This Technical Report provides requirements and recommendations for the verification and validation of subsea connectors. It is intended to serve as a common reference for designers, manufacturers, and users to improve the performance assessment of subsea connectors and to improve the reliability and integrity of subsea systems.

This technical report is applicable to subsea connectors along the vertical centerline of subsea hardware (i.e. tree, tubing head, tree cap, tree running tool, well control package connectors, and EDP connectors), the subsea wellhead, and the completion/workover riser. The methodology provided herein may also be used in other connector designs. Connectors outboard of the vertical centerline are addressed in API 17R.

The scope of this Technical Report includes connectors subjected to structural and pressure loads for wellhead, tree, tubing head, tree cap, tree running tool, and EDP connectors, and is intended to define general performance capacities for API 17D, API 17G, and other applications.

Differential external pressure effects are not within the scope of this document—refer to API 17TR12.

Fatigue verification through analysis is included. Fatigue testing of subsea connectors is not a mandatory requirement.