2 CN0000 25 Spe 0002 00 - 00
2 CN0000 25 Spe 0002 00 - 00
2 CN0000 25 Spe 0002 00 - 00
Digitally signed by
Digitally signed by Mancuso Gianluca Digitally signed by Laurenzi
SCAZZFAB001 DN: C=US, Federico
SCAZZFAB001 DN: CN=SCAZZFAB001 Mancuso Gianluca [email protected], O=TCM,
OU=METWE, CN=Mancuso Gianluca
Laurenzi Federico DN: CN=Laurenzi Federico
Date: 2023.12.19
Date: 2023.12.19 Date: 2023.12.19 17:31:45+01'00' 17:52:14+01'00'
17:10:59+01'00'
Rev. Date
Section Revised Revision Description
No. Revised
HOLD LIST
NA NA NA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
2. PURPOSE
The primary purpose of this document is to specify Welding and NDT requirements for
welding activities performed during vendor’s manufacturing, piping pre-fabrication and
field installation activities. In case of conflict between this document and any other
contract document, this specification shall be given preference for Welding and NDE
requirements covered in the scope of this specification.
This specification shall be applied on “HAIL AND GASHA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
PACKAGE 2 – ON SHORE FACILITIES”. This specification covers the Welding and Non-
destructive examination (NDE) requirements for Process and utility Piping, Pressure
vessels, Heat exchangers, Tanks. Requirements for Pipeline welding and structural
fabrication are not under scope of this document, and they are covered in separate
specifications.
NDE requirements in this document are covered only for welding activities. Whereas NDE
requirements for raw materials are covered in the respective Material
Specifications/Standards and any further NDE requirement is specified in the COMPANY
/ Project specifications listed in Section 4.
NDE requirements of welds inside equipment package boundary are not covered in this
specification unless referred in the relevant package specifications and if there are any
NDE discrepancies in the package specifications.
3. TERMINOLOGY
3.1 Definitions
COMMENCEMENT The date on which the CONTRACTOR shall commence the
DATE performance of the SERVICES under the WORK ORDER, as
specified in the WORK ORDER
COMPANY Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
CONTRACTOR Tecnimont (TCM)
3.2 Abbreviations
AGES ADNOC Group Engineering Standards
ANSI American National Standards Institute
API American Petroleum Institute
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASNT American Society of Non-destructive Testing
ASR After Stress Relieving
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
AVL Approved Vendors List
AWS American Welding Specifications
BPS Brazing Procedure Specification
BSR Before Stress Relieving
CRA Corrosion Resistant Alloy
DCA Design Concession Authorisation
DEP Design and Engineering Practices
4. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The latest versions and amendments of all applicable UAE Legislation and Environmental
Regulations, ADNOC Group Engineering Standards and Specifications (AGES),
COMPANY Occupational Health Management Standards and HSE Regulations, the Hail &
Ghasha Development Project Specifications and Data Sheets, and all relevant International
Codes and Standards on the EFFECTIVE DATE of CONTRACT shall be used.
5. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
Design and engineering for the Facilities shall be undertaken in accordance with
regulations, codes, standards and specifications in the order of precedence stated below:
• UAE Local Laws and Regulations,
• COMPANY HSE Standards
• Project Specification / Datasheets as approved by COMPANY
• COMPANY Group Engineering Standards and Specifications (AGES)
This specification shall be read in conjunction with COMPANY specification and these two
documents shall together form the basis of requirements for Welding and Non-Destructive
Examination on the project.
• PWPS summary sheet that shall contain PWPS number, Test coupon size / material,
all the essential variables with their qualification ranges, proposed application of
welding procedure after qualifications.
• Preliminary Welding Procedures Specifications (PWPS)
• Procedure qualification plan along with proposed non-destructive & destructive testing,
including corrosion testing, as applicable.
For vessel and pressure equipments local PWHT shall comply with WRC 452, shall comply
with Applicable Project specification ,AGES and equipment/vessel design code.
When PWHT is required, the entire vessel shall be heat treated in an enclosed furnace,
when not feasible (e.g. due to furnace dimensions) equipment shall be PWHT in sections
in an enclosed furnace and closure welds PWHT is recommended by electrical resistance
method according to WRC-452. PWHT strategies to be discussed case by case at inquiry
stage and need approval in writing by CONTRACTOR and COMPANY.
Fusible inserts or removable backing strips may only be used with the approval of Contactor
and Company.
In addition to the above, brand name of all filler materials shall be also a PQR essential
variable, for the following materials:
For both shielding and backing gases, only hydrogen free gas (with dew point ≤ -40°C)
shall be used, to avoid possible cracking and embrittlement of the weld.
6.1.8.2 B1-3.4.2.2 – Consumables: Sub Para “c.” and “f.” shall be amended as follow:
Low hydrogen electrodes shall be H8 or better (for non-sour service) and H5 or better (for
Sour service)
For wall thickness > 20mm, mid thickness samples shall also be drawn. Two sets of
three specimens for each of notch location. Temperature reduction factors shall be
applied for sub-size specimens as per ASME B31.3.
The minimum absorbed energy shall be as per material specification.
