Petrochem/Utilities Industry Trends

API Adopts ISO Standard for New Wellhead Specification

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Quality Guidelines That Resonate Around the World API Adopts ISO Standard for New Wellhead Specification Line Pipe Manufacturers Getting on Board with New Specification Related Standards and Publications

This July, the American Petroleum Institute (API) released the 19th edition of API Specification 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment. The standard specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the performance, dimensional and functional interchangeability, design, materials, testing, inspection, welding, marking, handling, storing, shipment, and purchasing of wellhead and christmas tree equipment for use in the petroleum and natural gas industries.

As with all other new releases of existing standards, this edition includes several updates to the specification. But the most important change is Spec 6A’s adoption of the internationally recognized standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 10423:2003, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Drilling and production equipment — Wellhead and christmas tree equipment.

“We wanted to create one global standard, so that a company in Europe or Asia could build the same product as in the United States,” says Jonathan Jordan, senior standards associate, API. He explains that API already has a long history of coordinating with ISO on standards development. The result has been the gradual development of standards that are recognized around the world, rather than just used in the United States.

However, unlike some of the joint-development projects, which have led to the creation of API and ISO specifications that are virtually identical, API Spec 6A and ISO 10423 have a few differences. ISO 10423, for example, includes repair guidelines that violate U.S. anti-trust laws. Also, since ISO 10423 had originally been written based in part on a prior edition of Spec 6A, API updated the latest edition of its specification to include new technical requirements that have been recently developed.

In addition, Spec 6A includes the latest requirements created by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) on how to avoid corrosion. These are not included in ISO 10423, since it was published before the release of the latest NACE specification on the subject.

The API specification also provides requirements for three pieces of equipment not mentioned in the previous edition: bullplugs, VR plugs, and back pressure valves. “These are operational tools that people use but they weren’t standardized,” says Jordan. “We now have standardized requirements for them to work with other equipment covered in 6A.”

API Spec 6A can be used on a voluntary basis immediately, but it will go into effect February 1, 2005. All companies in the API Monogram Program that produce equipment covered by the specification will have to be in compliance with the new edition by that date in order to continue to use the API Monogram for their equipment.