Specification for Drilling and

Production Hoisting Equipment

(PSL 1 and PSL 2)

API SPECIFICATION 8C
THIRD EDITION, DECEMBER 1997

EFFECTIVE DATE: MAY 1998

COPYRIGHT 2000 American Petroleum Institute

Information Handling Services, 2000
 Specification for Drilling and Production Hoisting Equipment (PSL 1 and PSL 2)

1 Scope requirements of PSL 1 plus additional practices currently

being implemented by a broad spectrum of users.
1.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this specification is to provide standards 1.5 SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
for design, manufacture, and testing of hoisting equipment
suitable for use in drilling and production operations. Supplementary requirements shall apply only when speci-
fied by the purchaser in the contract or order. Appendix A
1.2 EQUIPMENT COVERED gives a number of standardized supplementary requirements.
This specification covers the following drilling and pro-
1.6 METRIC CONVERSION
duction hoisting equipment:
Metric conversions of SI units are provided in parentheses
a. Crown block sheaves and bearings. throughout the text of this specification, e.g., 6 inches (152.4
b. Traveling blocks and hook blocks. millimeters). Metric conversions of SI units are also included
c. Block to hook adapters. in all tables and figures. The factors used for conversion of
d. Connectors and link adapters. Imperial units to metric values are given in Appendix B.
e. Drilling hooks.
f. Tubing and sucker rod hooks.
2 Referenced Standards
g. Elevator links.
h. Casing, tubing, drill pipe, and drill collar elevators. This specification includes by reference, either in total or
i. Sucker rod elevators. in part, other API and industry standards. The edition effec-
j. Rotary swivel bail adapters. tive at the date of purchase order or date of manufacture,
k. Rotary swivels. whichever is earliest, shall apply.
l. Power swivels. Requirements of other standards included by reference in
m. Power subs. this specification are essential to the safety and interchange-
n. Spiders, when capable of being used as elevators. ability of the equipment produced.
o. Wireline anchors. Other nationally or internationally recognized standards
p. Drill string motion compensators. may be used provided it can be shown that they meet or
q. Kelly spinners when capable of being used as hoisting exceed the requirements of the referenced standards herein.
equipment.
Note: Only those standards listed below are considered part of this specifica-
r. Pressure vessels and piping mounted onto hoisting tion. Documents (subtier) that are referenced by those standards are not con-
equipment. sidered part of this specification.
s. Safety clamps, when capable of use as lifting devices.
AS 1260 Equivalent Sections of Certain Shapes to
Note: See Appendix D for guidance on design of guide dollies. Round Bars
BS 5781 Measurement and Calibration Systems
1.3 FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FEM Rules for the Design of Hoisting
Appliances
Hoisting equipment shall be designed, manufactured, and
tested such that it is in every respect fit for its intended pur- API
pose. The equipment shall safely transfer the load it is Spec 4F Specification for Drilling and Well Servic-
intended for. The equipment shall be designed for simple and ing Structures
safe operation.
Std 5B Specification for Threading, Gauging and
1.4 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION LEVELS Thread Inspection of Casing, Tubing, and
Line Pipe Threads
This specification establishes requirements for two product
Spec 5CT Specification for Casing and Tubing
specification levels. These two PSL designations define dif-
ferent levels of technical requirements. PSL 1 includes prac- Spec 7 Specification for Rotary Drilling
tices currently being implemented by a broad spectrum of the Equipment
manufacturing industry. All the requirements of Sections 1 RP 9B Recommended Practice on Application,
through 11 of this specification are applicable to PSL 1 Care and Use of Wire Rope for Oil Field
unless specifically identified as PSL 2. PSL 2 includes all the Service
1

COPYRIGHT 2000 American Petroleum Institute

Information Handling Services, 2000