BSEE panel reviews report, recommendations on offshore bolting safety

Using a fully instrumental test rig, is not completely necessary, when we are able to run the Rising Step Load test ASTM A1624/F 2660 and come within 5% of the actual test rig. Much like what occurred with the case of the Bay Bridge incident and Dr. Lou Raymond's test results. Researching and developing has uncovered better ways for us to predetermine hydrogen permeation in processes and before it goes into an electrolytic environment that may contain additional cathodic potentials. We have also taken a chapter from the Navy Fracture Toughness Test and the Hydrogen Embrittlement testing the Navy has well documented, in its material neutral evaluations. Identifying gaps has been found to be more of a communication error and understanding error within processing. With more and more rules comes less who understand and abide by them. Even now with standards like API 20E/ 20F coming online we see vendors who need to abide by their own rules having trouble communicating that understanding to NDE, Coatings, Heat treat vendors. Promoting a strategic vision for safety culture throughout the oil and gas industry, has been accomplished and has set standards to be followed in API 20 committees and those who follow those standards. (+) Additionally, the report suggests potential actions for the oil and gas industry. Among them: "Establishing standard laboratory testing to evaluate bolting materials’ susceptibility to cracking and embrittlement from hydrogen exposure." This is slowly growing with labs such as G2MT, Louis Raymond Testing Labs and the IFI all able to provide the Rising Step Load test in Houston where it is greatly needed, California and in Canada. "Reviewing standards related to bolt tensioning to minimize the possibility of placing excessive stress on bolting materials." This is something that we still need to get right, we have yet to agree on torque and on the issues that create its uncertainty, which is coatings and platings. Much of the industry is still utilizing coatings and platings that do not fit with new standard's dimensions. (No over tapping) Allows for a total of 12 µms of coating and or plating on a 2A/2B thread. "Promoting an enhanced, industrywide safety culture that encourages workers at all organizational levels to improve bolt reliability." In order for this to happen we are going to have to keep speaking out and discussing the variables that we have associated with the bolting for a very long time, this is one of the reasons why it is not fixed yet. "It has been this way for a very long time and we just kept replacing bolts rather than fixed the problem." With the acceptance for 20E/ 20F bolting through out API standards we have taken a step in the right direction, but there is great opposition rather than acceptance. Even today 5/28/2019, there is still (RFQs) for 2-3 mils (50-75 microns) worth of aluminum ceramic coating on BSL-3 material for sub-sea and splash environment. This system would have an OCP= -1.1Vsce and would need to have at least 15 to 20 mils cut from the internal threads in order to run freely. Currently Norsok does not have an equivalent standard to API 20E, nor does it have a coating test scope for the pressure bolting subsea and in a splash environment. By not covering this we will repeat the mistakes of the past. Four out of the eleven issues stated by BSEE in 2014 report on pressure bolting have to do with coatings and platings. The importance of writing a scope of tests for API 20E material and environment readiness is highly important. Standards such as API 6A, 6D, 6DSS, 16A, 16C, 17D, 16F, should apply add ASTM G03, G148, F1648 to their testing of coatings for sub-sea, pressure tension strength and hot applications of API 20E.