X-mas Trees Valves
Section 5
API 6A, ISO 10423
Specification for Wellhead
and Christmas Tree
Equipment
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API Specification 14A
Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment
API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 14B
Design, Installation, Repair and
Operation of Subsurface Safety
Valve Systems
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1 Scope of API 6A
▪ Recommendations for:
• Performance, dimensional and functional
interchangeability
• Design, materials, testing, inspection
• Welding, marking, handling, storing, shipment
• Purchasing, repair and remanufacture of wellhead
and Christmas tree equipment for use in the
petroleum and natural gas industries
• This International Standard does not apply to field
use, field testing or field repair of wellhead and
Christmas tree equipment
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1.2 Applicability
▪ This International Standard is applicable to the
following specific equipment:
• Wellhead equipment
• Connectors and fittings
• Casing and tubing hangers
• Valves and chokes
▪ Mainly for Manufacturers and Buyers
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For the Buyer
▪ Product Specification Level PSL
▪ Pressure Ratings
▪ Temperature Classes
▪ Material Classes
▪ Testing – Welding – Quality control
▪ Markings
▪ How to order
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To Comply with API-6A (ISO 10423)
▪ Pressure ratings in psi: 2000, 3000, 5000, 10,000 &
15,000.
▪ Temperature ratings: L, P, R, S, T, U, V, X & Y.
▪ Material class: AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF & HH.
▪ Product specification level: 1, 2, 3 & 4 (PSL 1, 2, 3, 4).
▪ Performance requirement: 1 & 2.
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Recommended Minimum Psl For
Primary Parts
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API Material Requirements
ISO 15156
Petroleum and natural gas industries --
Materials for use in H2S-containing
environments in oil and gas production
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API Temperature Ratings
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API Pressure/Temperature Ratings (Y)*
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Valve Trim
▪ The Removable and Replaceable Valve Internal
Parts that come in contact with the flow medium are
collectively termed as Valve Trim.
▪ These parts include valve seat(s), disc, glands, spacers,
guides, bushings, and internal springs.
▪ The valve body, bonnet, packing, et cetera that also
come in contact with the flow medium are not
considered valve trim.
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Product Specification Levels
▪ For every product that needs to comply to API 6A, you
will need to first start at the standards ‘Product
Specification Levels - PSL’ which details five product
specification levels.
▪ PSL-1 is the minimum requirement.
▪ PSL-2 Equipment meets all the requirements of PSL-1
and in addition, mandatory traceability is required
throughout the entire production process and after
completion.
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Product Specification Levels
▪ PSL-3 Equipment meets all the requirements of PSL-2
with the Hydrostatic Test time extended.
▪ PSL-3G includes all the requirements of PSL 3 plus
additional gas-testing requirement for assembled
equipment.
▪ PSL-4 Equipment meets all the requirements PSL-3 and:
additional restrictions on the material qualification and
heat treating, and the prohibition of welding.
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Performance Requirement Levels
▪ There are two performance requirement levels PR1 and
PR2.
1. PR1 is the basic level of testing and designing in
accordance with material/temp/pressure
specifications.
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Performance Requirement Levels
2. PR2 is a higher-level validation design procedure
which, on occasion, can be requested by customers.
This involves carrying out and applying the test
procedures specified, such as pressure and
temperature cycles. Extreme testing for hostile and
remote locations.
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Other Critical Wellhead Equipment
▪ Hangers:
• Mandrel hangers are threaded onto the suspended
pipe.
• Slip hangers use gripping teeth to suspend a string of
pipe.
▪ Lockscrew’s and lockscrew seals:
• Lockscrew’s are special cone-point screws used to
provide alignment, to retain hangers, or to energize
seals.
• Lockscrew seal mechanisms seal pressure around the
shank of the lockscrew.
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Other Critical Wellhead Equipment
▪ Other pressure boundary penetrations:
• Test and gage connections
• Packing bleeder fittings
• Lubricant/sealant injection fittings
• Downhole equipment connections (fluid or electrical)
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Lockscrews
• New Style (Threads make up in Gland Nut)
Packing Gland Nut Never Tighten Leaks
Oil Seal
Always Report
Lockscrew
Spacer Ring
C1886
You may be EXPOSED C2574
to Annulus Pressure !!
