Wood Group Pressure Control

energy supporting energy

API 6A 20th Edition

Purchasing Guide
for Wood Group Pressure Control
Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment
Including changes in NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 latest edition
Table of Contents
Changes to API 6A.........................................................1 Product Specification Level.........................................7
•• Annex J - Repair and Remanufacture Equipment •• What are PSL’s and What are They for?
•• What Parts do PSL’s Cover?
Accessory Equipment in API 6A..................................2 •• PSL Decision Criteria
•• Bull Plug and VR Plug Specifications
•• PSL Decision Tree
•• VR Plug Threads
•• QC Requirements for Manufacture and Testing •
•• Back Pressure Valve Specifications PSL 1-4 Equipment
•• Service Tool Specifications
Performance Requirements ......................................11
Ordering API 20th Edition Products............................3 •• Cycle Testing of Designs
•• Five Criteria for Ordering

API Temperature Class.................................................4

•• Considerations for Ordering
•• Equipment for High Temp Service (above 250°F)

API Material Class.........................................................5

•• NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 Changes
•• API Material Classes per API 6A Section 4.2.3.3
•• H2S and CO2 Partial Pressure
•• Trim Selection

Wood Group
Pressure Control
 Changes to API 6A
Annex J — Repair and Remanufacture
Equipment
Repair and remanufacture equipment has been
incorporated into API 6A 20th Edition/ISO 10423.

API 6A 20th Edition

1 Purchasing Guide
Accessory Equipment in API 6A
Bull Plugs and VR (Valve Removal) Plugs Running, Retrieving and Testing Tools
•• Material qualification •• Material qualification
•• Tensile and hardness testing •• Tensile and hardness testing
•• Impact testing •• Impact Testing
–– For PU combination temperature range, Many tools currently in use may not
impact testing is performed at -20°F comply with API standards.
•• Job lot traceability
•• API specified hex head required on all • Wear Bushings and Clean-Out Tools
VR plugs •• Tensile and hardness testing

•• API VR Plug design for 15M - 20M service •• Impact testing of clean-out tools
with API ACME thread and metal-to-metal seal •• High hardness requirements for wear bushings
Many bushings and tools currently in use
VR (Valve Removal) Threads may not comply with API standards.
•• 1-13/16” 10M must use 1-1/4” line pipe
•• 2-1/16” to 4-1/16” 2M - 10M must use API
Sharp Vee thread
•• 1-13/16” to 3-1/16” 15M - 20M must use API
ACME thread and metal-to-metal seal
Prior to the 19th edition of API Spec 6A, each
manufacturer produced a VR preparation.
This created a potential problem for
identifying the proper thread in the outlet.

Back Pressure Valves

•• Material qualification same as PSL 3 tubing
hangers
•• Tensile and hardness testing
•• Impact testing
•• Job lot traceability
•• Hydrostatic testing required

2
 Ordering API 20th Edition Products
Five Criteria for Individual Parts Examples of What These Designations
Note: When ordering,
(i.e. valves, hangers, etc.) Mean in the Description of a Part
please specify at least
the first three of the five 1. Temperature Class — API holds the user API 6A-U-AA-1-1
criteria. responsible for choosing temperature class U 0°F to 250°F (-18°C to 121°C)
2. Special Temperature Classes (New to API AA General service with H2S partial
20th Edition) — Can be designated where low pressure < 0.05 psi and non-corrosive
and high temperatures are specified with CO2 partial pressure < 7 psi
3. Material Class — API holds the user 1 PSL 1 per API recommendations for
responsible for choosing material class customer order
4. PSL (Product Specification Level) — API 1 PR1 (minimum level) API cycle testing
recommends PSL’s to the user has been completed on the design
5. PR (Performance Requirement) — API
minimum or added optional cycle testing API 6A-PU-EE-0,5-3-2
of designs PU -20°F to 250°F (-29°C to 121°C)
combines P (-20°F to 180°F or •
-29°C to 82°C) and U (0°F to 250°F or
-18°C to 121°C)
EE-0,5 NACE sour service with maximum •
0.5 psi H2S partial pressure and mildly
corrosive with CO2 partial pressure from
7 psi to 30 psi
3 PSL 3 per API recommendations for
customer order
2 PR2 (2nd level) API cycle testing has
been completed on the design

Special Temperature Ranges —

API 6A-0-300-EE-NL-3G-2
0-300 0°F to 300°F (-18°C to 149°C)
EE-NL NACE sour service with no limit H2S
partial pressure and mildly corrosive
with CO2 partial pressure from 7 psi to
30 psi
3G PSL 3 with additional gas test per API
recommendations for customer order
2 PR2 (2nd level) API cycle testing has
been completed on the design

