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ABSTRACT The offshore areas around the world are beginning to play a more significant role in meeting global energy needs. Rigs and personnel move from one part of the globe to another on a daily basis. There is growing interest in the use of standards to both enhance safety and environmental performance and to lower costs. An example of this is the increased interest in the activities of the International Organization for Standardization, and specifically ISO Technical Committee 67. ISO/TC67 is charged with preparing standards for materials and equipment, and offshore structures for the petroleum and natural gas industries. This committee has over 1,000 industry personnel working on over 130 standards. These standards define the technical operations and limits for pipe-both steel and aluminum, drilling fluids, cements and hydraulic fluids, drilling and production equipment including drill stem, packers and subsea production systems, OCTG, offshore piping, steam turbines and flexible couplings, compressors and turbines, and offshore structures including fixed steel or concrete, and floating systems. Specifically excluded from the remit for ISO/TC67 is any standardization of ships or marine technology covered by IMO, SOLAS and MARPOL. Regulatory bodies in countries must write operating practices which address their safety and environmental requirements, including the protection of personnel. It is also becoming more important that these requirements are accomplished in a cost efficient manner since companies have alternative investment opportunities due to increased access around the globe. The use of standards to which both government and industry have contributed, provides an opportunity for government to express its requirements that reflects an industry consensus on what is the best way to accomplish a task. International standards give the industry the ability to expedite manufacture and purchase of equipment, eliminating barriers to trade and commerce. Standards can also apply to less tangible items such as training and management systems. These same international standards allow regulatory agencies to apply a consistent nondiscriminatory basis for allowing industry to operate in their locale, i.e., provide a level playing field. INTRODUCTION The petroleum and natural gas industries have been vigorously pursuing the writing and adoption of international standards for about ten years. The historical perspective was presented in several papers given during former OTC meetings. 1,2,3,4, 5 Also defined in these papers are the operational aspects of each standards organization (ISO, CEN, ANSI, API, ASME, ASTM, etc.) and the interrelationships among them. This paper shows the progress made since the last paper was written (1995), and how the petroleum and natural gas is "an industry in transition" one which relies on national standards to one in which international standards represent the basis against which business is undertaken. Engaged in the transition process are oil and gas companies, manufacturers, suppliers/service companies, academia, and government bodies..

ABSTRACT This paper outlines some of the relationships and communication methods for sharing information on the standardisation work of lSO/TC 67 "Materials, Equipment and Offshore Structures for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries". The paper also describes the development and distribution by lSO/TC 67/AG 3 of a Database of Committees, Standards and Delegates that is now freely availablethrough the API and national standards bodies. INTRODUCTION ISO has been regarded as a remote group, who develop standards haphazardly and very slowly with few gaining real international acceptance. Indeed, the view still abounds that 'ISO' means the ISO 9000 series of Quality Management System standards and no more. It is becoming well known, however, that ISO is working ever more closely with the API to take the lead in maintaining key international standards for the oil and gas industry globally. ISO works in this area not only because the industry wishes it, but also because the industry provides the technical resources that enable it to do so. The resources must be managed to maximize effectiveness and secure delivery of the standards. This information must be shared widely to be sure that all interested parties are contributing, and so that the resulting standards can be promoted for international use with confidence that benefik will accrue. The ISO process has been well covered in papers previously presented at OTC. The most recent review of the work in lSO/TC 67 was given by Reeve, Johansen and Lautier in their 1994 OTC paper (Ref. 1). An industry update, on behalf of the E&P Forum, is given in another 1995 OTC paper by Thorp et al. (Ref. 2) and this emphasisesthe need to improve and accelerate the processes in order to meet industry needs. ISO/TC 67 has seventeen standards published (at end 1994) and has some one hundred work items on the work programme. This work programme will expand in 1995 as more new work items are introduced. This information isbeing communicated in a variety of ways: formally, through the established hierarchy of standardising bodies; informally by papers such as this one; by training workshops;and by industry and company initiatives for standard presentations and Newsletters. ISO/TC 67 has an Advisory Group, AG3, whose work includes maintaining information in the form of an electronic database for Committees, Standards and Delegates. This database was first issued in 1994, and forms the principle management information tool for ISO/TC 67 to plan and coordinate the work. This paper describes the AG3 Database in some detail. The overall goal of the communication initiatives is to encourage the widest participation in lSO/TC 67 and the associated work. It is intended that duplication of work at regional, national and company level is avoided, and that the industry world-wide can agree a "single set of words" for adoption at all levels. Successful promotion of thissolution to practicing engineers will deliver benefits including whole life cost reduction and operations integrity; safety and environmental protection as well as equipment reliability.