Introduction to API Specification 6A 21st Edition
Released January 2020: Specification for Wellhead
and Christmas Tree Equipment
Mahmoud Farag Radwan
Well Control and Intervention Specialist│Freelance Instructor
https:\\www.linkedin.com/in/mahmoud-farag-radwan-a9266626
Classification: Tasnee - General Information
Mahmoud Farag Radwan
Mahmoud Radwan is a Well Control and Intervention Specialist with more than 17 years
of experience in Oil and Gas industry; worked in Well Engineering, Intervention,
Integrity, Completion & Work-over at several companies, including SONATRACH, KDT
Global Solutions, CUDD Well Control, AMAL Petroleum Co. (AMAPETCO), Shell, Badr El-
Short
Din Pet. Co. (BAPETCO), Qarun Pet. Co. (QPC) and Wadi El-Sahel Petroleum Co.
Biography (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.
❑ 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
❑ Implementing NDT methods for maintenance and inspection to the Asset Integrity
Management North Africa Conference in Cairo; Egypt in Nov 2015
❑ 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
Publications Oil & Gas Show and Conference in Mar 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/183739-MS
❑ 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
❑ 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
Overview
• API Specification 6A is the recognized industry specification for wellhead
and tree equipment that was formulated to provide for the availability of
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safer, dimensionally and functionally interchangeable wellhead and tree
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equipment. This specification includes detailed requirements for the
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manufacture of tubular suspension equipment, valves, and fittings used at
the location of oil and gas wells to contain and control pressure and fluid
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flows.
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• Specification 6A also serves as the reference source for the design of
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flanged end and outlet connections for use at 2,000- to 20,000-psi
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maximum rated working pressures and a family of gate valves for use over
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these same pressure ranges API Specification 6A is also specified as the
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base standard for manufacture of subsea equipment in accordance with
API Specifications 17D, 16C, and 16A
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:
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Wellhead
Provides the following functions:
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Anchor & connections for each individual casing
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Pressure isolation of individual casing
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Connection for Xmas tree
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Connections for completion string
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Isolation of production annulus
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Access to annulus for pressure monitoring and/or pumping.
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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
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installed above it & it must be removed each time a
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new module to be installed & replaced the BOP on
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top of it before commence drilling.
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Features:
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1 Starter Spool (Conductor Pipe)
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2 Surface Casing Head
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3 Surface Casing Hanger
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4 Production Casing Head
5 Production Casing Hanger
6 Tubing Head
7 Tubing Hanger
WELLHEAD & XMAS TREE
XMAS TREE
Surface valves manifold to control flow of well fluids & access for well
intervention activities.
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Features:
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1 LMV
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Manual, NOT working valve optimum conditions.
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2 UMV
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Emergency valve (Hydraulic / Pneumatic) & cut
wire.
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3 FWV
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Permits passage of well fluids to CV.
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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
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high pressure wells)
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Composite Block Xmas Tree
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- Valves are located on separate
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block & joined by API flange.
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Horizontal Xmas Tree
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- New concept used for sub-sea
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completion.
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Dual Solid Block Xmas Tree
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WELLHEAD & XMAS TREE
Wellhead Connection Types;
Screwed type (low press <1 000psi).
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API Flanged type (high press <5 000psi).
API Flanged type are mostly used by OPCO –
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because it’s less susceptible & easier oriented.
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Example of API Flange specification:
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9⅛” – 5000 psi API Flange.
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9⅛” is the ID of the flange & 5000 psi is the
working pressure.
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.
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Pressure Rating (PR)
• Wellhead equipment that meets API Specification 6A
(equivalent to ISO 10423) is available in standard pressure
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increments:
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– 13.8 MPa (2000 psi)
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– 20.7 MPa (3000 psi)
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– 34.5 MPa (5000 psi) ou
– 69.0 MPa (10,000 psi)
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– 103.5 MPa (15,000 psi)
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– 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
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maximum temperature of the well fluid passing through or
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contained by the equipment.
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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
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requirements (PRs) specified for pressure, temperature, load,
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mechanical cycles, and standard test fluids are met in the design
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of the product.
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Performance Verification Testing may include:
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• Pressure/Temperature Cycles
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• Load/Mechanical Cycles
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• 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
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marked as satisfactory for one of these material classes.
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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.
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Resistance to cracking caused by H2S is influenced by several other factors, some
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of the limits for which are given in NACE MR0175/ISO 15156. These include but
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are not limited to
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■ pH
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■ temperature
■ chloride concentration dF
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■ elemental sulfur.
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Quality Control
• Quality Control Requirements for Bodies, Bonnets, and End and Outlet Connections.
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Note:
• API 6A enables using cast bodies, bonnets, and end and outlet connections for PSL-1 to PSL-3
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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:
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Note:
• For API monogrammed equipment, the API monogram is also marked along with the license number of the API approved
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manufacturing facility.
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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
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How to Order
General Wellhead Equipment Data Sheet
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Gaza in our Hearts
غزة في قلوبنا
Thank You
Mahmoud Farag Radwan
