NORSOK Compliance
NORSOK Compliance
Industry estimates suggest non-standardized components cost the offshore oil and gas industry more than $1 billion annually in downtime and inefficiencies—a challenge Swagelok addresses with NORSOK-compliant fluid system solutions.
With more than 75 years of expertise in fluid system component design and manufacturing, Swagelok’s meticulously engineered production processes meet the uncompromising criteria necessary to be recognized as a NORSOK M-650 qualified manufacturer. We offer products that help contribute to safety and performance in demanding offshore and onshore oil and gas environments, including fittings that meet stringent NORSOK M-630 standards.
More than just competitive distinction, Swagelok upholds NORSOK compliance as an ongoing commitment, evident not only in our processes and products, but also in the importance we attach to our customers' specific needs.
Swagelok’s product engineers and materials scientists work closely with each customer to understand their unique application needs, helping to ensure NORSOK requirements are met effectively and efficiently. This collaboration ensures that proposed solutions address specific challenges—whether for a single system or an entire operation—emphasizing precision, durability, and value.
What is NORSOK?
Swagelok’s adherence to NORSOK standards reflects the distinctive domains of the M-630 and M-650 standards themselves, which encompass exacting requirements for both material and manufacturing.
Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, as offshore petroleum exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf expanded into ever harsher and more challenging environments, notable deficiencies in the industry’s nonunified approach to operational standards and specifications were producing inefficiencies and failures.
At the time, components were often produced using materials that proved unsuitable for use in corrosive seawater and sour gas environments. The resulting structural deterioration and mechanical unreliability led to mounting downtime and jeopardized worker safety. At the same time, disparate standards amongst major oil companies repeatedly challenged suppliers to satisfy custom specifications in a timely manner, resulting in frequent procurement delays. These inefficiencies and hazards, compounded by complex designs and maintenance issues, hampered Norway’s ambitions to remain competitive against other oil-producing regions like the Gulf of Mexico.
Recognizing the need to address market and investment concerns in a collectively competitive manner, Norway’s petroleum industry united behind the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (now the Norwegian Offshore Directorate) to produce the NORSOK standards.
What is the Difference Between NORSOK M-630 and M-650?
NORSOK M-630 standardized material specifications for critical components like fittings, piping, and valves. By defining corrosion-resistant alloys and uniform material data sheets, the M-630 standards discouraged the use of incompatible materials, successfully targeting a reduction in corrosion failures for harsh seawater and sour gas conditions. This standardization simplified procurement and streamlined design processes, allowing engineers to rely on consistent specifications, reducing delays and lowering costs.
NORSOK M-650 addressed the component manufacturers themselves, qualifying them with the competence, experience, and facilities necessary to produce components in strict accordance with rigorously documented and approved production processes. Since any change to an M-650 conformant process requires full requalification, the standard substantially reduces quality variations that give rise to mechanical failures and safety incidents. Qualified manufacturers could now be counted on to deliver reliable products in a timely fashion — an important advance in reducing downtime and maintenance challenges in high-pressure offshore environments.
Swagelok Understands NORSOK Standards
As a NORSOK M-650 qualified manufacturer, Swagelok exercises its material science and manufacturing expertise to produce fittings from materials compliant to NORSOK M-630 that excel in the toughest offshore topside and subsea conditions. These include:
- Alloy 2507. At nearly twice the yield strength of normal stainless steel (~550 MPa), this material is ideal for components that must resist pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in sour gas hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and chloride-rich seawater.
- Super Austenitic 254 SMO® (6 Mo). With high molybdenum and nitrogen content, this material has a Pitting Resistance Equivalent Number (PREN) of greater than 40, provides high chloride resistance in seawater environments, and retains excellent weldability.
While our customers continually turn to Swagelok for our expertise and ongoing commitment to NORSOK qualification, they also rely on us to analyze their NORSOK requirements, offering targeted solutions that balance compliance with cost and performance.
Have questions about NORSOK compliance? Contact one of nearly 200 authorized Swagelok sales and service center locations to connect with specialists who can help you maximize the efficiency, safety, and success of your operations.