API addresses industry, regulatory concerns with new bolting standards

WASHINGTON - The American Petroleum Institute issued a new technical report to aid oil and natural gas companies in selecting the right materials for bolting, a key to safe and reliable operations.

API TR 21TR1 seeks to address industry and regulatory concerns regarding connector bolts in all equipment deployed in offshore and other oil and natural gas exploration and production.  

“Understanding the failure modes and their associated barriers is critical to the proper selection of fasteners for the specific environmental conditions where they will be installed,” the publication reads.

The manufacturing standards recommended by the new API publication are API specifications 20E and 20F pertaining to alloy and carbon steel bolting and corrosion-resistant bolting, respectively. The guidance also includes bolting recommendations for offshore drilling in both shallow and deep water, addressing saltwater corrosion issues faced by facilities.

“Proper selection of bolting materials used in oil and natural gas exploration and production is vital to the safety of workers and protection of the environment.  API’s new standard provides guidance for proper material selection for this critical component of our industry’s operations,” said Debra Phillips, vice president of API’s Global Industry Services division.

Bolting is a critical component of safe offshore operations and this new industry standard, entitled “Materials Selection for Bolting,” is intended to assist companies in choosing the correct materials in manufacturing low alloy, stainless steel, and nickel-based fasteners that are resistant to the effects of harsh environmental conditions faced on land and at sea. 

Choosing the correct bolting based on the environment in which a company is working helps assure that these important components are resilient in their operating environment.

The API bolting guidance references manufacturing standards for bolts, screws, nuts, washers, and studs best suited to the conditions where drillers and pipeline operators will be working. It also addresses the types of bolts required for onshore operations in desert, tropical and arctic conditions.