OSAPE Committee Overview And Accomplishments
Authors: Yancy I.R. 
Published: October 2008

Briefly covers the purpose of the OSAPE Committee as defined by the API Operating Committee. Presents the committee's unprecedented accomplishments within a four year period, its current organization and the industry's effort put forward in publishing six documents. The unique aspects of the program are covered including the procedure for obtaining industry's consensus approval. The ongoing efforts for implementing the programs established and the status of the two documents now being prepared are explained, as well as the committee's future efforts.

INTRODUCTION

In late 1972 the USGS and the API Operating Committee agreed to the need for the development of specific API programs covering the offshore on a crash basis. The objective being to prepare standards which would have industry consensus covering offshore safety and antipollution equipment, a research program to improve offshore equipment and performance and a training and motivation program for offshore operating personnel.

The subject covered by this paper is the equipment aspect of this program.

At a November 14, 1972 meeting of the Operating Committee of the Division of Production, a committee was established. This committee called the American Petroleum Institute Committee on Standardization of Offshore Safety and Antipollution Equipment (OSAPE) was charged by the API Operating Committee with developing standards as expeditiously as possible for those safety equipment items most critical for offshore operations in order to protect personnel, the environment and the facilities.

Since the prime objective was to develop standards as expeditiously as possible, three things were required:organize a small committee which could function efficiently,obtain dedicated expertise from the companies operating offshore wherein existed the experience and technical personnel most qualified to accomplish the task, anddevelop a new API method for expediting the approval of the prepared standards.

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

The OSAPE committee held its organizational meeting in February 1973, comprising of five industry members and two laison representatives from the USGS. It was acknowledged that manufacturers would play a role in the implementation of the standards to be prepared, consequently, they would have an opportunity to contribute in the preparation of those standards.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Offshore operators in the Gulf of Mexico provided the necessary technical expertise. In most instances, the personnel assigned to the initial three task groups were relieved of their present company assignments whereby they could spend virtually fulltime on the preparation of standards. Commitment of technical manpower, for the preparation of subsequent documents, has been reduced over the past three years. Commitment is now approximately 20%.

APPROVAL PROCESS

API standards committees historically have been comprised of both operator and manufacturers representatives. Task groups drafted a specific standard and then the draft document was submitted to the combined committee membership for approval. This was a rather lengthy process but necessary to obtain industry consensus.