• Old Style (Threads make up in Head)
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Backpressure Valves (BPV’s)
▪ FMC Model “IS-A” BPV & “IS-A 100” TTP
▪ GRAY Model “K” BPV & Test Dart
▪ CAMERON Model “J” BPV & TWC
▪ CAMERON Model “H” BPV & TWC
FMC Model “IS-A” BPV & “IS-A 100” TTP
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More BPV’s
GRAY Model “K” BPV & Test Dart CAMERON Model “J” BPV & TWC
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Yet More BPV’s!
▪ Preferred profile on Slope
▪ Threaded screw in valve
▪ BPV - Holds from bottom “only”
▪ TWC - Cannot be pumped thru, for testing only
CAMERON Model “H” BPV & TWC
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Hydraulic Lubricator
▪ Must be used to pull all BPV’s
▪ Compatible with all styles of plugs
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VR (Valve Removal) Plugs
▪ Threaded screw in plug
▪ Installed in Annulus Outlets
▪ Tubing and Casing Heads
▪ FMC, Gray and Cameron prepped profiles
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VR Plugs
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Standard Connections
▪ Flanges:
• Type 6B, type 6BX, and segmented flanges are
specified
▪ Threaded Connection:
• Casing, tubing and line pipe internal threads
• Special dimensions are provided
• NPT threads are permitted instead of LP on small
sizes
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Marking Requirements
▪ Equipment shall be marked on the outside surface in a
visible location.
▪ Marking shall includes:
• API 6A
• The temperature rating
• Material class
• Date of manufacture
• The manufacturer’s identification
▪ And if applicable, the PSL, PR level, and serial number.
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Additional Marking Requirements
▪ Marking specific to each type of equipment is defined
in Clause 8 of Spec 6A
▪ Sizes and pressures shall be in inches and psi,
respectively. SI units may be added.
▪ Nameplates are optional if all required information is
marked on the equipment.
▪ Ring gasket numbers shall be marked near each
connector, with the overlay code (CRA or SST) if weld
overlaid.
▪ Hardness test values shall be stamped adjacent to the
hardness test location.
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Repair/Remanufacture Levels
▪ RL’s correspond to PSL’s in new equipment.
▪ RL 1 applies to:
• Equipment that predates PSL’s
• PSL 1 equipment
• Equipment with indeterminate design status
(manufacturer no longer exists, or is unknown, or
cannot be determined by product marking)
• PSL 2, 3, or 4 equipment for which RL 1 is deemed to
be adequate
▪ Equipment may be repaired or reworked to an RL equal
or less than the original PSL.
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Disassembly and Cleaning
▪ RL1 – Can be partially disassembled to fix problems
▪ RL2 – 4 – Complete disassembly is required
▪ Procedures shall be in place to prevent mixing or
mismatching of parts
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Purchasing Guide for Wellhead
& Christmas Tree Equipment
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Criteria for Ordering, 20th Edition
▪ Pressure Class API holds user responsible for choosing
class
▪ Temperature Class API holds user responsible for
choosing class
▪ Material Class API holds user responsible for choosing
class
▪ PSL (Product Specification Level) API recommends PSLs
to the user
▪ PR (Performance Requirement) API requires cycle
testing of designs
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Abbreviated Terms (Some Examples)
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Criteria for Ordering, 20th Edition
▪ API 6A defines service conditions in terms of pressure,
temperature and material class for the well-bore
constituents and operating conditions.
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Material Classes
Corrosion Resistant Alloy
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Factors Affecting Behaviour in H2S
Containing Environments
▪ Strength, hardness of the material
▪ H2S partial pressure
▪ Chloride ion concentration in the water phase
▪ Acidity (pH) of the water phase
▪ Presence of sulphur or other oxidants
▪ Exposure to production fluid
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COURSE RECAP
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