Corrosion Test
Corrosion testing shall be according to ASTM G48, Method A. The test specimen shall
have a dimension of full wall thickness by 25 mm along the weld and 50 mm across the
weld. The test shall expose the external and internal surface and a cross section surface
including the weld zone in full wall thickness. Cut edges shall be prepared according to
ASTM G48.
The test temperatures, duration and acceptance criteria shall be as per AGES-SP-07-
007 Para B1-3.4.7(b).
➢ The P-Numbers shall not apply to Duplex / Super Duplex stainless steels. Each alloy
designation shall be separately qualified.
➢ The maximum bead width produced by weaving should be no more than twice the
electrode diameter for SMAW process.
➢ Particular attention should be paid to weld starts and craters to ensure complete
removal of slag from sharp corners and cavities.
➢ For duplex and super duplex materials welding procedure specifications shall be
prepared and qualified for each repair procedure that is proposed. As a minimum the
repair procedures shall be qualified as indicated below:
Full Penetration Repairs: Not Allowed
Partial Penetration Repairs: To be qualified – qualification with min. 6mm
remaining ligament
Single Pass Cap Repairs: To be qualified
Re-repairs: Not allowed
1. Amend B1-3.4.10.3 b: Shielding Gas: The inert gas used for shielding shall be
Argon with high purity level (99.995%), Helium or Argon – Helium mixture.
2. Add - Backing gas
• Positive flow of high purity Argon (99.995%) shall be maintained through out
welding operation and during cooling to below 100°C.
• System shall be purged prior to start of welding.
3. Add - Dew point of the shielding & Backing gas shall be:
• Less than -50°C
• Measured at torch immediately prior to welding and at each cylinder change.
• Measured at beginning of each shift for bulk supply systems.
➢ Following shall be added to Para B1-3.4.10.4 (Welding consumables):
1. Amend B1-3.4.10.4 a: for Titanium garde 2, AWS-A5.16 ER Ti-2 shall be used.
➢ Following shall be added to Para B1-3.4.10.5 (Welding Qualification Requirements):
1. Hardness Determination on macro-section during WPS qualifications:
• Hardness traverses shall sample all regions of weldment.
• Acceptance limit shall be 200HV5 (200 Brinell)
2. The following additional essential variables shall be applied:
- Any change in base material grade
- Consumable brand name shall be an essential variable
- Any change in backing gas composition shall be considered an essential
variable.
- the production interpass temperature shall not exceed the interpass
temperature used during procedure qualification.
- the production heat input shall not change more than 10% the heat input used
during procedure qualification
- Butt welding procedures, branch welding procedures, fillet welding procedures
and repair welding procedures shall be qualified separately. Testing shall be
identical to that for the original weld.
- Test welding shall be performed under simulated fabrication conditions; in
particular method of gas protection of joint (including type of tool used) to be
used in production, shall be the same as used during procedure qualification
shall be at least 27 J for standard size specimens (10 mm x 10 mm). Only one result
may be lower than 27 J, but it shall be at least 21 J
iii. When more than one welding process is included in a test coupon, the following
shall apply:
- The specimens shall be full-sized or the largest subsize specimen that can
be obtained based on the thickness of the test coupon.
- The weld metal test specimens shall contain as much of the weld metal from
each process as is practical.
- When the test coupon contains more than two welding processes, it is not
possible to locate specimens within 1/16 in. (1.5 mm) of a surface. In this
case, additional weld metal impact specimens shall be taken at the
thickness where those processes are located.
- Heat-affected zone specimens shall be prepared from material that was
removed at the thickness plane associated with weld metal from each
process. These specimens may contain material that was affected by the
heat from more than one welding process.
6.2 Addendum to Section B2 (Section B - Part 2 – Welding and NDE of Piping Systems)
Following shall be added:
4. The inter-pass temperature shall be measured directly where a weld run will start and
terminate. The weld zone shall be kept below the maximum inter-pass temperature
before a welding run is started. The maximum inter-pass temperature AND Min.
preheat temperatures shall be as per AGES-SP-07-007.
5. Inter-run cleaning shall be by grinding to bright, defect free material for all passes.
6. Onshore welding of clad carbon steel shall be performed in a workshop, or part thereof,
which is reserved exclusively for this type of material.
7. During field welding and installation, contamination of CRA with carbon steel and zinc
shall be avoided. Direct contact of the CRA with carbon steel or galvanized handling
equipment (e.g., hooks, belts, rolls, etc.) shall be avoided. Tools such as earthing
clamps, brushes etc., shall be stainless steel suitable for working on type of material
in question and not previously used for carbon steel. These tools shall not be mixed
and shall be clearly identified.
8. Contamination of weld bevels and surrounding areas with iron and low melting point
metals such as copper, zinc, etc. is not acceptable.
9. The inside of the clad pipe shall only be cleaned using stainless steel brushes which
have not been used on any other material.
10. Grinding disks containing iron, sulphur, lead, phosphorous or chlorine compounds
shall not be used on CRA. Certification confirming this shall be furnished to Company
by Contractor.
