History
NS Accreditation & Standards is a new product line of the Fearnley Procter Group.
As the name would suggest it manages the development of NS-1™ and NS-2™ Standards plus the Accreditation Programmes for companies providing products and services to the Oil & Gas Industry.
In addition it supports the industry with Training Programmes on the standards for managers, as well as inspectors and QA/QC specialists.
The NS-1™ & NS-2™ Standards supplement the API standards for when drilling equipment needs to be used in more challenging conditions - such as Offshore Drilling, Extended Reach drilling and HP/HT wells. Now available electronically through our web portal - the NS Information Hub - they are continually updated as new innovations are made and solutions to modern drilling challenges are achieved.
NS-1™ was originally developed by Shell over a 10 year period. In order to maintain the commitment to its development as well as to release it to a larger drilling audience - it was passed over to Fearnley Procter in 1999 who now has full ownership.
It continues to be developed as a top up system to API, to allow rapid response to new types of equipment, new drilling environments and new failure types. This is an important aspect of the NS system, the underlying principle and standards of API and ISO are built into it with additional specifications where necessary.
The NS-2™ standard has a long history within the Oil & Gas Industry and it has been developed over the last 12 years.
Originally this standard was an Exxon specification utilised in the USA and it was then issued to Shell Expro by Exxon, as part of a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) on reduction in Drill String Failures.
Fearnley Procter UK was part of the QIP Team and was involved in developing the standard then known as 8002-001.
In 1999 Fearnley Procter UK was handed ownership of 8002-001 for further development and wider use of it in the Industry.
The Accreditation Programmes, now in their 12th year, run alongside the two standards, supporting both the end user and the supplier in setting a level of capability required in order that the supplier can meet the demands. As an independent assessment process it can help minimize the risk of equipment failing when used in the field
Training Programmes in both the NS-1™ and the NS-2™ Standards are provided at our training facilities, at customers’ own locations and inspection facilities, and now online as well.
These programmes train inspectors in the understanding, interpretation and application of the standards, the reasons why they are needed and the failures that they can prevent. We also run awareness training courses for those who are directly involved in managing the manufacturing or inspection process and are perfect for support staff.
