"FOREWORD: (a) American Petroleum Institute (API) Bulletins are published to provide information for which there is a broad industry need but which does not constitute either Specifications or Recommended Practices. (b) Any Bulletin may be used by anyone desiring to do so@ and a diligent effort has been made by API to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein. However@ the Institute makes no representation@ warranty or guarantee in connection with the publication of any Bulletin and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use@ for any violation of any federal@ state@ or municipal regulation with which an API recommendation may conflict@ or for the infringement of any patent resulting from the use of this publication. (c) This bulletin is under the jurisdiction of the BPI Committee on Standardization of Tubular Goods. (d) The purpose of this bulletin is to provide definitions of imperfections and defects which occur in steel pipe; no criteria as to severity are addressed. The word ??imperfection' as used herein refers to metallurgical and other features of steel pipe products which may or may not be injurious to the use of the product. Definition of injuriousness is outside the scope of this document. Defects are defined in the respective pipe standards. (e) It should be noted that the definitions are listed in English@ French@ German@ Italian@ Japanese@ and Spanish. (f) Within this Bulletin: 1) ""Shall"" is used to indicate that a provision is mandatory. 2) ""Should"" is used to indicate that a provision is not mandatory@ but recommended as good practice. 3) ""May"" is used to indicate that a provision is optional."