OTC 5240

API Offshore Standards Activities: Wellhead and Christmas

Tree Equipment
by F.J. Schuh, ARGO Oil & Gas Go., and T.R. Sampson, American Petroleum Inst.

Copyright 1986 Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was presented at the 18th Annual OTe in Hpuston, Texas, May 5-8, 1986, The material is subject to correction by the author, Permission
to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words,

ABSTRACT sive editions. It related to items of equipment

"utilized for pressure control systems required
This paper previews the content and applica- during the drilling and production life of a well."
tion of the newly issued edition of API Spec 6A, Its scope consisted primarily of dimensional and
Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree pressure-rating requirements with some materials
Equipment, which has an effective date of April I, requirements.
1986. This document is significantly cnanged-from
the previous (14th) Edition of Spec 6A. It intro- The latest edition of API Specification 6A,
duces a concept of "Product Specification Levels" issued in December, 1985, and now titled Specifica-
(PSL's) which represent different levels or tion for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment,
aggregations of technical requirements for equip- differs significantly from earlier editions.
ment manufactured in accord with the specification. Responding to needs for more rigorous requirements,
Also described are temperature and retained-fluid this new specification includes equipment quality-
requirements which equipment must meet. Included related provisions, provides for recognition of the
are design methods, more detailed material, and environmental conditions in which Spec 6A equipment
welding and quality control requirements. is to be placed in service, and contains more
Appendices include suggestions for using service specific and detailed technical requirements.
conditions and PSL's in ordering equipment. Guidelines for use of the specification should make
ordering and manufacturing of equipment easier and
The new specification is intended as a pur- less subject to error and misunderstanding. The
chase document for a family of "standard" wellhead new Spec 6A does not introduce any new requirements
and christmas tree equipment which would perform to the industry; rather, it is intended to
satisfactorily and safely in new installations encompass most of those requirements that industry
(including most offshore installations) without is now using to meet existing operating needs. It
supplemental requirements. Supplemental require- is believed that 80 per cent of the industry's
ments would be required only for wells with very needs for new wellhead and christmas tree equipment
high pressures or unique combinations of operating is covered in the new specification.
conditions.
The fifteenth edition is limited to "a family
The new Spec 6A is a clear, easy-to-use docu- of equipment for use at the wellhead in the produc-
ment for purchasers and manufacturers of wellhead tion of oil and gas." It does not cover those
and christmas tree equipment. It will be a specific items of drill through or subsea equipment
commonly understood and used specification and will (BOP's, hubs, etc.) which were covered in the
improve both the economics of well completion and fourteenth and earlier editions. These will be
safety and reliability in the field. It will also covered by new API specifications that are now
simplify the handling of equipment orders. under development by API Committee 16 for Drill
Through Equipment and Committee 17 for Subsea
INTRODUCTION Equipment. IJ.ke earlier editions, however, it is
intended to provide for the availability of and
API Spec 6A, Specification for Wellhead Equip- assist in the ordering of safe, functional and
ment, a consolidation of six formerly separate dimensionally interchangeable equipment.
publications, existed in more or less the same form
for over 20 years after being adopted in 1961. SPEC 6A PROVISIONS
Between 1961 and 1985 it was reissued in 14 succes-
Among the new provisions in the fifteenth
editions of Spec 6A are temperature and retained-
fluid ratings which are intended to cover the
Illustrations at end of paper. environment in which wellhead or christmas tree

