In this Industry Insight series, Bud Weightman discusses his recent attendance at the American Petroleum Institute’s 2021 Winter Standardization Conference, held virtually on January 21st, 2021. Bud’s primary focus was on subcommittee updates and news from the API Monogram Program:

To view all API Standardization Conference updates, visit the API Insider page.

SC18 – Subcommittee on Quality

The Committee on Standardization of Oilfield Equipment and Materials (CSOEM), Subcommittee 18 (SC18), is tasked with the development and maintenance of two American Petroleum Institute (API) standards:

Spec Q1, Specification for Quality Programs for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries
Spec Q2, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Service Supply Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries

API Spec Q1 revision to the 10th Edition

API Spec Q1 has been revised from the 9th edition to the 10th edition and released for ballot review and comments. Comments were due on January 14th, 2021; there were 339 comments which have to be resolved. The comment resolution process may take several meetings of Task Group 2. After the comments have been resolved, another ballot review and comment will be convened.

At this time, it is uncertain when the 10th edition will be released for publication.

Note: Task Group 2 Scope: Maintain and improve API Specification Q1 with the understanding that only approved SC18 action items will be implemented.

Current discussions within the Task Group indicate that the implementation period for the 10th edition may be 12 months; however, this has not yet been finalized*.

What are some of the proposed changes in the 10th edition?

Additional harmonization with API Spec Q2. A joint meeting of Task Group 2 (for the revision of Q1) and Task Group 5 (for the revision of Q2) was held for this purpose.
Title changes from:
- Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Manufacturing Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry; to,
- Quality Management System Requirements for Product-Related Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry
The introduction has been modified to illustrate examples of product-related organizations, such as:
- Manufacturing
- Engineering/design
- Product repair/remanufacturing
- Product-related processing (e.g., welding, heat treating, coating, machining, threading, etc.)
- Inspection
- Testing
- Distribution
The Normative References identify an updated reference to ISO 9000, Quality management systems—Fundamentals and vocabulary. Reason: to minimize changes to Q1 when ISO 9000 is revised.
Several definitions have been revised.
Definitions have been added for:
- Product
- Product Realization
- Product-related process
The acronym “TMMDE” has been added for testing, measuring, monitoring, and detection equipment.
The requirements of clause 4.4.4, Control and Use of External Documents has been modified to provide clear requirements for the control and use of external documents (i.e., API Product or other external specifications). The changes also include a reference to “normative references” contained within API Product or other external specifications.
A note has been added in clause 5.4.1, Design and Development Planning clarifying that the requirements of clause 5.4 can be met at different locations within the same organization.
Clause 5.6, Purchasing has been reworked to include the revisions brought about by Addendum 2 of the 9th edition
Numerous other areas have integrated language from ISO 9001:2015.

All in all, the modifications in the 10th edition offer clarity and additional controls. Great Job Task Group 2!

API Q2 revision to the 2nd Edition

API Spec Q2 has been revised from the 1st edition to the 2nd edition and released for ballot review and comments. Comments were due on January 7th 2021; this was the 2nd ballot process. The first ballot review and comment period were performed in the summer of 2020. The comment resolution process may take several meetings of Task Group 5.

At this time, it is uncertain when the 2nd edition will be released for publication.

Note: Task Group 5 Scope: Develop language for Spec Q2 2nd edition and steward the beta-site assessments for drilling contractors.

What are some of the proposed changes in the 2nd edition?

A definition for residual risk has been added.
An acronym for Serious Injury or Fatality (SIF) has been added.
Repair, maintenance, configuration of service-related product has been added to the scope.
Clause 5.6.1.4, Supplier Re-evaluation has been revised. While it parallels most of the Q1 requirements, some of the requirements are more specific and related to service-related product
Clause 5.10.1, Control of Nonconformities-General was revised to extend the identification of nonconformities to after validation of service.

Great Job Task Group 5!

*Remember, all of the changes identified herein have not been finalized; only after Spec Q1 10th Edition and Spec Q2 2nd Edition have been published will they be final.

Based upon all the upcoming changes to Spec Q1 and Spec Q2, it is extremely important that you remember to document your gap analyses. While it may seem that this is business as usual, companies licensed under an API product specification or who have a quality management system certification are obliged to follow API Spec. Q1, Clause 4.4.4, Use of External Documents in Product Realization which states:

“When API product or other external specification requirements, including addenda, errata, and updates, are used in the design or manufacture of the product, the organization shall maintain a documented procedure for the integration of these requirements into the product realization process and any other affected processes.”

In other words, this means a consideration whether or not:

A gap analysis will need to be performed to document the differences between the previous and the new revisions.
A determination will need to be made as to whether or not the changes to any product specifications represent a risk to your existing design and/or current quality management system (i.e., a risk assessment to Q1, Section 5.3) and whether or not changes need to be made.
If the changes present a risk, then a risk assessment will need to be documented.
If changes are to be made, a management of change will need to be implemented with regards to the impact the revised specification will have upon your quality management system and related documentation.
Upon making all the changes, relevant personnel will need to be trained; the training will need to be documented and training effectiveness will have to be determined.
Subsequently all the changes will have to be implemented.