The American Petroleum Institute has published new guidelines for the design, manufacture, and use of subsea capping stacks. The equipment is part of the oil and gas industry’s emergency preparedness in the event of a subsea spill at a wellhead, API said.
“Enhanced industry standards are an essential piece of our collaboration with regulators to make offshore oil and gas development safer than ever before,” API Standards Director David Miller said. “These guidelines will further strengthen subsea spill response capabilities as part of industry’s commitment to continuous improvement in safety.”
The recommended practice, known as RP 17W, applies to installation of new subsea capping stacks and can serve as a guide to improving existing equipment. API said it can aid during the design and manufacturing process and in developing instructions for preservation, transportation, maintenance, testing, and operations.
The document also provides guidelines for the deployment, well shut-in, and recovery of a subsea capping stack, the trade association added.
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