©2017,2018CanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncil

API1160Vs.

CPACLevel3

AcomparisonofGeneralPipeline

ConstructionInspectorQualifications

AWhitePaper

Notice:ThiswhitepaperhasbeenpreparedtoprovidecomparativeinformationbetweentwoqualificationsystemstoassistusersintheapplicationofQualificationRequirementswithintheirPipelinerCompetencyManagementsystems.OpinionsstatedinthispaperarebasedonthecontextofCanadianPipelineSystemsinaccordancewiththeCSAZ662OilandGasPipelineSystems.OpinionsandconclusionsforapplicationoftheinformationmayvarywhentheQualificationRequirementsareappliedincountriesotherthanCanada.Whiletheopinionsandconclusionscontainedinthisdocumentaredeemedtobethoseoftheauthor(s),everyefforthasbeenmadetoensurethatempiricaldatausedandpresentedisaccurateandreflectthecurrentstateattimeofpublication.

PotentialConflictofInterestDisclosure:Informationcontainedinthisworkhasbeenobtainedfromnumeroussources.Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetoensureaccuracy,itremainstheresponsibilityoftheusertoverifysuitabilityoftheapplicationoftherecommendationsinaccordancewiththeirindividualcircumstances.ThispaperwasfundedbytheCanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncilwhoaretheadministratorsofaqualificationsystembeingassessedherein.

ISBN978–1–926719–53–5

TechnicalCompilation,Editing:W.SimpsonPublishedbyNASACorp.onbehalfoftheCanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncil

Allrightsreserved.Publishedand/orPrintedinCanada.Thepublishergrantspermissionforthedistributionofthisdocumentinitsoriginalformandentirety.Noindividualpartofthispublicationmaybereproducedordistributedinanyformorbyanymeans,orstoredinadatabaseorretrievalsystem,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.

A COMPARISON OFGENERAL PIPELINE

CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORQUALIFICATIONS

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Contents Contents ......................................................................................................................................................... 2Instigation ....................................................................................................................................................... 3Objective ........................................................................................................................................................ 3Background and Industry Acceptance ............................................................................................................ 3

API 1169 ..................................................................................................................................................... 4CPAC Level 3 ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Direct Comparatives ....................................................................................................................................... 5Pre-requisites .............................................................................................................................................. 5Validity period ............................................................................................................................................. 6Application Fee ........................................................................................................................................... 6Renewal Fee ............................................................................................................................................... 6Examination ................................................................................................................................................ 7Regulatory Reference ................................................................................................................................. 7

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................................... 8Recommendations and Guidance .................................................................................................................. 9

1. Canadian Pipeline Companies .............................................................................................................. 92. General Pipeline Construction Inspectors ............................................................................................. 93. Canadian Pipeliner Accreditation Council .............................................................................................. 9

PostDraftPresentationNote:................................................................................................................................9

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Instigation Sincethe2015initiationoftheCPACpipelinerqualificationprograms,includingtheLevel3designationofqualificationfor“GeneralPipelineConstructionInspectors”,andthenewAPI1169“PipelineConstructionInspector”examprogram,enquirieshavebeenreceivedfromCanadianindustrystakeholders(individualandcorporate).Thequestionshavefocusedontherequestforclarificationofthestandinganduseofthetwoqualificationsprograms,aspertainingtosection3requirementsoftheCSAZ662OilandGaspipelineSystems.Commonquestionshaveincluded:

• IstheCPACLevel3amandatoryrequirement?• IsAPI1169suitableforpipelineinspectorsinCanada?• DoIneedboththeAPI1169andtheCPACLevel3toinspectpipelinesinCanada?• IsaCPACLevel3ahigherqualificationthantheAPI1169?• IstheAPI1169thesameasaCPACLevel2?

Theseandothersimilarquestionsweretheinstigatingfactorintherequestforthispaper.

Objective Theintentofthispaperistoprovidecomparativeinformationallowingindustrystakeholderstomakethebestuseoftheavailableresourcesintheircompetencymanagementprogramsandsystems.DirectionwastostructuretheinformationspecificallyasitappliestoCanadianpipelinesconstructedundertheCSAZ662andassociatedrequirements.Secondaryobjectiveswereto:

• Confirmthesuitabilityofeitherorbothqualificationcertificatesasevidenceofinspectorqualification.

• ConfirmtheCouncilsmandatetoprovideaneffectiveresourcefortheCanadianpipelineindustryindevelopmentoftheircompetencymanagementprograms.

• ProviderecommendationsforCPACprogramalterationsorimprovementsifappropriate.

