Annex E

(informative)

Inspection-level guidelines

E.1 Drilling equipment

The information listed below is for use as a relative guideline in selecting the level of inspection appropriate to the
operating environment. Operating experience shall be considered in the quality ranking process. In deciding on
the level of inspection, the higher costs of inspection associated with moderate or critical service inspection should
be considered. Inspections that require measurement and recording of measurements add substantially to the
cost of inspection verses a ―go/no-go‖ check to provide assurance that the element meets established
requirements.

Table E.1 — Inspection levels

Inspection Loads Project Operating

level % of capacity risk life

Standard 40 Low Short

Moderate 40 to 70 Medium Standard
Critical 70 High Long
Extreme 80 Very high Very long

E.2 Standard inspection

E.2.1 Operational environment

The following operating-environment conditions typically require a standard inspection:

corrosivity: drilling fluid is OBM or SOBM (low-corrosive environment) and the drilling is not under-
balanced;

abrasiveness: soft, non-abrasive formations;

fatigue: low vibration, low dogleg severities [i.e. less than 2,0°/30,5 m (100.0 ft)], side-load forces
below 59,6 kg/m (40 lb/ft), low anticipated rotary speeds of less than 120 r/min, no back-
reaming;

mud weight: below 1,44 kg/l (12,0 lb/gal).

E.2.2 Loads

The following load conditions typically require a standard inspection:

tension: expected maximum load not exceeding 40 % of the inspected class rating;

torque: expected maximum load not exceeding 40 % of the make-up torque;

jarring: no jarring of the drill pipe or jars expected.

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 API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 7G-2/ISO 10407-2 203

E.2.3 Project risk

The following project risk conditions would typically require a standard inspection:

rig costs: low rig costs generally associated with standard land drilling rigs;

environmental: rigorous environment with low possibility of risk to wildlife and public;

critical process: non-critical stage or process in the operation of the well; recovery from failure is probable
and not costly.

E.2.4 Cumulative rotating hours between inspections

The number of cumulative rotating hours between inspections is less than 100 h for equipment that is not
considered a high-stress component. (Examples of high-stress drill stem elements include stabilizers, bottleneck
crossovers, bent mud motors.)

E.3 Moderate inspection

E.3.1 Operating environment

The following operating-environment conditions typically require a moderate inspection:

corrosivity: drilling fluid is WBM (moderately corrosive environment) and drilling is not under-balanced;

abrasiveness: moderately abrasive formations;

fatigue: moderate vibration, moderate dogleg severities [i.e. 2,0° to 4,0°/30,5 m (100.0 ft)], side-load
forces between 59,6 kg/m and 89,3 kg/m (40 lb/ft and 60 lb/ft), moderate anticipated rotary
speeds (120 r/min to 150 r/min), some back-reaming;

mud weight: between 1,44 kg/l and 1,92 kg/l (12,0 lb/gal and 16,0 lb/gal).

E.3.2 Loads

The following load conditions would typically require a moderate inspection:

tension: expected maximum load between 40 % and 70 % of the inspected class rating;

torque: expected maximum load between 40 % and 70 % of the make-up torque;

jarring: little jarring of the drill pipe or jars expected.

E.3.3 Project risk

The following project risk conditions typically require a moderate inspection:

rig costs: moderate rig costs generally associated with standard shelf drilling rigs;

environmental: moderate environment with low possibility of risk to wildlife and public;

critical process: important stage or process in the operation of the well; recovery from failure is probable
and not costly.
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E.3.4 Cumulative rotating hours between inspections

The number of cumulative rotating hours between inspections is between 100 h and 200 h.

E.4 Critical inspection

E.4.1 Operating environment

The following operating-environment conditions typically require a critical inspection:

corrosivity: drilling fluid is brine or SWBM (corrosive environment) or an influx of formation fluid is
probable;

abrasiveness: hard or abrasive formations;

fatigue: high vibration, high dogleg severities [ 4,0°/30,5 m (100,0 ft)], side-load forces greater than
89,3 kg/m (60 lb/ft), high anticipated rotary speeds ( 150 r/min), back-reaming probable;

mud weight: greater than 1,92 kg/l (16,0 lb/gal).

E.4.2 Loads

The following load conditions would typically require a critical inspection:

tension: expected maximum load exceeding 70 % of the inspected class rating;

torque: expected maximum load exceeding 70 % of the make-up torque;

jarring: jarring of the drill pipe or jars expected.

E.4.3 Project risk

The following project risk conditions typically require a critical inspection:

rig costs: high rig costs generally associated with deep-water drilling rigs;

environmental: fragile environment with a high possibility of risk to wildlife and public;

critical process: critical stage or process in the operation of the well; recovery from failure is not probable
and/or very costly.

E.4.4 Cumulative rotating hours between inspections

The number of cumulative rotating hours between inspections is greater than 300 h.
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E.5 Additional services for extreme service

E.5.1 Operating environment

The following operating-environment conditions typically require additional services for extreme service:

corrosivity: drilling fluid is brine or SWBM (corrosive environment) or an influx of formation fluid is
probable;

abrasiveness: very hard and abrasive formations, salt formations;

fatigue: high vibration, high dogleg severities [ 10,0°/30,5 m (100 ft)], side-load forces greater than
119,1 kg/m (100 lb/ft), high anticipated rotary speeds ( 180 r/min), back-reaming
necessary;

mud weight: greater than 2,16 kg/l (18,0 lb/gal).

E.5.2 Loads

The following load conditions typically require additional services for extreme services:

tension: expected maximum load exceeding 80 % of the inspected class rating;

torque: expected maximum load exceeding 80 % of the make-up torque;

buckling: no buckling of the drill pipe or jars expected;

jarring: jarring of the drill pipe or jars expected and necessary.

E.5.3 Project risk

The following project risk conditions typically require additional services for extreme service:

rig costs: high rig costs generally associated with deep-water drilling rigs;

environmental: fragile environment with a high possibility of risk to wildlife and public;

critical process: critical stage or process in the operation of the well; recovery from failure is not probable
and/or very costly.

E.5.4 Cumulative rotating hours between inspections

The number of cumulative rotating hours between inspections is greater than 500 h.