A new Appendix J has been added to clarify applicability of requirements in API 6A-vs.-guidelines in API RP 6AR for repair and remanufacture of wellhead and christmas tree equipment.
Equipment made prior to the 15th Edition of 6A can be repaired or remanufactured under the guidelines established in API RP 6AR. Equipment made to the 15th and later Editions of 6A can be repaired or remanufactured to the requirements of API Spec 6A, Section 11.
This new appendix explains clearly the options related to repair and remanufacture, and provides answers to the most commonly asked questions.
For a number of years, a key API staff and committee member objective has been to make API 6A and other API specifications international in scope, with acceptance and usage throughout the world.
Much progress has been made with respect to this objective, but the 16th Edition of API 6A still contained several requirements that reflected its prior U.S. focus. Several changes were made to facilitate international acceptance by both the manufacturers and the users of API 6A equipment.
To facilitate the acceptance of API 6A, 17th Edition, as the replacement for the current ISO , the 17th Edition has been totally renumbered and formatted using the ISO guidelines.
While this step fulfilled the ISO related objectives, it should be noted that the renumbering has placed 6A out of synchronization with API 17D 1st Edition. API 17D relies heavily on references to specific parts of API 6A.
Prior to the 17th Edition, any manufacturer wishing to use an equivalent to one of the U.S.-based reference standards listed in 6A had to submit the proposed equivalent to API for review.
The new policy transfers the responsibility for evaluating and justifying the equivalency of alternate national or international standards from API to the individual manufacturers.
Throughout the entire API 6A, 17th Edition, any prior reference to an "industry recognized standard" has been changed to read "nationally or internationally recognized standard."
An optional gas test has been added to PSL 3 in the 17th Edition. This optional test was included to satisfy a broad base of API 6A user and manufacturer requirements in the North Sea area. It allows for the following:
One factor in determining the appropriate PSL for equipment is "close proximity," and one factor in determining "close proximity" is the "radius of exposure" (ROE).
In the 16th Edition, Appendix A, the only option allowed for determining the ROE was based on the procedure published by the Texas Railroad Commission. In the 17th Edition, Appendix A has been revised to identify that other ROE calculating methods may apply, depending on local regulations.
The 15th Edition of API 6A issued in contained a major expansion into the area of manufacturing process control. Many of the process control requirements imposed by that edition were totally new and had not been fully proven.
Once in effect, it became quite clear that there were problems. Therefore, since , the committee has dedicated a significant amount of time to revise those process controls into technically and commercially viable requirements.
Like the 16th Edition, the 17th Edition also contains a number of changes aimed at correcting those 15th Edition process control requirements. It should also be noted that because detailed process controls are now part of API 6A, there will be an ongoing need for revisions as new or improved manufacturing processes, acceptable from the technical standpoint, fall outside of the API requirements.
The 17th Edition contains several changes to the qualification test coupon (QTC) and mechanical property testing requirements that will promote more cost-effective manufacturing without any quality degradation.
First, the requirements for the location of mechanical test specimens have been revised to facilitate more cost-effective use of rolled bars. Prior requirements favored forged bars made with separate but smaller QTCs. Additionally, the requirements for trepanned cores, prolongations, and sacrificial production parts have been revised to allow broader application of these types of QTCs.
Furthermore, the requirement for hardness testing on each QTC has been reduced from two hardness measurements to one. It did not make sense that the test bar had to have more hardness measurements than the actual components.
Another key change to the 17th Edition is a new provision that allows testing of tensile and impact specimens from multiple QTCs. This allows manufacturers to upgrade material that may not have been previously impact tested without having to repeat the tensile test.
Heat sink requirements were also added to cover the time/temperature relationship between QTCs and the production parts they represent when age hardening treatments are performed. Previously, age hardening cycles such as those used on nickel-base alloys were not addressed by API 6A.
Prior to the 17th Edition, heat sinks for PSL 4 equipment had to be made of the exact same alloy. This proved to be costly for raw material suppliers because heat sinks are almost entirely used only for the oil and gas industry's PSL 4 requirements and many times have to be made for a particular metal order.
Thus, the revisions to the heat sink requirements include the creation of six new alloy classes that can be used to make heat sinks. Any material that falls into one of these alloy classes can be used as a heat sink for any other material in that alloy class.
This will reduce the number of heat sinks that raw material suppliers must invest in without affecting the quality of the heat treatment process as demonstrated by a detailed review of the coefficients of thermal conductivity of numerous materials by the C1 SC6 Materials Task Group.
Some regulatory and customer acceptance issues are clouding the future of the new API 6A, 17th Edition.
The main unresolved regulatory issue was the acceptance of the combined requirements of API 6A, 17th Edition, and API 6AV1, 1st Edition, as a replacement for API 14D by ASME SPPE-1 and the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS).
The MMS has jurisdiction over the production of oil and gas in U.S. offshore waters, and it will make a ruling on whether or not the combined requirements of API 6A, 17th Edition, and API 6AV1, 1st Edition, provide the necessary requirements for the standardization of wellhead surface safety valves and underwater safety valves.
However, the issue is more than whether or not API 14D can be superseded by API 6A and API 6AV1. The issue also involves whether SSVs and USVs need to be covered by a separate quality-assurance audit. Currently, valve manufacturers must undergo both an ASME SPPE-1 audit and an API Q1 audit. Is the cost of the ASME audit justified?
The main standardization issue left unresolved was the status of the new API 6A and the old API 14D as ISO documents. Currently, API 6A, 16th Edition, with only Supplement 1 is accepted as ISO . while API 14D, 8th Edition, is accepted as ISO . Thus, even before the new API documents were released, the API and ISO documents were already one revision out of synchronization.
The fact that the API and ISO documents are now further out of synchronization and contain different requirements presents a major problem for equipment manufacturers and end users. Attempting to maintain dual inventories and dual manufacturing specification systems creates a financial burden that is out of place in an industry seeking to drastically reduce equipment costs.
Furthermore, it is yet to be seen if the ISO process and the slow cycle time on revision and release of ISO documents will be acceptable to the oil and gas industry in an age of rapidly changing technology.
This is not an issue that can be resolved by the API staff or the API committee members alone. API SC6 and its parent committee, C1, are implementing plans to improve communication and coordination with the relevant subgroups of ISO TC 67.
This synchronization problem must now be addressed by the ISO TC 67 and/or the companies that purchase wellhead and christmas tree equipment. Like the situation with ASME as described above, the API/ISO situation also adds to the audit costs of manufacturers. Just as the need for both an ASME SPPE-l and an API Q1 audit can be questioned, the need for a third audit by ISO is an additional burden.
Does the industry need the expense of three separate audit programs to cover the same basic equipment? Can the industry afford to provide the "volunteers" to staff the various API, ISO, and ASME committees overseeing these similar specifications and audit programs?
In regard to customer acceptance issues, it is worth noting that at the same time API C1 SC 6 has been working to make API 6A an internationally acceptable specification, other documents with differing or conflicting requirements are being released elsewhere in the world to cover the manufacture of wellhead and christmas tree equipment.
The recently released Norsok standards provide a new nationally focused set of requirements for Norway and were developed to standardize equipment requirements and reduce costs for Norwegian oil and gas producers.
Could the needs of the Norwegian oil and gas companies be addressed in the API specification? Will there be other individual countries or countries bound geographically that elect to generate their own specifications?
In an industry seeking to reduce equipment costs through international standardization, these are important questions.
The anthors wish to thank Jim Greer of the American Petroleum Institute staff for providing background information on the ballot items that became part of API 6A, 17th Edition, and for assisting with this article.
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