Recommended Practice for Use and Procedures for Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Drilling and Well Servicing Structures

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 4G THIRD EDITION, APRIL 2004

ERRATA, JUNE 2004

Recommended Practice for Use and Procedures for Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Drilling and Well Servicing Structures

Upstream Segment

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 4G THIRD EDITION, APRIL 2004

ERRATA, JUNE 2004

SPECIAL NOTES

API publications necessarily address problems of a general nature. With respect to partic- ular circumstances, local, state, and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed.

API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers, manufacturers, or suppliers to warn and properly train and equip their employees, and others exposed, concerning health and safety risks and precautions, nor undertaking their obligations under local, state, or fed- eral laws.

Information concerning safety and health risks and proper precautions with respect to par- ticular materials and conditions should be obtained from the employer, the manufacturer or supplier of that material, or the material safety data sheet.

Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right, by implication or otherwise, for the manufacture, sale, or use of any method, apparatus, or prod- uct covered by letters patent. Neither should anything contained in the publication be con- strued as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent.

Generally, API standards are reviewed and revised, reaf?rmed, or withdrawn at least every

?ve years. Sometimes a one-time extension of up to two years will be added to this review cycle. This publication will no longer be in effect ?ve years after its publication date as an operative API standard or, where an extension has been granted, upon republication. Status of the publication can be ascertained from the API Standards department telephone (202) 682-8000. A catalog of API publications, programs and services is published annually and updated biannually by API, and available through Global Engineering Documents, 15 Inv- erness Way East, M/S C303B, Englewood, CO 80112-5776.

This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropri- ate noti?cation and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard. Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this standard or com- ments and questions concerning the procedures under which this standard was developed should be directed in writing to the Director of the Standards department, American Petro- leum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should be addressed to the Director, Business Services.

API standards are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineer- ing and operating practices. These standards are not intended to obviate the need for apply- ing sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these standards should be utilized. The formulation and publication of API standards is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices.

Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard. API does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that such prod- ucts do in fact conform to the applicable API standard.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Contact the Publisher,

API Publishing Services, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.

Copyright ? 2004 American Petroleum Institute

FOREWORD

This edition includes new inspection guidelines for drilling and well servicing structures. Users/owners may require a period of time to bring existing structures into conformance with these new criteria. Due to the number of structures involved and the limited availability of qualified inspectors, the date of the first inspection for existing structures should remain flexible.

This standard shall become effective on the date of publication.

The forms in annexes A through D are intended for free exchange between owners/opera- tors of the equipment or users of API Spec 4G.

API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to API, Standards department, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

iii

v

Page

1. RAISING/BRIDLE LINE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT 8

2. GUYING FOR PORTABLE MASTS WITH GUYLINES 8

   1. General 8

   2. Frequency of Inspection 8

   3. Guywire End Terminations and Hardware 9

   4. Pretension of Guywires 9

3. GUYWIRE ANCHORS FOR PORTABLE MASTS WITH GUYLINES 9

   1. Guywire Anchors for Portable Masts with Guylines 9

   2. Capacity Veri?cation 9

   3. Alternative Anchoring Practices 9

   4. Pull Testing and Site Preparation 9

   5. Responsibilities of Contractor, Operator and Testing Company 10

4. FOUNDATIONS FOR MASTS AND SUBSTRUCTURES 10

   1. Foundations and Supplemental Footing 10

   2. Wellhead Cellars 11

5. LOW TEMPERATURE OPERATIONS 11

APPENDIX A DRILLING MASTS VISUAL INSPECTION FORM 13

APPENDIX B WELL SERVICING MASTS VISUAL INSPECTION FORM 23

APPENDIX C DRILLING DERRICK VISUAL INSPECTION FORM 29

APPENDIX D SUBSTRUCTURE VISUAL INSPECTION FORM 37

APPENDIX E FIGURES 43

Figures

E1 Recommended Guying Pattern 43

E2 Guywire Sag (Catenary) 44

E3 Anchor Spacing and Capacity Criteria 45

E4 Inspection Tolerance Guidelines 46

E5 Portable Mast Location Preparation 47

E6 Typical Mast Lifting Lugs 48

E7 Safe Bearing Capacity of Soils 49

Recommended Practice for Use and Procedures for Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair of Drilling and Well Servicing Structures

1. Scope

   1. OBJECTIVE

      The objective of this publication is to give guidelines and establish recommended procedures for inspection, mainte- nance and repair of items for drilling and well servicing struc- tures, in order to maintain the serviceability of this equipment.

      These recommendations should be considered as supple- mental to, and not as a substitute for, the manufacturer?s instructions and the recommendations in the most current edi- tion of API RP 54 Recommended Practices for Occupational Safety and Health for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servic- ing Operations.

      
      

   2. STRUCTURES COVERED

      Items of drilling and well servicing structures covered by this publication include:

      • Masts/derricks and accessories

      • Substructures and accessories

      Note: Crown block sheaves and bearings are covered under API RP 8B.

      Note: Offshore masts, derricks, substructures and accessories are not under the scope of this recommended practice relative to Section

      4.2.5 Category IV inspection requirements.

      
      

2. References

   Note: The following list of standards is supplied for the conve- nience of the reader, only those portions of the standard listed below which are directly referenced in this speci?cation are con- sidered part of this speci?cation. Documents (sub-tier) that are ref- erenced by those standards are not considered part of this recommended practice.

   1. API RP 9B Application, Care, and Use of Wire Rope for Oil Field Service.

   2. API RP 54 Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Ser- vicing Operations.

   3. API Spec 4F Drilling and Well Servicing Structures.

   4. AISC Manual for Steel Construction.

   5. ASNT TC-1A Recommended Practice for Personnel Qualification and Certification in Non-Destructive Testing.

   6. ASTM A370 Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products.

   7. AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code.

   8. API RP 8B Recommended Practice for Procedures for Inspections, Maintenance, Repair, and Remanufacture of Hoisting Equipment.

   1

   
   

   Note: All standards referenced should be considered in context and equivalent or higher standards are acceptable in the international arena.

   
   

3. Terms, Definitions and Abbreviated Terms

   For the purposes of this publication, the following terms, de?nitions and abbreviated terms apply.

   
   

   1. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

      1. certification: The act of endorsing as meeting set standards or requirements.

      2. critical area: A highly stressed region of a primary load-carrying component as de?ned by the manufacturer or a quali?ed person.

      3. derrick: A semi-permanent structure of square or rectangular cross-section having members that are latticed or trussed on all four sides. This unit must be assembled in the vertical or operation position, as it includes no erection mech- anism. It may or may not be guyed.

      4. equipment performance: Operational capability of a piece of equipment relative to expected or predetermined parameters or standards.

      5. fish plate: Either one or two steel plates that are welded or bolted to the webs or ?anges of adjacent rails or beams on opposite sides to strengthen a member.

      6. inspection: Comparison of equipment conformity to predetermined standards, followed by a determination of action required, if any.

      7. load test: A procedure wherein a load is applied under controlled and monitored conditions to verify the ser- viceability of equipment.

      8. maintenance: Actions, including inspection; adjustments; cleaning; lubrication; testing; and expendable parts replacement necessary to maintain the serviceability of the equipment.

      9. manufacturer: A term denoting individuals or companies who make or process equipment or materials cov- ered by this standard.

      10. mast: A structural tower comprised of one or more sections and then raised to the operating position. If the unit contains two or more sections, it may be telescoped or unfolded during the erection procedure.