API 6A 20th Edition

3 Purchasing Guide
Temperature Class
Considerations for Ordering High Temperature Service
•• Equipment is rated for service in a specific Equipment can be supplied up to 350°F (180°C) “Choosing the tem-
temperature range or ranges with a full pressure rating. For temperatures above perature ratings is the
–– Maximum production flowing temperature 350°F (180°C) a de-rating will be applied by ultimate responsibility
–– Mud circulating temperature? WGPC Engineering if necessary. of the user”
–– Minimum seasonal temperature ...API 6A 20th Edition
• Temperature classes
–– K -75°F to 180°F (-60°C to 82°C)
–– L -50°F to 180°F (-46°C to 82°C)
–– N -50°F to 140°F (-46°C to 60°C)
–– P -20°F to 180°F (-29°C to 82°C)
–– S 0°F to 140°F (-18°C to 60°C)
–– T 0°F to 180°F (-18°C to 82°C)
*S or T apply for most standard duty slip
casing hangers
–– U 0°F to 250°F (-18°C to 121°C)
*U is common for generally available
wellheads and valves
–– V 35°F to 250°F (2°C to 121°C)
–– X 0°F to 350°F (-18°C to 180°C) - ref. •
Annex G
–– Y 0°F to 650°F (-18°C to 345°C) - ref. •
Annex G
•• Combinations of classes are available:
Example PU = -20°F to 250°F (-29°C to
121°C)

4
 Material Class
Partial Pressure of H2S Determines if ZZ class parts marking and descriptions will
Some NACE MR0175/ be determined between the customer and
NACE Applies
ISO 15156 changes will manufacturer.
•• 0.05 psia and up requires NACE (unchanged
affect material selection
from previous editions) •• Suffixes for Material Classes DD, EE, FF and
and equipment cost.
•• Above 0.5 psia HH
–– 17-4 Stainless Steels may not be used for “will include ... the maximum allowable partial
mandrel hangers and stems• pressure of H2S”
(new requirement) –– 0,5 = 0.5 psia maximum partial pressure of
H2S (example: EE-0,5)
•• Above 1.5 psia –– 1,5 = 1.5 psia maximum partial pressure of
–– 410 Stainless Steels may not be used for H2S (example: FF-1,5)
mandrel hangers and stems• –– NL = No limit to H2S (example: DD-NL)
(new requirement) –– Other material class suffixes may be
Manufacturers have commonly used 17-4 applicable, depending on materials of
SS materials for hangers and stems up to construction
3-4 psia partial pressure of H2S (depending
on the manufacturer’s design allowables).
–– Allowable materials for hangers and stems
Trim Selection Chart
above 1.5 psia For combinations of H2S and CO2 partial pressures
♦♦ Inconels Additional Factors Which Influence the
♦♦ Duplex Steels
Effect of H2S
•• Have you been successfully using •• pH
materials and trims that would no longer
•• Temperature
comply with NACE?
•• Chloride concentration
API 6A Section 4.2.3.3 states...
•• Elemental sulfur
“ISO 15156 (all parts) (NACE MR0175; see
Clause 2) includes provisions by means Additional Factors Which Influence the
of testing or documented field history for Effect of CO2
the qualification of materials for a specific •• pH
sour-service application that is outside the
“Choosing material parameters defined in ISO 15156 (all parts) •• Sand production
class and specific ma- (NACE MR0175; see Clause 2). This can •• Temperature
terials for specific con- include the use of materials in fluid conditions
ditions is the ultimate exceeding the limits defined in ISO 15156 (all •• H2S level
responsibility of the parts) (NACE MR0175; see Clause 2), or the •• Chloride ion concentration
user.” use of materials not addressed in ISO 15156
...API 6A 20th Edition •• Water production and composition
(all parts) (NACE MR0175; see Clause 2).
For such sour-service applications, equipment •• Types and relative amounts of produced
may be described and marked as material hydrocarbons
class ZZ.
API Material Class ZZ may be used when
materials and trims that have previously been
used for sour service will not comply with
current NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 standards.
“It is the responsibility of the purchaser to
evaluate and determine the applicability of the
documented data for the intended application.
For material class ZZ, the manufacturer shall
meet material specifications supplied or
approved by the purchaser, and shall maintain
traceable records to document the materials of
construction, regardless of PSL.”1

1
NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 specification states in Section 8.2 duration of the documented field experience shall
be at least two years. The end user of the equipment is responsible for documenting the performance history.