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A single global market for procurement is of crucial importance to the E&P industry. The resulting benefits, including cost reductions and shelter delivery times, could even be the key to the economic development of marginal fields. International Standards that cater for the needs of users, manufacturers and the public at large can provide a common basis for companies to procure and provide goods and services that will deliver the required performance throughout the field life. The savings to industry could be billions of dollars per year. The Oil Industry International Exploration and Production Forum (E&P Forum) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) acted as the catalyst for the re-formation of ISO TCG7 "Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum and natural gas industries". The initial work was on the development of "fast track" ISO standards based on the widely accepted and used API standards. In the five years of conceited effort by the E&P industry 17 fast track standards have been published and a further 10 ISO standards have reached or passed the balloting stage and are about to be published. This process has also resulted in the development of a management procedure for the selection, processing and maintenance of standards for the E&P industry. The E&P Forum, on behalf of the industry, has developed proposals to increase the efficiency of this managerial procedure and to speed up the "internationalization" of selected standl.1rds. Details are given at the end of the paper. It is argued that the E&P industry should rally to the cause of international standardization. Companies should lend their full Support by committing their valuable expel resources. It is in the interests of the industry to do this for, without suitably skilled expel representation in ISO and the elimination of duplication as well as waste of resources through perfom1ing similar workat company or national level, the large potential benefits of international standardization will elude the E&P industry. The overall thrust may be neatly summarized by the adage:do it oncedo it rightdo it globally INTRODUCTION The E&P Forum has taken a leading role in encouraging and facilitating the internationalization of oil and gas industries standards in the area of upstream exploration and production. The need for standards became evidet1t to the expanding industry in the early 1920's. In the United States, the manufacturing industry began supplying oil field equipment not only for local developments but across the continent. The requirement for equipment to be safe and compatible was essential for obvious reasons. The need to be fit for purpose followed swiftly as production facilities became more sophisticated and fields with higher and higher pressures were developed. The American Petroleum Institute was formed, and in 1923 adopted the remit to provide the industry with standards for manufacturers equipment for use throughout the USA. At the same time, oil field development was expanding rapidly in other parts of the world, driven largely by American based companies who, naturally enough, purchased equipment from home sources according to API standards.

ABSTRACT This review paper describes the status of developments towards a complete set of international standards for the oil and natural gas industry. It builds on papers describing the intent of the program me presented at the 1992 OTC by Thomas, Thorp and Denham; Wilson; and Arney (Refs. 1, 2, and 3)(Available in full paper). These papers state the objectives of developing a set of ISO standards predominantly within lSO/lC67. This paper places the development of the set of standards for the oil and natural gas industry in the context of the need for, and use of, standards by the industry. It describes the main standards organizations including their structure, procedures and relationships. it identifies lSO/TC67 as the key international standards committee for "materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum and natural gas industries", and details its role and current work programme. It concludes with a summary of the achievements to date. Significance: Common international standards should enable all stakeholders involved (users/ suppliers/ regulatory bodies) to conduct their business efficiently (Iifecycle cost) with enhanced safety/integrity. INTRODUCTION Standards are generated and maintained with the specific aim of providing a means to:enhance technical integritytransfer knowledge, andcarry out business efficiently and cost effectively. With a system of standards in place which clearly and transparently specifies common essential requirements it is possible for a company to practice "Variety Control": i.e. restricting the number of types and vendors of equipment and services meeting the requirements (Figure 1)(Available in full paper). Several oil companies have developed standardization policies aiming to (Ref. 4):maximise the use of external standards;minimise additional requirements in company standards;ensure variations are justified for both technical and commercial reasons;ensure the continuous improvement of company standards by feedback from users of the standards; andpositively influence external standards bodies to increase the number and quality of external standards applicable for company use. (Note: In this paper company standards include company specifications). Typically, the following headings need to be addressed in order to successfully create and maintain a company standards system: steering committee; transparent standards structure; company standards development; external standards participation; enhanced use of information technology; variety control; and training. A transparent standards structure is illustrated in Figure 2. This reflects the policy statement, for a large organization, and recognizes the principle that operating company variations and project variations to the company and/or external standard exist and may be required. Inherent in the transparent standards structure is an enhanced commitment to external, preferably international, standards. BACKGROUND The oil and natural gas industry is international in its operation, with many large oil companies and their suppliers operating all over the globe. The oil and natural gas industry uses a great number of standards developed by a range of organizations including industry associations, and national, regional and international standardization bodies.