Petrochem/Utilities Industry Trends

Quality Guidelines That Resonate Around the World

Issue Table of Contents

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

The American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification Q1, Specification for Quality Programs for the Petroleum, Petrochemical and Natural Gas Industry, is yet another example of how API and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are working together in an effort to create one set of internationally recognized standards for the petrochemical industry. Released June 2003, Spec Q1 is the API version of a joint document created by API and ISO. The ISO version, ISO/TS 29001:2003, Petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries — Sector-specific quality management systems — Requirements for product and service supply organizations, was released September 2003.

Created by a committee staffed by API and ISO members, the two documents, while published by the organizations under two different names, are technically equivalent and virtually identical. The only difference between the two is an appendix in API Spec Q1, which provides guidelines specific to the API Monogram Program.

API Spec Q1 and ISO 29001 have been created based on the worldwide standard for quality management systems, ISO 9001:2000. At the same time, they offer additional quality control requirements that are considered valuable to the oil and gas industry.

API Spec Q1 is the basis for several API quality certification programs, including the API Spec Q1 Registration program and the API Monogram Program. The API Spec Q1 Registration program is designed to certify companies that wish to demonstrate their compliance with the specification. Now, with the issuance of this joint document, organizations that are in compliance with the API spec are automatically considered to be in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 as well. API also offers a new quality program, QualityPlus, that allows companies to apply for both API Spec Q1 Registration and ISO 9001:2000 Registration. Rather than undergoing separate audits for each certification, with QualityPlus, companies now only have to go through a single annual audit.

The other program built based on Spec Q1, the API Monogram Program, is designed to provide the oil and natural gas industry with a benchmark for oilfield equipment and product service, safety, and quality. Companies that are licensed to use the API Monogram on their products have been certified by API as being in compliance with the specific standards covering their equipment. Currently, more than 1,500 organizations around the world are licensed to feature the API Monogram on their products.

Organizations wishing to obtain an API Monogram license must have an approved, documented, and functioning quality program in place that meets API Spec Q1. As part of the licensing process, API reviews the company’s quality manual and conducts audits of the company’s quality program at least once every three years in order to ensure that it meets the API requirements, including those identified in API Spec Q1.