API 6A 20th Edition

5 Purchasing Guide
Partial Pressure Formulas
Note: Partial pressures
Method 1: Method 2: of H2S and CO2 should
H2S PPM H 2S % * be determined sepa-
H2S psia = x working pressure H2S psia = x working pressure
1,000,000 100 rately.
and
Example CO2 % *
Assume a well has the following: CO2 psia = x flowing pressure
100
•• 50 PPM H2S (0.005%)
Example
•• CO2 of 0% Assume a well has the following:
•• 10,000 psi max. shut-in pressure •• 0.004% H2S

50
•• 0.5% CO2
x 10,000 psi = 0.5 partial pressure
1,000,000 •• 10,000 psi max. shut-in pressure
For H2S:
Resulting Trim Selection:
EE-0,5 or DD-0,5 0.004
x 10,000 psi = 0.4 psi partial pressure H2S
100

For CO2:
0.5
x 10,000 psi = 50 psi partial pressure CO2
100

Resulting Trim Selection:

FF-0,5

H2S Partial Pressure

0 to 0.05 to > 0.5 to
> 1.5 psia ¹
< 0.05 psia 0.5 psia 1.5 psia ¹
AA EE-0,5 or DD-0,5 DD-1,5 or EE-1,5 ² DD-NL or EE-NL ³
0 to
Non-Sour Sour Sour Sour
< 7 psia
Non-Corrosive Non-Corrosive Non-Corrosive Non-Corrosive
BB EE-0,5 EE-1,5 ² EE-NL ³
7 psia to
Non-Sour Sour Sour Sour
30 psia
CO2 Partial Pressure

Slightly Corrosive Slightly Corrosive Slightly Corrosive Slightly Corrosive

CC FF-0,5 FF-1,5 ² FF-NL ³
>30 psia to Non-Sour Sour Sour Sour
<200 psia Moderately to Moderately to Moderately to Moderately to
Highly Corrosive Highly Corrosive Highly Corrosive Highly Corrosive
CC or HH FF-0,5 or HH-0,5 FF-1,5 or HH-1,5 FF-NL or HH-NL
200 psia
Non-Sour Sour Sour Sour
and up
Highly Corrosive Highly Corrosive Highly Corrosive Highly Corrosive
Corrosion Wood Group Pressure Control recommends that Corrosion Resistant Alloys•
resistant alloys be considered beginning at CO2 partial pressures of 200 psia.
may be needed. Consult with engineering for material selection. Additional factors should be considered.
¹ Material Class ZZ may be used when materials and trims previously used for sour service will not comply with current NACE
MR0175/ISO 15156 standards.
² 17-4 stainless steel is not allowed for stems or tubing hangers above 0.5 psia H2S.
³ 410 stainless steel is not allowed for stems or tubing hangers above 1.5 psia H2S.

*Note: To determine the fractional amount of H2S or CO2 in a well divide the percentage of H2S or CO2 by 100.

6
 Product Specification Level
PSL = Product Specification Level — ♦♦ Yes, if well is located:
WGPC Note: For frac- ▪▪ in any environmentally sensitive areas
What Are They For?
turing and flowback op- such as parks, wildlife preserve, city
•• Quality control requirements that increase with
erations, the customer limits, etc.
the severity of service
may consider the an- ▪▪ within 150 feet of an open flame or
–– The customer is asked to specify his
nulus valve on the side fired equipment
requirements to the manufacturer
of the tubing head as ▪▪ within 50 feet of a public road (lease
–– PSL’s for various service conditions are
primary equipment. road excluded)
recommended by API in Annex A
▪▪ in or near inland navigable waters
•• Specific quality control requirements for ▪▪ in or near surface domestic water
different product categories: supplies
–– Wellheads, Spools, Adapters, Valve Bodies ▪▪ within 350 feet of any dwelling
and Bonnets
–– Stems
–– Valve bore sealing mechanisms
API PSL Decision Tree for Primary Parts
Equipment Covered:
Note: Valves combine parts from 3 different
•• Lower Master Valve
categories
–– Mandrel Hangers and Hanger Couplings •• Tubing Head Adapter
–– Other •• Tubing Hanger

