1 Scope

This document specifies requirements and guidance for production assurance and reliability management as applicable to the assets and operations associated with exploration drilling, exploitation, processing and transport of petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas resources. It covers the assets and associated activities for upstream, midstream, downstream and petrochemical business categories. It focuses on the production assurance of oil and gas with respect to production and associated activities and covers the analysis of reliability and maintenance of the equipment. This includes a variety of associated systems and equipment in the oil and gas value chain. Production assurance addresses not only hydrocarbon production, but also associated activities such as drilling, pipeline installation and subsea intervention.

The document also supports production assurance and reliability management for lower carbon energy assets and associated operations, e.g. carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, ammonia, and wind energy. It describes the processes, activities, requirements and guidelines for systematic management, effective planning, execution and use of production assurance and reliability technology.

This document defines 12 processes, of which seven are denoted as core production assurance processes and addressed in this document. The remaining five processes are denoted as interacting processes and while they are outside the scope of this document, information is provided as to how they relate to production assurance and reliability management. The relationship of the core production assurance processes with these interacting processes, however, is within the scope of this document as the flow of information to and from these latter processes is required to ensure that production assurance requirements are fulfilled.

The document specifies how to establish and execute a production assurance programme (PAP) and a reliability management programme (RMP).

This document lists processes and activities that can be initiated to add value for the stakeholder (e.g. operator), where the selected process can depend on their business strategy and application area.

This document is intended for the following users and associated activities by their personnel:

• Operators: Production assurance and reliability management activities. Related activities include project management and control, technology development, technology qualification, concept and system design, risk management (including HSE), integrity management, and maintenance management.

• Contractors: Activities by the main contractor for engineering, procurement, construction, drilling, installation, operation, maintenance services, etc.

• Vendors: Activities by manufacturer or supplier related to equipment design and quality management, technology development and qualification.

• Authorities: Activities by regulatory bodies to ensure HSE, resource utilization and economic efficiency in operations.

• Consultants: Consultancy services aimed at supporting production assurance and reliability management.

• Universities: Activities associated with educating industry professionals, as well as conducting fundamental or applied research projects, when related to production assurance, reliability management, and technology development. This includes improvement of the methods and frameworks described herein.

• Research institutions: Research activities related to production assurance, reliability management, and technology development. This includes equipment qualification testing and advanced engineering assessments using the methods and frameworks described herein.