How Are Your Oil and Gas Operations Affected By Changes in API RP 578?

Our sister blog, Analyzing Metals, recently published an article about the changes in Recommended Practice 578 (API RP 578) which provides the guidelines for a material and quality assurance system to verify that the nominal composition of alloy components within the pressure envelope of a piping system is consistent with the selected or specified construction materials. This helps to minimize the potential for catastrophic release of toxic or hazardous liquids or vapors. This verification practice of materials is known as Positive Material Identification (PMI). API RP 578 3rd Edition updates the previous recommended practice.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently over 160,000 employees in the Oil and Gas Extraction subsector, which is part of the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector of the report, and encompasses the following:

Industries in the Oil and Gas Extraction subsector operate and/or develop oil and gas field properties. Such activities may include exploration for crude petroleum and natural gas; drilling, completing, and equipping wells; operating separators, emulsion breakers, desilting equipment, and field gathering lines for crude petroleum and natural gas; and all other activities in the preparation of oil and gas up to the point of shipment from the producing property. This subsector includes the production of crude petroleum, the mining and extraction of oil from oil shale and oil sands, and the production of natural gas, sulfur recovery from natural gas, and recovery of hydrocarbon liquids.

According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), more than 190,000 miles of liquid petroleum pipelines traverse the United States. When it comes to natural gas, it is delivered via a 2.4-million- mile underground pipeline system. The API is a trade association in the oil and gas industry that (among other things) develops standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the oil and gas industry. There are more than 700 standards and recommended practices that affect the petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemical equipment and operations.

The Recommended Practice 578 (API RP 578) provides the guidelines for a material and quality assurance system to verify that the nominal composition of alloy components within the pressure envelope of a piping system is consistent with the selected or specified construction materials to minimize the potential for catastrophic release of toxic or hazardous liquids or vapors. This verification practice of materials is known as Positive Material Identification (PMI). API RP 578 3rd Edition updates the previous recommended practice.

Read the article to learn about the changes, why they happened, what was changed, and what it means to the oil and gas industry.

Editor’s Note: When you’re finished reading the article, view the free webinar: API 578 (3rd Edition) – Guidelines for a Material Verification Program to learn how to develop a material verification program meeting the newest requirements established by the American Petroleum Institute for recommended practice 578 (3rd edition).