Overview
ISO 13707:2000 - "Petroleum and natural gas industries - Reciprocating compressors" - defines the minimum design, construction, testing and documentation requirements for moderate- to low-speed reciprocating compressors and their drivers used in the petroleum and natural gas industries. The standard covers both lubricated and non-lubricated cylinders and includes associated systems such as lubrication, controls, instrumentation, intercoolers/aftercoolers and pulsation suppression devices. It is based on API 618 (4th edition) and is intended primarily as a purchaser’s specification for compressors in critical service. Note: several equipment types are explicitly excluded (e.g., integral gas‑engine driven units, packaged high‑speed separable engine-driven compressors, single‑acting trunk‑type pistons that serve as crossheads, and plant/instrument air compressors discharging ≤ 9 bar).
Key Topics
- Scope & definitions: Applicability, exclusions and normative references.
- Basic design requirements: Permissible speeds, discharge temperatures, rod/gas loads and critical speeds.
- Compressor components: Detailed requirements for cylinders, valves, pistons, crankshafts, bearings, packing and distance pieces.
- Materials & fabrication: Materials for pressure parts, castings, forgings, welding and low‑temperature service.
- Lubrication systems: Frame lubrication, cylinder/packing lubrication and forced‑feed systems.
- Accessories: Drivers, couplings, reduction gears, intercoolers, aftercoolers and intake filtration.
- Controls & instrumentation: Control logic, instrument panels, alarms/shutdowns, electrical systems and vibration/position detectors.
- Piping & auxiliaries: Process piping, coolant piping and tubing for lubrication/coolant systems.
- Pulsation & vibration control: Design approaches, pulsation suppression devices and support requirements.
- Inspection, testing & vendor data: Factory inspection, performance testing, shipping preparation and required documentation.
- Informative annexes: Data sheets/checklists, pulsation and acoustic guidance, NACE MR0175 compliance, alarm logic examples and more.
Applications
ISO 13707:2000 is used by:
- Procurement teams preparing purchase specifications for reciprocating compressors.
- Compressor manufacturers to ensure equipment meets minimum industry requirements.
- Design and application engineers for selector criteria, materials and auxiliary systems (lubrication, cooling, pulsation control).
- Inspection, testing and commissioning teams using the standard’s test and documentation rules.
- Operations and maintenance groups for understanding expected component features and service limits.
Typical uses: natural gas boosting, gas transmission stations, refinery feed gas compression and other critical petroleum and natural gas services where reliability, safety and documented performance are required.
Related standards
- API 618 (reciprocating compressors) - foundational reference used in ISO 13707.
- NACE MR0175 (materials for sour environments) - referenced for component material compatibility (see Annex P).
- ISO/TC 118 and ISO/TC 67 work programs relate to compressors and petroleum industry equipment.
Keywords: ISO 13707:2000, reciprocating compressors, petroleum and natural gas, compressor design, pulsation control, lubrication systems, intercoolers, compressor standards.
