Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Completions - a leading provider of technology for reservoir characterisation, drilling, production and processing to the oil and gas industry, uses the expertise of LRQA to quality inspect its operations.
A successful partnership between LRQA and Schlumberger Technology Corporation – Completions – has resulted in an improved quality management system on a global scale for Schlumberger's oil and gas operations using the American Petroleum Institute (API) quality management system framework.
"We knew that the API Spec Q2 contained extremely valuable quality management system requirements that would help Schlumberger Completions improve their approach to achieve 'best of best' operations as well as improved customer service," says Brady Austin, LRQA's QHSE Service Line Owner based out of LRQA's American operations in Houston, Texas.
API is the largest U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry and its API Spec Q2 (Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Service Supply Organisations) is the first ever quality management system certification for service supply organisations in the oil and natural gas industry. It helps companies develop a quality management system that provides for continual improvement, emphasising defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain and from service providers.
Austin highlights: "Our goal is to put the focus on quality management systems and make companies more effective at achieving objectives, increasing operational efficiency and reducing risk to themselves and their clients. The oil majors have a "voluntary/mandatory" stance on quality management systems and we are engaging companies to implement the API Spec Q2 and API Spec Q1 programs by working with the service providers and manufacturers to deliver these industry specific quality assurance systems to the industry."
LRQA's insight and technical expertise also helps customers to draw on the training, resources and complete range of specialised energy sector consultancy, assurance and compliance skills from its specialist capability built up over many years from the investments made in companies such as ModuSpec, Scandpower, West Engineering and recently Senergy.
"Our program With Schlumberger Completions is focused around the auditing of supply chain and quality management practices that are used in their everyday global market, creating a unified and collaborative approach that increases quality standards for its customers."
Jean-Alexis Moussounda, Schlumberger Technology Corporation – Completions – Global Operations Integrity Manager, says: "LR performed our recent API Spec Q2 alignment professionally and comprehensively. The report was written very objectively and all findings were substantiated with beneficial evidence. Due to their efficiency, we were able to work through the corrective actions while completing follow-ups, which saved us an enormous amount of time to implement the revisions."
Moussounda highlights: "It was also invaluable to have an independent perspective on the revisions needed. The alignment for Schlumberger Completions business is necessary to respond to our customer request on compliance for business continuity and future opportunities. We are very appreciative for LRQA making what can be perceived as an undesirable experience, a value-added one."
As API is not a standards implementation organisation, oil and gas producers, suppliers and all associated vendors, distributers and suppliers seek third-party service providers like LRQA to proceed with evaluation, implementation and integration of the specification requirements into their operations to become compliant by the industry.
You can find out more from LRQA at SPE Offshore Europe 2017 event in Aberdeen, Scotland – UK, 5-8 September at Booth #2C121.