It explicitly defines "environmental severity" using partial pressures of CO₂ and H₂S , not just total pressure. This often forces the use of super duplex stainless steels or corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs) where other codes might allow carbon steel with inhibitors.
: While primarily written for the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS), its principles are widely adopted globally as best practices.
NORSOK standards are (unlike API or ISO). The official source is the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association or Standard Norway (online.no). As of 2026, the current revision is NORSOK N-003:2017 (a new revision was not released as of early 2026). Be careful – many unofficial sites embed old 1996 or 2004 versions with malware. Always download from standard.no or norsok.no . norsok n003 pdf
Unlike general corrosion standards (e.g., ISO, NACE), focuses specifically on materials selection for corrosive environments in the Norwegian Continental Shelf . It is known for being more stringent than international standards due to extreme offshore conditions (high CO₂, H₂S, chlorides, and low temperatures).
The standard provides guidelines for calculating characteristic actions at various stages of an offshore structure's life: NORSOK standards are (unlike API or ISO)
Several major offshore projects (e.g., Johan Sverdrup) used N-003 to justify in seawater lift pumps after the PDF’s 2017 revision tightened chloride limits for duplex at >60°C. This added millions in cost but prevented failures seen on older platforms.
: Covers fabrication, transportation, installation, operation, and abandonment. Be careful – many unofficial sites embed old
: Focuses on the detailed design of steel structures.