New Edition of Global Pipeline Standard Enhances Safety and Strengthens the Environmental Sustainability of Pipelines

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2021 – The American Petroleum Institute (API) today published Standard (Std) 1104, 22nd Edition, Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities, updating an important global standard that supports industry-wide actions to strengthen environmental sustainability efforts while meeting growing energy demand. 

“Standard 1104 is API's most widely utilized global standard, used in nearly 100 countries, and its update applies new technology advancements and improvements based on pipeline operating experience to increase safety and enhance environmental protection,” API Global Industry Services (GIS) Senior Vice President Debra Phillips said. “Federal regulations already incorporate previous editions of API 1104, and the updated document strengthens the safe and environmentally sustainable transmission of crude oil, carbon dioxide and a variety of petroleum-based products by pipeline.”

The new edition of API Std 1104, provides requirements for gas and arc welding used in the construction and in-service repair of pipes and components for the compression, pumping and pipeline transmission of crude oil, petroleum products, fuel gases, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. These requirements improve pipeline safety, structural integrity and efficiency by providing detailed welding procedures for qualified professional welders, inspectors and engineers. 

The foundational document and the updates included in the new edition enhance practices during the operation, regular maintenance and repair of pipeline, reducing the possibility of structural breakdowns and releases. Changes in the 22nd edition of Std 1104 include: 

• Modified qualifications for what constitutes repair welding, mechanized welding and in-service welding to add more specificity to the criteria under the standard. 
• Clarifications and updates for welder requirements, such as testing parameters for welding and requalification requirements, to reduce ambiguity surrounding welder qualifications. 
• Updates to requirements for the use of ultrasonic and radiographic inspection for girth welds, which are vitally important in maintaining a pipeline’s physical integrity, to help welders account for the latest high-strength materials, welding practices, equipment and inspection methods.

Portions of Std 1104 have been incorporated in regulations, mandating the use of the API requirements and recommendations for the majority of transmission pipelines in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) incorporated the 20th  edition of Std 1104 into its safety regulations for pipelines, and a notice of proposed rulemaking was published on January 14, 2021 to incorporate the 21st edition of Std 1104 into regulation. These important updates support the industry’s commitment to continuously improve operational safety and sustainability, while enhancing performance and efficiency. 

Join API September 1 for a webinar to highlight the significant changes to the new edition, and the impact these changes will have on the pipeline construction industry. For more information on API Std 1104, please visit the API website at www.api.org. 

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports more than ten million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

###