Introduction To API 6A Specification

Introduction to API 6A (ISO 10423): Specification for
Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment
Mahmoud Farag Radwan

Subsurface & Integrity Operations Lead │Freelance Instructor
https:\\www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-farag-radwan-a9266626
Mahmoud Farag Radwan
Mahmoud is a Subsurface & Integrity Op. Lead with 16 years of experience in Oil and Gas
industry; worked in Well Engineering, Intervention, Integrity, Completion & Work-over at several
companies, including AMAL Petroleum Co. (AMAPETCO), KDT Global Solutions, CUDD Well Control,
Short Biography Shell, Badr El-Din Pet. Co. (BAPETCO), Qarun Pet. Co. (QPC) and Wadi El-Sahel Petroleum Co.
(WASPETCO).
Also, a freelance instructor at Upstream Oil & Gas in Egypt and Worldwide since 2008.
Mahmoud received a B.Sc. degree of Petroleum Engineering from Al-Azhar University in 2007.
o Evaluating Sustainable Annulus Pressure (SAP) in Sour Wells and the Possible Causes to Avoid
Recurrence to the Well Integrity Annual Middle East Conference in Abu Dhabi; UAE in Apr 2015
o Implementing NDT methods for maintenance and inspection to the Asset Integrity Management
North Africa Conference in Cairo; Egypt in Nov 2015
o Feasibility Evaluation of Using Downhole Gas-water Separation Technology in gas Reservoirs
with Bottom Water; paper number: SPE-183739-MS to the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and
Conference in Mar 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/183739-MS
Publications o Managing the Operational Challenges in Corroded Wells through Well Integrity Management
System to the Improving Brownfield Performance Technical Convention, in Cairo; Egypt in Dec
2019
o Safe and Economic Attractive Rigless Operations Using a Digital Slickline in Unmanned
Platform with Low Structure Loads and Spacing; paper number: SPE-202857-MS to the Abu
Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) in Nov 2020
https://doi.org/10.2118/202857-MS
Wellhead
Provides the following functions:
 Anchor & connections for each individual casing

 Pressure isolation of individual casing
 Connection for Xmas tree
 Connections for completion string
 Isolation of production annulus
 Access to annulus for pressure monitoring and/or pumping.
Types of Wellheads:
 Compact Wellhead (sub-sea)
 Conventional Wellhead
WELLHEAD & XMAS TREE
CONVENTIONAL WELLHEAD
It’s a built up of modules. During drilling BOP is installed above it & it

must be removed each time a new module to be installed & replaced
the BOP on top of it before commence drilling.
Features:
1 Starter Spool (Conductor Pipe)

2 Surface Casing Head
3 Surface Casing Hanger
4 Production Casing Head
5 Production Casing Hanger
6 Tubing Head
7 Tubing Hanger
XMAS TREE
Surface valves manifold to control flow of well fluids & access for well intervention activities.
Features:
1 LMV
Manual, NOT working valve optimum conditions.
2 UMV
Emergency valve (Hydraulic / Pneumatic) & cut wire.
3 FWV
Permits passage of well fluids to CV.
4 CHOKE VALVE (CV)
Restrict, control or regulate flow of well fluids.
5 KWV
Permits entry of kill fluids into tubing or equalize.
6 SV/CV
Permits entry of well interventions.
Xmas Tree Type
Xmas Tree type:
 Solid Block (Mono Block) Xmas Tree
- Contains fewer components (for high
pressure wells)
 Composite Block Xmas Tree
- Valves are located on separate block & joined
by API flange.
 Horizontal Xmas Tree
- New concept used for sub-sea completion.
Dual Solid Block Xmas Tree
Wellhead Connection Types;
 Screwed type (low press <1 000psi).
 API Flanged type (high press <5 000psi).
 API Flanged type are mostly used by OPCO – because it’s less
susceptible & easier oriented.
Example of API Flange specification:

