The Consortium On Operator Qualification (COOQ), chaired by Mark Cline of Marathon-Ashland Petroleum, is a joint industry workgroup of 28+ liquid pipeline operating companies that have pooled their resources to address common implementation issues related to the new Operator Qualification rule. Their initial work, which has been incorporated into the pending API Publication #1161, resulted in a list of 45 "covered tasks" for liquid pipelines that meet the OQ rule 4-part test requirements. The COOQ is now expanding on that initial work by further defining each covered task to identify the subtasks (or elements) of each task. These subtasks will define a performance standard or specification for the covered task. For example, a covered task could be "inspect, test and calibrate relief valves". Subtasks could include: calibrating pressure indicators, pressurizing the valve, measuring relief pressures, adjusting relief set pressures, identifying equipment requiring repair and replacement, maintaining test documentation, and so on.

Eventually the COOQ hopes to develop a common framework of task performance "specifications" that can be incorporated into an industry standard qualification program. Contractors would demonstrate that their employees can perform these tasks to these specifications, possibly through some third party certification program (for quality control). This would allow contractors to use a common system and common set of performance standards that could be accepted by most pipeline operators. Of course, pipeline operators could choose to have their own employees qualified using these same methods.

The COOQ plans to publish their work products under the aspices of API, and is working with API to develop the necessary framework for contractor qualifications and third party certification programs. The COOQ is a working committee. If your company would like to contribute to this effort, please send an e-mail to Mark at MRCline@MAPLLC.com. Membership is limited to pipeline operating companies.