Background and Industry Acceptance MandatedbytheCSAZ662,Canadianoilandgaspipelinecompaniesarerequiredtoassesscompetencyofpersonnelpriortoassignmentofspecifiedtasksorroleswithintheorganization.Competency,undertheCSAZ662,isadefinedtermthatincludestheidentificationoftraining,qualificationsandexperiencerequiredbythecompanyforthesubjecttaskorrole.Thecompanybearsanobligationtoestablishtheserequirementsforitsactivitiesandensuretheyaremet.

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TheAPI1169andCPACLevel3pipelineconstructioninspectorcertificatesprovidearesourceforcompaniestouseasaqualificationcomponentundertheCSAZ662requirements.Competenceforataskorrole,asdefinedbythecompany’scompetencymanagementprogram,mayrequirenumerousqualificationsdependingtheexpectation.Qualificationsmaybepartofaninternalorexternalprogram.Inadditiontoothertraining,experienceandqualificationsthatmayberequiredbyindividualcompanyprograms,generalpipelineconstructioninspectorsarereasonablyexpectedtohaveextensiveandverifiable:

• Knowledgeofpipelineconstructionstages;• Knowledgeofpipelineconstructionpractices;• KnowledgeofCanadianregulatoryrequirementsimpactingthepipelineconstructionprocess;• KnowledgeoftheCSAZ662OilandGasPipelineSystemrequirements;• Knowledgeofqualityanddocumentcontrolsystems;and• Knowledgeofprescriptivepipelineinspectionrequirements

API1169APIindividualcertificationprogramsarewell-establishedandcarrystrongnamerecognition.DuetonumerousinterrelationshipsbetweentheCanadianandAmericanpetrochemicalindustries,CanadaandtheUnitedStateshavebenefitedfromjointparticipationinmanycommonpracticedevelopments.Mostnotably,withrespecttogeneralpipelineconstructioninspection,ajointeffortbyCEPAandINGAAfoundationstoproduceapipelineinspector’sguidelinesuitableforusebyconstructioninspectorsoneithersideoftheborderhasprovenextremelysuccessful.ThenewAPI1169certificateexamdrawsquestionsfromtheguideline.NumerousquestionscanbeansweredbyeitherCanadianorUSreferencedocuments.AsaUSbasedprogram,therearesomequestionsthatcanonlybeansweredusingUSreferencematerial,howeverthisisclearlynotedintheexam.ThereisnospecificCanadiancontent,howeverCanadianapplicantsareexpectedtohaveaclearunderstandingoftheuseoftheCanadianrequirements.CPACLevel3CPACprogramsarearelativelynewresourcewithaCanadianfocusonoilandgaspipelinesandfacilitiesconstructedinaccordancewiththeCSAZ662.TheCPACprogramhasreceivedstrongindustryacceptanceandusesa4-stagecareerpathforqualificationdesignations.Inspectionactivitiesarequalifiedatthreelevelsbeing:

• Level2:Junioror“InspectorsinTraining”andrequiringsupervision;• Level3:GeneralPractitionersabletoexecutetheirresponsibilitieswithlittleornosupervision;• Level4:SubjectMatterExpertswithadvancedknowledgeandskillsforspecificinspection

responsibilities.

TheCPACLevel3examalsodrawsquestionsfromtheCEPA/INGAAfoundationinspectorsguideaswellasfromCanadianreferencematerial.ThereisnospecificUScontentreferencedintheexam.

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Direct Comparatives

TheCPACLevel2inspectordesignationisnotdirectlycomparabletotheAPI1169designation.TheLevel2qualificationisintendedtobeanentrypointforthosebeginningapipelineinspectioncareerandrequiringaqualificationofpreliminaryknowledge.ThislevelallowscompaniestoestablishcompetencyrequirementsforthoseinvolvedinpositionsrequiringdirectsupervisionwhilegainingtherequiredknowledgeandexperienceforGeneralPractitionerdesignation.TheCPACLevel4inspectordesignationisnotcomparabletotheAPI1169designation.TheLevel4requiresknowledgeandexpertiseaboveboththeAPI1169andtheCPACLevel3qualifications.BoththeAPI1169andCPACLevel3wouldbesuitableasentryleveldesignationsforthisqualificationwhichidentifiesthoseinspectorswithadvancedor“subjectmatterexpert”knowledge. TheCPACLevel3inspectordesignationisdirectlycomparabletotheAPI1169designation.Bothprogramsarewidelyrecognizedandsharemanycommonexpectationsaswellasarelativelysimilarbodyofknowledgeexpectation.TheprimarydifferencesaretherequireddemonstrationofCanadianregulatoryknowledgeintheCPACprogramandtheinclusionofagenericfieldexperiencepre-requisiteintheAPIprogram.Pre-requisitesAPI1169–PipelineConstructionInspector CPACLevel3–GeneralPipelineConstruction

InspectorExaminationapplicantsmustpossessevidenceofpipeline,orotherheavyindustrytrainingandexperience.Variouscombinationsandtypesmaybeacceptable.

