RIGSDOMRIGSDOM · Rig inspection and certification
ServicesRig inspection and certification
The same inspection discipline we apply to our own fleet, available to other rig owners preparing for a client audit, a contract mobilisation or a sale.
What gets inspected
| Scope | Standard | Typical interval |
|---|---|---|
| Mast and substructure | API Spec 4F, API RP 4G | Category IV every 10 years, Category III annually |
| Crown, travelling block, hook, elevators | API Spec 8C, API RP 8B | Annual, with NDT at defined intervals |
| BOP stack and control system | API Spec 16A, API RP 16D | Pressure test every 21 days, full recertification at 5 years |
| Lifting gear | API RP 2D | Six-monthly with colour coding |
| Pressure equipment and piping | Manufacturer and API | Per equipment class |
Intervals shown are typical. The governing requirement is whatever your operator's contract and local regulator specify, which sometimes exceeds the API minimum.
Getting audit ready
Most rigs fail a client audit on paperwork rather than steel. Certificates expired, NDT records missing, a lifting register not colour coded, a PMS with overdue items, or competency certificates that lapsed while the crew was on rotation.
The audit tool in our engineering suite produces the full findings register and pre-mobilisation checklist an operator will work through, so you can run their audit on yourself first and close the gaps before they arrive.
What we can and cannot do
To be plain: third-party certification must be issued by an accredited inspection body, and we do not issue those certificates ourselves. What we provide is the preparation, the documentation, the inspection index, the findings management and the coordination with the inspection body.
That distinction matters, and any provider who blurs it is not one to trust with your certification.
Common questions
Can RIGSDOM issue an API 4F certificate?
No. Third-party certification is issued by accredited inspection bodies. We prepare the unit, assemble the documentation, manage the findings and coordinate the inspection.
What is API 4F Category IV?
The most thorough inspection category, involving disassembly and non-destructive testing of critical structural welds, typically at ten-year intervals or after a major structural event.
How long does audit preparation take?
It depends on the state of the documentation. A well-maintained unit may need days; a rig with lapsed records and deferred repairs can take weeks.
Talk to the desk
Tell us the well, the location and the timing, and we will come back with the units that fit, the delivered price or day rate, and the technical data pack.