What Parts Do PSL Recommendations •• Tubing Head

Cover?
•• Recommendations for PSL apply only to
Primary Equipment Primary Equipment
“All other wellhead –– Tubing Heads
parts are classified as –– Tubing Hangers or Hanger Couplings
secondary. The specifi- –– Tubing Head Adapters
cation level for second- –– Lower Master Valves
ary equipment may be •• PSL 3G (new) consists of PSL 3 quality control
the same as or less requirements for manufacturing with additional
than the level for pri- gas testing
mary equipment.”
...API 6A 20th Edition PSL Decision Criteria
•• Rated Working Pressure
–– Generally, the higher the working pressure,
the higher the recommended PSL
•• High H2S concentration?
–– Yes, if a leak would result in 70 PPM or If fracturing of the
more in air (humans can’t smell it) well is planned,
Alternate Option: the customer may
–– Yes, if the 100 PPM radius of exposure consider the •
Annulus Valve as
(ROE) is greater that 50 feet from the
a primary part.
wellhead (local regulations may apply to
ROE calculation)
•• Gas Well?
Note: Close-proximity and H2S radius of
exposure (ROE) analysis can be substituted
for “gas well”.
–– Close Proximity
♦♦ Yes, if 100 PPM ROE of H2S > than 50
feet from the wellhead and includes any
part of a public area except a public road.
♦♦ Yes, if 500 PPM ROE of H2S > than 50
feet from the wellhead and includes any
part of a public area including a public
road. 295-1810

API 6A 20th Edition

7 Purchasing Guide
* Gas Well Note: “Users who are accustomed to the use of the close-proximity and radius-of-exposure concepts
may substitute close proximity for gas well.” ...API 6A 20th Edition

8
 Product Specification Level —
QC Requirements for Manufacture & Testing of PSL 1-4 Equipment

Gate Valves Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3/3G ¹ PSL 4 ¹

Temp K, L, N and Temp K, L, N, P, S, T, U Same as
Bodies, Bonnets, End/ Temp K and L only
Impact Testing of P only and V only PSL 3/3G
Outlet Connections and Raw Material Test at or below bottom of • Test at or below Test at or below bottom of Same as
Hub End Connections
temp range bottom of temp range temp range PSL 3/3G

5M & below - sample testing

Same as PSL 2 plus test
Hardness Testing Test all parts for all Same as
10M & above - test every part locations on each end
of Machined Parts working pressures PSL 3/3G
connection face
Sour service - test every part

Examine all Examine ALL accessible

Surface NDE ² of Same as
Not Required accessible wetted and surfaces plus areas
Machined Parts PSL 3/3G
sealing surfaces prepped for weld overlay
Same as PSL 3/3G
Volumetric NDE ² Examine 100% volume as
Not Required Not Required plus restricted
of Raw Material practical After heat treating
acceptance criteria
¹ PSL 3, 3G and 4 require serialization of each part
² Non-Destructive Examination

Stems Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3/3G¹ PSL 4 ¹

Temp K, L, N and P Temp K, L, N, P, S, T, U Same as

Impact Testing of Manufacturer’s Material only and V only PSL 3/3G
Raw Material Specification Test at or below Test at or below bottom of Same as
bottom of temp range temp range PSL 3/3G

5M & below - sample testing

Hardness Testing
10M & above - test every part Test all parts for all working pressures
of Machined Parts
Sour service - test every part
Examine all Examine ALL accessible
Surface NDE ² of Same as
Not Required accessible wetted and surfaces plus areas
Machined Parts PSL 3/3G
sealing surfaces prepped for weld overlay
Volumetric NDE ² Same as
Not Required Not Required After heat treating
of Raw Material PSL 3/3G
¹ PSL 3, 3G and 4 require serialization of each part
² Non-Destructive Examination

Valve Bore Sealing Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3/3G ¹ PSL 4 ¹

Mechanisms and Choke
Trim³ Manufacturer’s
Tensile Testing of Manufacturer’s Material
Not Required Not Required Material
Raw Material Specification
Specification

Hardness Testing Test all parts for sour service

Test all parts for all working pressures
of Machined Parts (DD, EE, FF, HH trims)

Examine all accessible Examine ALL accessible

Surface NDE ² of Same as
Not Required wetted and sealing surfaces plus areas
Machined Parts PSL 3/3G
surfaces prepped for weld overlay

¹ PSL 3, 3G and 4 require serialization of each part

² Non-Destructive Examination
³ Choke trim: only surface NDE and serialization are required