ExaminationapplicantsmustpossessevidenceofCanadianpipelineregulatoryandcodeknowledgeintheformofaCPACLevel1or2qualification.

Note:UndertheCSAZ662,companiesarerequiredtoassessthetraining,qualificationsandexperiencespecifictotheirneedsandtheprescriptiverequirementsoftheirSafetyandLossManagementSystems.Thequalificationsbeingcomparedinthisdocumentwouldonlyentailaportionofthecompany’scompetencyrequirementpertainingtogeneralpipelineconstructionpracticesandregulatoryknowledge.

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ValidityperiodAPI1169–PipelineConstructionInspector CPACLevel3–GeneralPipelineConstruction

InspectorAPI1169qualificationcertificatesareissuedforaperiodofthreeyears.API1169certificatesarerenewableatthree-yearintervals.Renewalapplicationsrequireevidenceofqualifiedactivityduringthepreviousperiod.Certificatesexpiredforaperiodexceeding90dayswillrequiretheinspectortore-writetheAPIexamination.

CPACLevel3qualificationcertificatesareissuedbasedonthecurrentCanadiancodeeditionatthetimeoftheexamination.Tomaintainaqualificationcertificatetothemostcurrentedition,inspectorsmustsubmitverificationofcodeupdatequalificationwithin1yearofthebeginningofanewcodecycle*Afterthe1yeargraceperiod,inspectorswouldberequiredtore-writetheLevel3examination.

*TheCSAZ662OilandGasPipelineSystemsiscurrentlypublishedona4-yearCodeCycle.ApplicationFeeAPI1169–PipelineConstructionInspector CPACLevel3–GeneralPipelineConstruction

InspectorMember$300.00US,Non-Member$400.00US* $300.00CAD**

*ThememberrateappliestoindividualsemployedbyAPImembercompanies.**CPACadvisesthefeesforinitialLevel3examswillincreaseto$350.00CADforthe2019codecycletomoreaccuratelyreflectadministrativeandassessmentcosts.

RenewalFeeAPI1169–PipelineConstructionInspector CPACLevel3–GeneralPipelineConstruction

InspectorMember$200.00US,Non-Member$300.00US* $300.00CAD**

*Thememberrateappliestoindividualsemployedbymembercompanies. **CPACadvisesthefeeforthe2019codeupdatequalificationexamwillremainatthe2015rateof$300.00CADforthe2019codecycle.

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ExaminationAPI1169–PipelineConstructionInspector CPACLevel3–GeneralPipelineConstruction

InspectorTheAPI1169examinationisacomputer-basedtestconsistingof100questions.Allrequiredreferencematerialissupplied.Externalreferenceisnotpermitted.Writersarepermitted3hourstocompletetheexamination.

TheCPACLevel3examinationisaninvigilated,paper-basedtestconsistingof20to26weightedquestions.Allrequiredreferencematerialissupplied.Externalreferenceisnotpermitted.Writersarepermitted1hourstocompletetheexamination.*

*SuccessfulcompletionofaCPACLevel1or2exam,focusedonregulatory,codeandqualitysystemrequirements,isapre-requisitetowritingthisexam.

RegulatoryReferenceAreviewofCanadianRegulatoryRequirementspertainingtooilandgaspipelinesystemsdidnotidentifyanyspecificrequirementorreferencedmandatetotheuseofeithertheAPIorCPACinspectorqualificationprograms.ItwasnotedthattheTSSAintheProvinceofOntariooperatesanindependent“gaspipelineinspection”and“oilpipelineinspection”certificateprogram.Thesecertificatesaremandatedforpersonnelexecutingspecifiedinspectiontaskswithinthejurisdiction.Allregulationsreviewedmandatethatcompaniesmanagethecompetenceofpersonnelundersection3oftheCSAZ662.TheCSAZ662definescompetenceastrained,experiencedandqualified.BoththeAPI1169andCPACLevel3qualificationscanbeusedbycompanieswithintheircompetencymanagementprogramsforgeneralpipelineconstructioninspectors.Inadditiontoidentifyingacceptablequalificationsforinspectors,thecompanycompetencymanagementprogramsmustalsoidentifyspecifictrainingandexperiencerequiredfordefinedinspectiontasksandroles.