169
2 API OFFSHORE STANDARDS ACTIVITIES - WELlliEAD AND CHRISTMAS TREE EQUIPMENT
equipment is intended to operate. The anticipated
environmental conditions will be spelled out by
equipment users in ordering equipment and will be
used by manufacturers in selecting material designs
and processes for the production of equipment that
will perform successfully in that environment. The
temperature ratings -for an item of equipment
(including metallic and nonmetallic materials) are
given in Figure 1. These are based on ranges from
minimum ambient temperature to the maximum
contained-fluid temperature, and on families of
elastomers used by manufacturers in equipment
designed for operating in oil and gas producing
areas. Similarly, ratings are provided to cover
various fluids which might be contained within the
equipment and which could cause hydrogen sulfide
stress cracking or C02 corrosion. Figure 2 lists
these ratings. Dimensional and pressure-rating
requirements are carried over from the earlier
edition.
The new Spec 6A introduces the concept of
"Product Specification level" or PSL. There are
five PSL's (0 through 4), each of which defines a
different level of technical requirements which
must be incorporated into the design and manufac-
ture of equipment. The levels are additive, in
that each level includes all of the requirements of
the level below it (e.g. - PSL 2 includes all the
requirement of PSL 1). The PSL's are intended to
categorize current industry practice in design and
manufacture of equipment to meet service and
environmental conditions throughout the world.
PSL 0 is - intended to represent the require-
ments of Spec 6A, fourteenth edition, to provide a
bridge to the new Spec 6A. PSL's 1 and 2 reflect
actual equipment manufacturing practices commonly
followed in industry in recent years, including
practices in excess of those in the fourteenth
edition of Spec 6A. PSL's 3 and 4 reflect supple-
mental requirements which have been imposed by
users (purchasers) of equipment in order to meet
special conditions.
The new Spec 6A includes provisions for design
methods for wellhead equipment. For bodies and
bonnets, four design methods are acceptable.
Detailed material requirements are included.
Designations for materials for PSL 1-4 have been
changed from the fourteenth edition. Those
materials formerly designated Types 1, 2, 3 and 4
are now designated by indications of their yield
strengths. and are known as 36K, 45K. 60K and 75K
respectively. Heat treating, chemical composition
and material testing requirements are spelled out
in considerable detail.
A special section on quality control require-
ments for manufacturers of valve and wellhead
equipment is included in the new Spec 6A. That
section describes inspections, testing, and
examinations required to ensure that products
conform to requirements. Measuring and testing
equipment are required to be regularly calibrated
and the results documented. Requirements are set
out for retention of records and specify which
records are to be provided to purchasers of equip-
ment. Quality control personnel must be qualified
to acceptable standards.
170
OTC 5240
Dimensional verification, traceability,
che~ical analysis, visual examination, surface,
weld, and volumetric nondestructive examinations
and serialization requirements are included.
Impact test requirements are also specified. PSL 4
calls for measurement of lateral expansion as a
result of impact testing because this is a better
indication of material "toughness" than impact
energy.
Requirements applying to various parts under
different PSL's are presented in the form of
tables, and compare what tests are added with each
change in PSL level. Figure 3, for bodies, bonnets
and flanges, is one example. In the actual table
in Spec 6A, each check mark is replaced by the
number of the paragraph which covers the require-
ment. Similar tables covering such items as stems,
studs and nuts, ring gaskets. valve bore sealing
mechanisms, and non-metallic materials are
included.
Hydrostatic body tests are described in step-
by-step detail for assembled equipment. Drift
testing requirements are included in this section.
Gas testing is required for valves at PSL 4.
Guides to identification of quality control
requirements for assembled equipment, similar to
those for parts, are also presented in table form.
Figure 4 is an example for full bore valves. As in
Figure 3 the checkmarks indicate that a requirement
exists. The checkmarks are replaced by paragraph
numbers in the specification. Other tables cover
other types of valves, wellhead equipment, and
christmas trees.
Detailed requirements are included on which
Spec 6A products are to be marked, where markings
are to be placed, and what is to be included in the
markings. The representations of service condi-
