SON adopts API standards for oil and gas

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has adopted ten America Petroleum Institute (API) Standards to scale-up regulatory benchmarks in the nation’s oil and gas industry in line with international practices.

The Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma Esq. disclosed this during a joint Technical Committee (TC) meeting on Oil and Gas / Petroleum and Petro Chemicals held in Lagos recently. 

Addressing participants at the event, Aboloma, who was represented by the Director Standards Development, Mrs. Chinyere Egwuonwu, said all the standards adopted have critical relevance to operations in the Oil and Gas industry, and that informed the need for their adoption in collaboration with stakeholders of Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).

According to him, adoption of international standards into the nation’s regulatory framework is not a new development, especially where the standards are elaborated by global leaders such as API, who, since 1919, has established clout for convening subject matter experts in establishing, maintaining and distributing consensus standards for the oil and gas industry.

In his words: “The API standards being adopted today are recognised not only for their technical specifications but also for their third party accreditation which facilitates acceptance by international bodies and has been a cornerstone in developing standards for the worldwide oil and natural gas industry.”

Aboloma, however, cautioned that “in adopting international standards we must ensure that the standards are not in conflict with our statutory regulatory requirements and special consideration should be on or environmental factors, economic considerations, the security of products, national interest and most of all global best practices.”

He also stressed that the nation’s oil and gas industry does not exist outside global standards; hence the standards adopted will ensure the availability of the NIS, enhancing market competitiveness, prevention of dumping of goods, promoting export and a reliable basis for technological transfer and industrial development.

The API Standards adopted and rechristened NIS include: 

API RP 50: 2013, Natural Gas Processing Plant Practices for Protection of the Environment.

API RP 520: 2014, Sizing, Selection and Installation of Pressure-relieving Devices in Refineries Part 1 Sizing and selection.

API RP 520 2: 2015, Sizing, Selection and Installation of Pressure- Relieving Devices in Refineries Part II Installation.

API 553: 2012 Refinery Valves and Accessories for Control and Safety Instrumented Systems.

API 554: 2007 Process Instrumentation and Control.

API 12L: 2008 Specification for Vertical and Horizontal Emulsion Treaters.

API 2000: 2014 Venting Atmospheric and Low –Pressure Storage Tanks.

API 12F: 2008 Specifications for Shop-Welded Tanks for Storage of Production Liquids.

API 12D: 2008 Specification for Field Welded Tanks for Storage of Production Liquids.

API STD 610: 2011 Centrifugal Pumps for Petroleum Petrochemical and Natural Gas Industries.

Notable stakeholders of the Joint Chairmen of the TCs, on Oil and Gas/ Petroleum and Petrochemicals, who spoke in varying capacities, commended the SON DG for nursing the initiative for the adoption.

They include Prof. Joseph Ajienka of the University of Port-Harcourt and Prof Sunday Ojolo of the University of Lagos, who represented Prof. Boniface Okorie of the UNN. 

They both appreciated the DG SON for giving them the opportunity to serve while exhorting all the participants to carry out what was described as a call to national duty with zeal and ensuring their comments and contributions are vibrant and robust enough to achieve the purpose of the TC. 

Also, the Deputy Director, Standards Development / Head of Chemical-Tech, Mr. Agboola Afolayan, moderated the proceedings of the day, while the Head of Lagos 1 office / Group Head of LPG, Engr. Nwaoma Olujie, contributed immensely in actualizing the adoption process. 

Some organisations from the oil sector represented at the event include Cakasa Nig. Comp. Ltd., Peachlite Engineering Consulting Services, Winelight Analytical Systems, Lopa Energy Ltd. Addax Petroleum.

Others include: Dorman Long Engineering, Mobil Producing Nigeria and other agencies like Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers, FIIRO, Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineering and the Nigerian Institute of Welders