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SAES-W-012 PDF – Welding Requirements for Pipelines

This article is about SAES-W-012 which is about Welding Requirements for Pipelines and download SAES-W-012 PDF for Welding and piping engineers, supervisors and project managers, Welding QCs, QC Supervisors. This is saudi aramco standard of Welding Engineering based on international codes and standards and useful for piping and welding engineering knowledge to get job as engineers, QC Supervisors and QC managers, Engineering managers and technicians.

SAES-W-012 PDF Download

SAES-W-012

Welding Requirements for Pipelines [SAES-W-012]


Standard SAES-W-012 establishes the welding, heat treatment, Nondestructive Testing (NDT), Charpy impact testing, and hardness testing requirements for welding pipelines and equipment, including scraper traps, to ASME B31.4 and ASME B31.8. It applies to both onshore and offshore pipelines, covering shop and field fabrication, repairs, and modifications. It also includes distribution and other facilities that utilize ASME B31.4 as the piping design code.

The requirements outlined in this standard are in addition to the requirements specified in ASME B31.4, ASME B31.8, API STD 1104, and ASME SEC IX. If materials fall outside the scope of ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8, the Consulting Services Department (CSD) will determine if supplementary requirements are necessary.

General

The following general requirements apply:

4.1: Welding details on all drawings shall adhere to the specifications outlined in AWS A2.4 “Standard Welding Symbols.”

4.2: Specifications and documents shall utilize the standard terms and definitions provided in AWS A3.0 “Standard Terms and Definitions.”

4.3: These requirements are applicable to all sub-contractors or sub-vendors involved in activities covered by this standard.

4.4: The term “Nondestructive Testing” (NDT) as used in this standard is considered synonymous with the term “Nondestructive Examination” (NDE) in ASME.

4.5: The terms “shall,” “should,” and “may” hold specific meanings as follows:

  • “Shall” denotes mandatory provisions unless explicitly modified in contract documents by the Engineer.
  • “Should” recommends practices that are considered beneficial but not mandatory requirements.
  • “May” allows the use of optional procedures or practices as alternatives to the standard requirements.

Postweld Heat Treatment

According to the provided information, the following requirements apply to postweld heat treatment (PWHT):

12.1: The need for PWHT is determined by ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8. If PWHT is required, the general requirements of ASME SEC VIII apply. A written PWHT procedure describing the general requirements, including equipment, heating method, heating element type and location, temperature measurement, and thermocouple placement, must be submitted for review and approval.

12.2: Review by CSD is necessary to determine PWHT requirements for service conditions involving hydrogen, caustic (including caustic carryover), and amine. This requirement is typically not applicable to pipelines.

12.3: Before commencing work, the contractor or fabricator must prepare a table listing each joint or component that requires heat treatment. This table, including information such as location, drawing number, diameter, wall thickness, material, heating rate, cooling rate, soak temperature, and soak time, must be submitted to Saudi Aramco Inspection for review.

12.4: For unequal thickness butt welds, the weld joint thickness used to determine PWHT requirements for all applications (ASME B31.4 and ASME B31.8) should be based on the effective weld throat as defined in ASME B31.4.

12.5: The specified PWHT temperature should be applied over an area extending at least 6 times the material’s thickness from each edge of the weld, but not less than 25 mm from each edge of the weld.

12.6: In cases where PWHT is required due to service conditions or specified hardness limits:

  • Reducing the PWHT temperature or using alternative temperatures below the normal holding temperatures listed in ASME SEC VIII is not permitted.
  • The minimum soak time for PWHT should be 1 hour.
  • If hardness limits are specified, the soak time for production welds should be at least 80% of the soak time specified in the Procedure Qualification Record (PQR).

12.7: During furnace or localized PWHT, all temperatures within the heated zone must exceed the specified minimum holding temperature. The recorded temperature range during the soak period, as measured by thermocouples, should not exceed a spread of 40°C.

12.8: Welding or heating after the final PWHT is not allowed if PWHT is required for service. PWHT should be performed after all welding and repairs but before any hydrotest or load test.

12.9: PWHT can be carried out using permanent or semi-permanent furnaces with gas, oil, or electric heaters. Electrical resistance heaters can also be used.

Please note that the provided information is based on the given excerpt and may not encompass all the details or specific requirements of the complete standard.

FAQs About SAES-W-012 PDF Download

  1. What does this standard cover in terms of piping systems?

    This standard specifies the welding, heat treatment, Nondestructive Testing (NDT), Charpy impact testing, and hardness testing requirements for welding pipelines and equipment, including scraper traps, in accordance with ASME B31.4 and ASME B31.8. It applies to both onshore and offshore pipelines, encompassing shop and field fabrication, repairs, and modifications.

  2. Are there any additional requirements apart from ASME B31.4, ASME B31.8, API STD 1104, and ASME SEC IX?

    Yes, in addition to ASME B31.4, ASME B31.8, API STD 1104, and ASME SEC IX, this standard outlines specific supplementary requirements for welding, heat treatment, NDT, Charpy impact testing, and hardness testing in the fabrication, repair, and modification of pipelines and equipment.

  3. What happens when materials are outside the scope of ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8?

    If the materials used fall outside the scope of ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8, the Consulting Services Department (CSD) or the CSD Welding Specialist will determine if supplementary requirements are necessary for welding those materials.

  4. Are there any additional instructions or specifications that may apply?

    Yes, additional requirements specific to certain work items may be outlined in Scopes of Work, Drawings, or other Instructions or Specifications. It’s important to refer to these documents for any additional instructions or specifications pertaining to the work.

  5. Who should be referred to when “Consulting Services Department (CSD)” is mentioned?

    When referring to the “Consulting Services Department (CSD)” in this standard, it is typically interpreted as the CSD Welding Specialist or a designated representative from the CSD. They can provide guidance and expertise regarding welding-related matters.

Read Also: SAES-W-011 PDF Download – Welding Requirements for On-Plot Piping

SAES-W-010 PDF Download – Welding Requirements for Pressure Vessels

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