X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5

API 6A, ISO 10423

Specification for Wellhead
and Christmas Tree
Equipment

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 1

 X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 2

 X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 3

 X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 4

 X-mas Trees Valves

API Specification 14A

Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 14B

Design, Installation, Repair and
Operation of Subsurface Safety
Valve Systems

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 5

 X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 6

 X-mas Trees Valves

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
Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 7
 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 8

 X-mas Trees Valves

For the Buyer

▪ Product Specification Level PSL
▪ Pressure Ratings
▪ Temperature Classes
▪ Material Classes
▪ Testing – Welding – Quality control
▪ Markings
▪ How to order

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 9

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 10

 X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 11

 X-mas Trees Valves

Recommended Minimum Psl For

Primary Parts

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 12

 X-mas Trees Valves

API Material Requirements

ISO 15156
Petroleum and natural gas industries --
Materials for use in H2S-containing
environments in oil and gas production

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 13

 X-mas Trees Valves

API Temperature Ratings

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 14

 X-mas Trees Valves

API Pressure/Temperature Ratings (Y)*

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 15

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 16

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 17

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 18

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 19

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 20

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.
Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 21
 X-mas Trees Valves

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)

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 22

 X-mas Trees Valves

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)

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 23

 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 24

 X-mas Trees Valves

More BPV’s

GRAY Model “K” BPV & Test Dart CAMERON Model “J” BPV & TWC

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 25

 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 26
 X-mas Trees Valves

Hydraulic Lubricator
▪ Must be used to pull all BPV’s
▪ Compatible with all styles of plugs

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 27

 X-mas Trees Valves

VR (Valve Removal) Plugs

▪ Threaded screw in plug
▪ Installed in Annulus Outlets
▪ Tubing and Casing Heads
▪ FMC, Gray and Cameron prepped profiles

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 28

 X-mas Trees Valves

VR Plugs

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 29

 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 30

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 31

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 32

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 33

 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 34

 X-mas Trees Valves

Purchasing Guide for Wellhead

& Christmas Tree Equipment

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 35

 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 36

 X-mas Trees Valves

Abbreviated Terms (Some Examples)

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 37

 X-mas Trees Valves

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 38

 X-mas Trees Valves

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.

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 39

 X-mas Trees Valves

Material Classes

Corrosion Resistant Alloy

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 40

 X-mas Trees Valves

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

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 41

 X-mas Trees Valves

COURSE RECAP

Section 5 Haward Technology Middle East 42