API RP 17N aims to provide operators, contractors, and suppliers with guidance on the management and application of reliability and integrity management (RIM) engineering techniques in subsea projects and operations within their scope of work and supply.

These recommendations apply to:

• standard and nonstandard equipment (within the scope of API 17A);
• new field developments, further development of existing fields and field upgrades;
• all life cycle phases from feasibility through design, manufacture, and operation to decommissioning.

It does not prescribe the use of any specific equipment or limit the use of any existing installed equipment, or recommend any action, beyond good engineering practice, where current reliability is judged to be acceptable. It is also not intended to replace individual company processes, procedures, document nomenclature, or numbering; it is a guide. However, this recommended practice may be used to enhance existing processes, if deemed appropriate.

Most organizations will find much that is familiar and recognized as good practice. Some annex sections may only be of interest to a reliability specialist. The basic approach, however, is simple and consistent, and when applied correctly, has the potential to greatly reduce the financial risk of designing, manufacturing, installing, and operating subsea equipment.