Specification Compliance for the Oil and Gas Industry

From the well all the way downstream, offshore and onshore, the oil and gas industry demands utility and instrument air or gas for their applications. Whether used in pneumatic controls on the platform, sandblasting metal components, cleaning vessels and pipes or kick-starting your mechanical rotating equipment, a reliable compressed air or gas system plays a vital role and must meet the requirements of specifications and standards defined by legislation in addition to optional recommendations. 

The technical nature of the work in the oil and gas industry necessitates having in place certain prerequisite standards to guide operations. They are the tools through which the world of technical work is organized as standards provide the foundational basis that different systems, platforms and equipment are fit-for-purpose and will operate in a safe and reliable manner.

Standards developed through various codes of practice, in addition to those enforced by regional and national standardization bodies, are an integral part of operations in the oil and gas industry. The adoption of these standards have not only significantly improved safety levels, but also enhanced technical integrity and reduced damage to the environment. In addition, the adoption of standards has created a business environment where oil and gas companies have embraced and actively promote efficiencies resulting in reduced operational costs thus maximizing overall stakeholder value.

These reflect the dynamic and global nature of operations in the industry taking into account the imperative for operations that are more efficient and the scope for cost reduction through standardization. The adoption of standards has become particularly relevant as the oil and gas industry becomes increasingly technologically complex in an environment where many projects involve drilling in remote terrains and in ultra-deep geological systems.

Engineering Standards refer to documented agreements containing technical guidelines to ensure that material, product, processes, representations and services are fit for their purpose. The methods of achieving standards can be conceived of in three ways namely:

1. Set through the market based on minimum requirements
2. Set by the government, through the regulatory process
3. Negotiated through a voluntary consensus process.

Standards in the industry are promulgated and adopted by local, regional, national or international bodies to guide equipment use and processes. Historically, the development of engineering standards was done by the industry through its representative bodies. These include standards developed by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute (API), British Standards Institution (BSI), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) among others. 

Policy considerations for the standards is what substantially elevates the impact of the specification. This ensures the standards meet the purpose they were created for. The key policy considerations in the design and implementation of standards are:

1. There is a need to regularly update national standards at least every five years in line with provisions of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The standards should be revised as necessary to ensure commonality regarding approach and should apply to all processes, including those provided by sub-contracting companies.
2. Oil and gas companies (operators and sub-contractors) must be required to demonstrate to have met all standards and at the required competency levels. That is, they must demonstrate appropriate assessment of the hazards and risks concerned and mitigation plans put in place.
3. National standards and regulatory bodies need to be effectively resourced to ensure their capabilities keep pace with evolving regulatory and technological standards. This provides them with an opportunity to stand up to powerful industry and political influences.
4. National standards authorities need to regularly review and continuously improve standards taking into account best practice. For example, standards for well integrity and control such as operating practices, adequacy and reliability of safety-critical equipment, human and organizational factors among others.
5. In addressing issues of well integrity, the training and competency of the personnel operating the well is vital to mitigating any occurrence of well integrity problems.
6. There is a need to put in place a well integrity management system with detail description of what needs to be done when anything unusual is detected in the well that has the potency of compromising the integrity of the well.

Whether you operate in petrochemical to liquefied natural gas (LNG), midstream and fertilizer: chances are, your industry or application will heavily rely on maximum efficiency and reliability in your rotating equipment. And, it must meet the strictest of international regulations. Atlas Copco design and deliver special products in line with customer’s specifications adhere to JIP33, API and ISO etc. To know more about our prodcuts, get in touch with Atlas Copco expert today!