API reveals new offshore, onshore safety guidelines

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released new guidelines designed to enhance industry offshore and onshore safety.

API recently released its newest valve standard as part of the industry’s continuous efforts to improve operational safety and environmental protection. Specification 6A governs the design and operations of the critical safety valves at wells used in the offshore and onshore oil and gas industry.

The latest edition, officials said, includes new automatic closure requirements, ensuring additional protection for workers and the environment in loss of power and emergency situations.

“The safety of our operations is of paramount importance to our industry,” Debra Phillips, vice president of API Global Industry Services, said. “Each day more than 1.6 million barrels of oil are pumped from hundreds of deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Ensuring the immediate closure of valves connecting underwater production systems to surface facilities will help keep workers safe and adds an additional layer of environmental protection where they operate.”

The 21st edition of Specification 6A — Wellhead and Tree Equipment — includes new requirements for modern technologies, such as equipment quality provisions and recognition of the environmental conditions in which well equipment is to be placed safely in service.

“Exploration and production facilities use advanced technologies, materials, and practices that incorporate multiple backup safety systems,” Phillips said. “API Standards, such as Specification 6A, are an example of the industry’s continuous investment and improvement in every phase of preparedness and operations in which oil is produced, transported, stored and marketed.”