API 6A 20th Edition

9 Purchasing Guide
 Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3 PSL 3G PSL 4 Valve Testing

Two One 3-minute hold

Two 3-minute One 3-minute hold plus One 3-minute hold plus
Hydrostatic Body Test 3-minute plus one•
holds one 15-minute hold one 15-minute hold
holds 15-minute hold
Two One 3-minute hold
Two 3-minute One 3-minute hold plus One 3-minute hold plus
Hydrostatic Seat Test 3-minute plus one•
holds one 15-minute hold one 15-minute hold
holds 15-minute hold
Not One 15-minute One 15-minute
Gas Body Test Not Required Not Required
Required hold @ WP hold @ WP
One 1-hour hold @ WP
One 15-minute hold @
Not fully open & close valve,
Gas Seat Test Not Required Not Required WP plus one 15-minute
Required one 1-hour hold @ 5 to
hold @ 300 psi
10% WP
One 1-hour hold @ WP,
Not Optional – One disengage / reengage,
Gas Back-Seat Test Not Required Not Required
Required 15-minute hold @ WP one 1-hour hold @ 5 to
10% WP

Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3 ¹ PSL 4 ¹ ² Mandrel Hangers

Impact Testing of
Not Required Test every part Same as PSL 2 Same as PSL 2 Casing and Tubing Hanger
Raw Material
Mandrels/Bodies
Same as PSL 2 plus
Hardness Testing after all heat Test every Same as PSL 2 plus
Same as PSL 1 additional
treatment and machining part additional test locations
test locations
Examine all Examine ALL
accessible wetted accessible surfaces
Surface NDE ³ of Machined Parts Not Required Same as PSL 3
and sealing plus areas prepped for
surfaces weld overlay
Examine 100% volume Same as PSL 3 plus
Volumetric NDE³ of Raw Material Not Required Not Required as practical After heat restricted
treating acceptance criteria
¹ PSL 3 and 4 require serialization of each part
² PSL 4 permits NO welding except weld overlays
³ Non-Destructive Examination

Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3/3G ¹ PSL 4 ¹ Tubing Heads and

Temp K, L, N and Temp K, L, N, P, S, T, U Tubing Head
Temp K and L only Same as PSL 3/3G
Impact Testing of P only and V only Adapters
Raw Material Test at or below bottom of Test at or below Test at or below bottom of
Same as PSL 3/3G Bodies, End/Outlet
temp range bottom of temp range temp range
Connections and Hub End
5M & below - sample testing Connections
Hardness Testing Same as PSL 2 plus test
10M & above - test Test all parts for all
of Raw and locations on each end Same as PSL 3/3G
every part working pressures
Machined Parts connection face
Sour service - test every part
Surface NDE ² Examine all Examine ALL accessible
of Machined Not Required accessible wetted surfaces plus areas Same as PSL 3/3G
Parts and sealing surfaces prepped for weld overlay
Examine 100% volume Same as PSL 3/3G
Volumetric NDE ²
Not Required Not Required as practical After heat plus restricted
of Raw Material
treating acceptance criteria
¹ PSL 3, 3G and 4 require serialization of each part
² Non-Destructive Examination

Requirement PSL 1 PSL 2 ¹ PSL 3 ¹ PSL 3G ¹ ² PSL 4 ¹ Testing of Casing and

Tubing Heads, Tubing
Two One 3-minute hold Head Adapters, Chokes,
Two 3-minute One 3-minute hold plus One 3-minute hold plus
Hydrostatic Test ³ 3-minute plus one 15-
holds one 15-minute hold one 15-minute hold Tees and Crosses,
holds minute hold
Crossover Connectors,
Not One 15-minute hold One 15-minute Adapter and Spacer Spools
Gas Test ³ Not required Not required
required @ WP hold @ WP
¹ PSL 2 and above: Serialization of assemblies is required
² PSL 3G assemblies are built with PSL 3 components
³ Separate tests are required above and below crossover seal

10
 Performance Requirements
PR1, PR2, and Annex F

Cycle Testing of Designs

•• Different cycle tests for valves, casing hangers
or other types of products
•• PR1 API minimum required cycle testing
–– Minimum testing to qualify any design to be
API Monogrammed
•• PR2 additional test cycles
–– Manufacturer’s option or customer
requirement
•• Annex F Severe standardized testing includes
mechanical, pressure and temperature cycling
–– Manufacturer’s option or customer
requirement
–– Annex F has PR1 or PR2 (additional cycles)
options

API 6A 20th Edition

11 Purchasing Guide
Worldwide Headquarters
3250 Briarpark Drive, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77042
Tel +1 832-325-4200
Fax +1 832-325-4350
E-mail wgpc@woodgroup.com
Web www.wgpressurecontrol.com
© 2011 Wood Group Pressure Control. All Rights Reserved. 04/11, #01-0379 rev5