A new position paper from the UK-based International association of oil and gas producers (IOGP) sets out the operators’ ‘position and key messages and standards.’ Standardization is a top priority for oil and gas that can enhance safety, reliability and integrity of operations. Standardization is also key to tackle escalating project costs and delays. There are over 180 standards organizations including API, DNV GL, IEC, ISO, NACE and NORSOK. Operators also add their own learnings into a bespoke suite of technical specifications and practices. The IOGP’s JIP33 has set out to harmonize such additional company requirements.
IOGP reports on several significant changes in the oil and gas standards landscape over the last few years. The American Petroleum Institute withdrew from leadership of ISO standards development in 2009 and a number of companies withdrew from ISO ‘due to EU/US sanction regulations in 2012.’ The ISO leadership was picked up by The Netherlands.
To address trade sanction concerns, IOGP operates a ‘standards solution’ to maintain upstream ISO standards. Standards are developed in work groups and handed back to ISO for comments. The ‘normative reference approach’ of ISO supplementary standards is said to address IP and copyright concerns. An IOGP task force has been created to progress a list of operators’ preferred standards, and to liaise with API, CEN and ISO to avoid duplication of work.
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