This Recommended Practice provides general requirements and overall recommendations for development of complete subsea production systems from the design phase to decommissioning. API 17A forms a top-level document to govern other standards dealing with subsystems typically forming a part of a subsea production system.

The complete subsea production system comprises several subsystems necessary to produce hydrocarbons from one or more subsea wells to a given processing facility located offshore (fixed, floating or subsea) or onshore, or to inject water/gas through subsea wells. 17A and the subsystem standards apply as far as the interface limits described in clause 4.

Specialized equipment, such as split trees and trees and manifolds in atmospheric chambers, are not specifically discussed because of their limited use. However, the information presented is applicable to those types of equipment.

This edition of API RP 17A is an identical adoption of ISO 13628-1.