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Conclusion TheAPI1169andCPACLevel3qualificationshavebeendeemedequivalentfromaCanadiantechnicalinspectionqualification.ProgramdifferenceswerejurisdictionallymotivatedanddeemedequivalentwhenadministeredundertheCanadianregulatorysystem.Theyaresummarizedasfollows:

TheAPI1169requiresapplicantstoprovideevidenceoffieldexperiencepriortowritingtheexam.Thisprerequisiteisaprovisionofacompetenceassessment.InCanadatheassessmentofexperienceisrequiredtobeconductedbythecompany,whoisresponsibletoidentifythetypesandamountsoftrainingandexperiencerequiredfortheirspecificneedsandtograntcompetence.TheCPACLevel3doesnotrequirethisprerequisiteasitdoesnotimpacttheknowledgerequirementsofaqualificationexam.

TheCPACLevel3requiresapplicantstoprovideevidenceofspecificknowledgeoftheCanadianpipelinerequirementsasmandatedwithintheZ662systemrequirementsandincludedinexamquestions.TheAPI1169usesacrossreferenceofAmericantoCanadianrequirementstoascertaintheapplicant’sabilitytoobtainregulatoryrequirementsonaprojectspecificbasis.

BoththeAPI1169andCPACLevel3certificatescanprovideadequateconfidencetoCanadianoilandgascompaniesforuseasevidenceofaqualificationelementintheirinspectorcompetencecriteria.

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Recommendations and Guidance DuetothesubjectivenatureoftherequirementforinspectorqualificationsundertheCSAZ662OilandGasPipelineSystems,therecommendationsfromthispaperarepresentedinthreecategories:

• RecommendationstoCanadianPipelineCompanies• RecommendationstoGeneralPipelineConstructionInspectors• RecommendationstotheCanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncil

RecommendationsarebasedontheinformationcontainedinthispaperwithaviewtoeffectiveuseoftheavailableresourcesinaccordancewiththeCanadianRegulatoryRequirements.

1. CanadianPipelineCompaniesItisrecommendedthatcompaniesworkingintheCanadianpipelineindustryaccepteitherthe“CPACLevel3GeneralPipelineConstructionInspector”orthe“API1169PipelineConstructionInspector”certificatesasaqualificationelementwithintheircompetencerequirementsforpipelineconstructioninspectionpersonnel.Bothcertificatesprovideevidenceoftheoreticalknowledgeofpipelinecodesandconstructionpractices. 2.GeneralPipelineConstructionInspectorsThereareseveralrecommendationsdependingontheindividualinspectorcircumstances.

• InspectorsworkingforcompaniesshouldobtainandmaintaincurrentthequalificationrequiredbythecompaniesSafetyandLossManagementSystemcompetencyprogram.

• InspectorscontractingformultiplecompanieswithinCanadashouldobtainthebothqualificationsandsubmitarequesttothosecompaniesacceptingAPI1169,tobepermittedtomaintaintheCPACcodecurrencydateasitisbasedonregulatorycodechanges.

• InspectorsworkingfororganizationsinCanadaandtheUSAshouldobtainthebothqualificationsandsubmitarequesttothosecompaniesacceptingCPACLevel3,tobepermittedtomaintaintheAPIqualification.(Keepingcurrentwithcodechangesisstillrecommended)

3.CanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncilItisrecommendedthat,havingdeterminedthatthelevelofknowledgerequiredandmethodologyforqualifyinghavebeendeemedequivalentbetweenthetwosystems,theCanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncilacceptcurrentdatedAPI1169certificates,asequivalenttoasuccessfulCPACLevel3GeneralPipelineConstructionInspectorexam. Post Draft Presentation Note: Afterpresentationofthisdocument,includingrecommendations,theCanadianPipelinerAccreditationCouncilagreedtoratifyandimplementrecommendation#3,acceptingtheAPI1169certificateasevidenceofapipeliner’squalification,specifictoknowledgeandcomprehensionofinspectionpractices.InobtainingaCPACLevel3GeneralPipelineConstructionInspectorqualificationcertificate,theCouncilhasimplementedanexaminationwaiverforapplicantswhoholdacurrentdatedAPI1169GeneralPipelineInspectorcertificateandmeettheCPACpre-requisites.TheCPACpre-requisitesweremaintainedastheAPIsystemdoesnottestZ662knowledge