tions and PSL's will be included in the marking,
enabling the user to determine the conditions for
which the equipment was designed. An example of
the required marking for a valve is given in Figure
5.
Many requirements for various components of
valve and wellhead equipment (e.g. flanges,
threaded connections. valves, casing and tubing
heads, casing and tubing hangers, tubing head
adapters, chokes, tees and crosses, test and gage
connections, and fluid sampling devices) remain
unchanged from the earlier editions of Spec 6A.
EQUIPMENT SELECTION
Appendices to Spec 6A contain a variety of
recommendations which are not intended to be
requirements of the specification but are optional.
Included are recommendations for marking of equip-
ment which might be operated at temperatures higher
than 250°F, recommendations regarding heat treating
equipment, and recommended purchasing guidelines.
The Purchasing Guidelines Appendix is specifi-
cally intended to assist in selecting equipment for
given applications. A set of equipment data sheets
is provided. These sheets are intended to capture
all of the producing well information necessary for
the purchase of equipment, including whether the
equipment is to be marked with the API monogram.
Special data forms are provided for individual
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OTC 5240 F. J. SCHUH AND T. R. SAMPSON
wellhead components and for christmas trees and
chokes. A copy of a data form for a tubing head
adapter is shown in Figure 6.
Each of the component data sheets calls for
entry of the Product Specification Level (PSL)
which the component is required to meet. A
recommendation on how to select the proper PSL,
based on working pressure, environmental factors
and other operating conditions is shown in Figure
7. In: this table, "NACE?" relates to whether the
partial pressure of HZS is equal to or greater than
0.05 psi.; "High HZS Concentration?" relates to the
degree of exposure to HZS as defined in Appendix A;
and "Close Proximity" relates. to the potential
impact of loss of control by the wellhead equip-
ment.
Previous editions of Spec 6A included dimen-
sional information expressed in fractions. The new
Spec 6A uses the decimal/inch for all dimensions
except "nominal" dimensions which are expressed in
inches and fractions. It is the intent that these
conversions are equivalent, so tbat "old" equipment
and new "6A" equipment are dimensionally the same.
A table is provided for fraction-to-decimal conver-
sions. Unlike earlier editions, metric values are
omitted from the text of the document for the sake
of clarity. A recommendation for ~onversion of the
units in Spec 6A to metric units is provided in an
appendix. However, all marking must be expressed
in English units.
A list of referenced standards is a part of
the specification. Only those editions listed in
the document are acceptable; later or earlier
editions or other standards not listed are not
acceptable until they have been reviewed by API and
referenced in Spec 6A. In order for other stan-
dards to be considered "equivalent", they must be
approved for inclusion in the standards list by the
API Committee on Valves and Wellhead Equipment. It
is API policy related to referenced standards that
only those parts of the referenced standards neces-
sary to fulfill the API purpose apply. Future
editions of Spec 6A will identify the specific
sections, paragraphs, etc.
3
editions for valves and valve actuators, chokes and
choke actuators, casing and tubing heads, hangers
and seal materials. Recommendations for repaired
and rebuilt equipment will be developed and, as was
indicated, equivalency of other standards will be
considered.
Procedures for analytically determining the
fire-resistance of API end connections, as well as
requirements for improving the fire-resistance of
flanged end connections, will be included in future
efforts.
CONCLUSION
API believes the new Spec 6A is significantly
improved compared to earlier editions, and that
equipment manufactured to this specification will
have improved reliability in service. The document
lends itself to finding requirements easily, makes
it relatively easy for users and manufacturers to
make decisions related to obtaining the equipment
suitable for the intended purpose, and facilitates
communication between users and manufacturers. The
document will continue to be improved as new work
is completed.
The API Committee on Valves and Wellhead
Equipment has, during the past two years, invested
over 2 million dollars in volunteer effort to
develop this new specification. Additionally,
during 1985, over 20 new task groups have been
formed to work towards improvements to this new
specification. API is committed to providing a
Wellhead and Christmas Tree specification that
fulfills the needs of the industry for worldwide
application.

