When purchasing or specifying well control or wellhead equipment, you will inevitably encounter references to API 16A, API 16C, and API 6A. As a manufacturer of API-monogrammed equipment under all three standards since 1995, CAMTOP Shanghai Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. is in a unique position to explain the differences clearly.

Quick Summary: What Each Standard Covers

Standard Full Title Primary Equipment Covered
API Spec 16A Specification for Drill-Through Equipment Ram BOPs, annular BOPs, BOP connectors
API Spec 16C Specification for Choke and Kill Equipment Choke manifolds, kill manifolds, high-pressure flexible hoses
API Spec 6A Specification for Wellhead and Tree Equipment Wellheads, Christmas trees, gate valves, flanges, hangers

API Spec 16A — Drill-Through Equipment (BOPs)

API 16A governs the design, manufacturing, material selection, testing, and marking of all equipment the drill string passes through — primarily blowout preventers. Key requirements include pressure classes from 2,000–15,000 PSI, closing time ≤30 seconds, and biannual API Monogram audits.

CAMTOP holds an active API Monogram license under API Spec 16A. Our WU-series single, double, and triple ram BOPs cover 7-1/16″ through 26-3/4″ bore and 2,000 through 15,000 PSI.

API Spec 16C — Choke and Kill Systems

API 16C governs the choke manifold, kill manifold, and all associated high-pressure piping and flexible components connected to the BOP stack’s side outlets. CAMTOP supplies complete API 16C choke and kill manifold systems as pre-tested, skid-mounted assemblies.

API Spec 6A — Wellhead and Tree Equipment

API 6A governs all equipment used to contain wellbore pressure at the surface. CAMTOP supplies API 6A wellhead equipment in PSL 1 through PSL 3 per customer specification.

Where the Three Standards Overlap

  • The wellhead spool, flanges, and gate valves → API 6A
  • The BOP (ram and annular) → API 16A
  • The choke manifold, kill manifold, and high-pressure hoses → API 16C

CAMTOP: Your Single Source for API 16A, 16C, and 6A Equipment

Equipment Category CAMTOP Product Line Standard
Ram BOPs (single, double, triple) WU Series (FZ/2FZ) API Spec 16A
Annular BOPs FH/FHZ Series API Spec 16A
Choke & Kill Manifolds Standard and HPHT manifold packages API Spec 16C
Wellhead & Christmas Trees Full wellhead spools, trees, hangers API Spec 6A

Need API 16A, 16C, or 6A certified equipment? Contact CAMTOP for a project-specific quotation: sales@cposl.com | +86.21.58432768 | www.camtop-oilfieldtools.com/