9⅛” – 5000 psi API Flange.
9⅛” is the ID of the flange & 5000 psi is the working pressure.
API 6A (ISO 10423)
is the recognized industry standard for Wellhead and
Christmas Tree Equipment
• API Specification 6A covers Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment as follows:
Product Specification Levels (PSLs)
API Specification 6A defines standard service conditions and introduces the concept of PSLs, which are referred to throughout the document. The PSLs define
different levels of documentation, or levels of technical requirements, which may be specified for a product. Generally, these levels represent the industry
practice for various service conditions. The selection of a PSL should be based on a quantitative risk analysis, which is a formal and systematic approach to
identifying potentially hazardous events and estimating the likelihood and consequences to people, environment, and resources—and of accidents developing
from these events. The decision tree shown below is designed to assist the purchaser in selecting the minimum PSLs for primary parts of wellhead and tree
equipment.
Pressure Rating (PR)
• Wellhead equipment that meets API Specification 6A (equivalent to ISO 10423) is

available in standard pressure increments:
– 13.8 MPa (2000 psi)

– 20.7 MPa (3000 psi)
– 34.5 MPa (5000 psi)
– 69.0 MPa (10,000 psi)
– 103.5 MPa (15,000 psi)
– 138.0 MPa (20,000 psi)
Temperature Classes
Eight Temperature Classes, each of which represent a range of temperatures
from the minimum ambient air temperature to the maximum temperature of
the well fluid passing through or contained by the equipment.
Design Verification Testing
Performance verification testing is often performed on prototypes or production
models of API Specification 6A (ISO 10423) equipment to validate that the performance
requirements (PRs) specified for pressure, temperature, load, mechanical cycles, and
standard test fluids are met in the design of the product.
Performance Verification Testing may include:
• Pressure/Temperature Cycles
• Load/Mechanical Cycles
• Nonmetallic Seal Thermochemical Testing
Scalable Performance Verification levels (i.e. PR1, PR2) are applicable to many API 6A
products. Although Annex F Testing is not a requirement in API 6A
Material Classes
• Eight material classes specify minimum material requirements for general
or sour service shown below. API 6A equipment must be designed, tested,
and marked as satisfactory for one of these material classes.
NACE MR0175 (ISO 15156)
API 6A and other product specifications require that metals used for critical parts of equipment in sour service
be in compliance with NACE MR0175. Sour service is defined as exposure to oilfield environments that contain
sufficient H2S to cause cracking of materials by the mechanisms addressed by NACE MR0175/ISO 15156.
Resistance to cracking caused by H2S is influenced by several other factors, some of the limits for which are
given in NACE MR0175/ISO 15156. These include but are not limited to
■ pH
■ temperature
■ chloride concentration
■ elemental sulfur.
Quality Control
• Quality Control Requirements for Bodies, Bonnets, and End and Outlet Connections.
Note:
• API 6A enables using cast bodies, bonnets, and end and outlet connections for PSL-1 to PSL-3
Definitions:
• End and outlet connections—Any integral feature of a body used as a means to join together equipment that contains pressure, permits flow of retained fluid between the joined equipment and
provides a seal at the joint.
• Note 1: End and outlet connectors include, but are not limited to, internal or external thread, clamp hub, studded outlet, and studded or through-bolted.
• Note 2: A bonnet connector or a weld preparation is not an end connector.
• Body—Any portion of wellhead and tree equipment that includes one or more end connectors and is designed to be exposed to and contain wellbore pressure and fluid.
• Bonnet—A pressure-containing closure for a body, other than an end or outlet connection
Markings
• Section 8 of Specification 6A and the chart below describe marking instructions for equipment. The marking requirements include the following:
Note:
• For API monogrammed equipment, the API monogram is also marked along with the license number of the API approved manufacturing facility.
Example:
• A product marked FF-1,5 indicates material class FF and a 1.5 PSIA maximum allowable H S partial pressure.
Wellhead API Trim Guide
How to Order General Wellhead Equipment Data Sheet
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Introduction to API 6A (ISO 10423): Specification for

Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment

Mahmoud Farag Radwan

 Anchor & connections for each individual casing

It’s a built up of modules. During drilling BOP is installed above it & it

1 Starter Spool (Conductor Pipe)

Example of API Flange specification:

• Wellhead equipment that meets API Specification 6A (equivalent to ISO 10423) is

– 13.8 MPa (2000 psi)

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