An extensive definitions section, together

with drawings of a typical wellhead and christmas
tree, establish the meanings of terms and the
nomenclature of equipment items commonly referred
to in the specification. It is anticipated that
these terms will find common acceptance in industry
so that manufacturers' equipment catalog informa-
tion and ordering procedures will be less suscep-
tible to confusion and misunderstanding.

FUTURE WORK

Even though the new Spec 6A is considerably

expanded and otherwise changed in comparison to
earlier editions, it is subject to change in the
future. Performance requirements for slip and
mandrel-type casing and tubing hangers, valve and
choke actuators, blind flanges and non-metallic
seals will be developed. Requirements for service
in sandy and high-chloride service are being
considered.

Performance requirements and design verifica-

tion test procedures will be included in later
171
 TEMPERATURE CLASSIFICATION –
TABLE III B2:

Temperature Ratinas
Classification Operating Range (“F)
Min. Max.
K -75 to 180
L -60 to 180
M -40 to 180
P -20 to 180
s 0 to 150
T 0 to 180
u 0 to 250
Fig. l—Temperature rating classifications.

RETAINED FLUID – TABLE III B3:

Retained Fluid Ratinga

Constituenta
Claasificationm Characteristics COJ) H,W

A — General Service Non Corrosive <7 <0.05

B - General Service. Low CO, Moderately Corrosive 7 to 30 <0.05

C- General Service. High CO, Highly Corrosive >30 <0.05

D- Sour Service Suifide Stress Cracking <7 >0.05

E - Sour Service. Low C02 Sulfide Streaa Cracking and

Moderately Corrosive 7 to 30 >0.05

H- Sour Service. High CO, Sulfide Stress Cracking and

Highly Corrosive >30 >0.05

IV pa~IaI pressure of Carbon DioXlda (In Psla).

m Hydrogen Suifids Partial Pressure (Irr psk+)ss Defined by NACE MR.01 -75,
m All Retained Fluid Claselflcationa Includs Oil, Water, and Hydrocarbon Gaasa.

Fig. 2—Retained fluid rating classifications.

 QUALITY CONTROL – TABLE ~ E1
Quality Control Requirements for Bodies, Bonnets, and Flanges

J?equirements PSL O PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3 PSL 4

Tensile Teeting / { “/ / (

impact Testing / i i
Dimensional Vwificatfon d / ( i i

Hardnees Testing 4 { i i

Traceability i i d i
Chemical Analysis i i i
Visual Examination i (

Surface NDE ( ( /

Weld NDE ( / f
Serialization v’ /
Volumetric NDE i i

Fig. 3—Quality control requirements: bodies, bonnets, and flanges.

QUALITY CONTROL – TABLE 3ZII E 11

Quality Control Requirements for Full Bore Valves
Requirements PSL O PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3
Drift Test / 4 d 4
Hydrostatic Test ( f (
Hydrostatic Test
(Extended) (

Gas Test

Traceabilityy i
Serialization ( i
Fig. 4—Quality control requirements, full bore valves

API SPEC 6A MARKING:

Retained Fluid Date Of Maximum

FF??

lp 6A S A PSL 1 4/86 2-1/16 5000 XYZ-O

Fig.5-API markingprovisions.
 WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT DATA SHEET
Exhibit 6 -Tubing Head Adapter

Bottom connection: size.:

Rated Working pressure:
Type:
Top connection: Size:
Rated Workingpressure:
Type:~

Surface controlled sub-surface safety valve outlets:

Number:
Type of connection:
Size:
Electricalfeed throughconnection?
Flange protectorsor buried?
Internalerosionexpected?
Specialmaterialrequirements:_
API TemperatureClassification:
API retainedflufd classification:
ProductSpecificationLevel:
Other requirements:

Fig. 6—Tubing head adapter data sheet,

SELECTION OF SPEC LEVELS,

PRIMARY PARTS –
APPENDIX A, TABLE Al:

Recommended Minimum Specification Levels

for Primary Parts of Wellheads and Christmas Tree Equipment

NACE?(’I No Yes Yes Yes No Yes

High HJ3 Concentration? No No Yes No No Yes

Close Proximity? No No No Yes Yes Yea

Maximum Working Pressure (psi)?

Level
5,000 and Less 1 1 2 2 1 3

10,000 2 2 3 3 3 4

~5,000 and Up 3 3 4 4 4 4

1’] Z 0.05 psi - H,S Partial Pressure

Fig. 7—Selectlon of product specification level.