API RP 1161

The purpose of this recommended practice is to provide guidance for developing and maintaining a compliant Operator Qualification (OQ) program. Operators may choose to use all, part or none of this document. Additionally, many components of this RP also apply to Gas Transmission Lines regulated under 49 CFR 192. Therefore, operators may choose to utilize the RP as applicable for these lines.

Operators should be aware that the OQ rule is applicable only to United States Department of Transportation (DOT) jurisdictional pipelines. For purposes of this document, the word pipeline is used interchangeably with pipeline, pipeline facility and pipeline system and any and all jurisdictional pipeline components as defined in 49 CFR Part 195.

This document is written to provide guidance for achieving compliance with the regulation at the time of publication and is comprised of two individual components: the Guidance Document and the API Covered Task List (Annex A). A separate publication, the API Covered Task Standards, will contain guidance on the individual Covered Tasks. This guidance will include knowledge and skill components, span of control and abnormal operating conditions.