11. All internal line-up clamps, where used, shall be designed so as not to contact the CRA
material on the ID with any material that will contaminate it. Any metal-to-metal contact
shall be CRA to CRA.
Join fit up shall be as per approved WPS and done by clamps, holding devices or
bridge tack welds inside the groove, using approved welding procedure and by
Corrosion Testing
In accordance with material specification AGES-SP-09-015, Corrosion testing as per ASTM
G28 Method A shall be carried out during PQR testing for butt welds. Acceptance criteria
as per Table 3 of material specification shall be as follows:
• UNS N08825: Test Method as per ASTM G28 Method A, Acceptance criteria 0.457
mm/Year
• UNS N06625: Test Method as per ASTM G28 Method A, Acceptance criteria 0.914
mm/Year
According to AGES-SP-07-003 Table 11.1, SS316L weld overlays PQR shall be IGC tested
in accordance ASTM A262 Pratice E
The surface of specimen shall be pickled before testing. Cut edges shall be prepared
according to ASTM G48. Rapid screening test shall not be used as an acceptance test.
IGC shall be according to AGES-SP-07-003 para 11.1.
Chemical Analysis
Chemical analysis for CRA side shall be carried out by wet analysis as per as per AGES-
SP-09-015 Para 5.5.3. Chemical analysis and PREN requirements shall comply with
AGES-SP-09-015 Appendix – 1.
PREN is calculated as: PREN = %Cr + 3.3(%Mo + 0.5 %W) + 16%N.
Ferrite Test
Ferrite testing shall be included in the welding procedure qualification for SS316L weld-
overlay and the ferrite content shall be in the range 3-10 FN.
Microstructure Examination
Welds in clad materials shall be subjected to microstructure examination. The material shall
be free from grain boundary carbides, nitrides and detrimental phases.
Each specimen shall be prepared for metallographic examination by grinding, polishing and
etched and shall be thoroughly examined at 100x and 500x magnification. Micro cracking
at fusion line is not permitted.
6.2.2 Brazing
6.2.2.1 Consumables
1. The filler metal used in brazing shall be a non-ferrous metal or alloy having a melting
point above 427°C and below that of the metal being joined.
2. The filler metal shall melt and flow freely within the desired temperature range and in
conjunction with a suitable flux of controlled atmosphere, shall wet and adhere to the
surface to be joined.
3. Fluxes that are fluid and chemically active at the brazing temperature shall be used
when necessary to prevent oxidation of the filler metal and the surfaces to be joined
and to promote free flowing of the filler metal.
6.2.2.4 Heating
The joint shall be brought to brazing temperature in as short a time as possible to minimize
oxidation without localised under heating or overheating.
6.2.2.5 Qualifications
The qualification of brazing procedure, brazers and brazing operators shall be in
accordance with the requirements of Part C, Section IX, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code.
• Cu = 0.20 wt % max.
• Ni = 0.30 wt % max.
➢ Following Para shall be added:
For welding of piping in 1.25Cr-0.5Mo
- with wall thicknesses above 12 mm, pre-heating, shall be performed using
electric resistance heating mats, induction heating or infrared radiators,
which shall be connected with recordable device in order to have the chart
of the entire welding thermal cycle.
- for below 12mm, "Gas-fuelled preheat may be applied using propane only.
Oxy-propane or oxy-acetylene shall not be used for preheating"
For welding of piping in 2.25Cr-1.0Mo (all wall thicknesses), pre-heating, shall be
performed using electric resistance heating mats, induction heating or infrared
radiators, which shall be connected with recordable device in order to have the chart of
the entire welding thermal cycle.
• Minimum (7) years of experience after certification date with suitable experience
in the Oil & Gas.
• In addition to the above, the pre-selected candidate will be subjected to
assessment and face-to-face interview by COMPANY as well as on-job
probation period.
➢ Following Para shall be added:
According to AGES-GL-13-001 para 15.2, Repair rate / percentage shall be calculated
based on the number of tested joints by RT, UT, MT or DPT (as applicable), considering
the following:
• Welders' repair rate / percentage shall be monitored on a weekly basis and shall
not exceed 3% of the total welders’ weekly production.
• Repair rate / percentage shall not exceed 3% of the total number of welded
joints in a week
• In case the weekly repair rate / percentage exceeds 3%, a full detailed
investigation shall be carried out by the SUB-CONTRACTOR to detect the root
cause of the defect, eliminate it, and implement corrective measures to prevent
recurrence and reduce the repair rate / percentage to 3% or less.
• When weekly repair rate / percentage exceeds 5%, SUB-CONTRACTOR shall
be officially warned by CONTRACTOR / COMPANY and work shall be stopped
until satisfactory completion of the investigation and root cause analysis
associated with the courses of rectification, corrective, and preventive actions
which shall be accepted and approved by CONTRACTOR / COMPANY.
• Overall, cumulative weld repair rate / percentage shall be reported on weekly
and monthly basis through the periodic Quality reports.
• SUB-CONTRACTOR shall be proactive with regards to monitoring the weld
/welder repair rates and elimination of the potential causes that might lead to
the critical limits.
6.4 Amendment to Section B4 (Section B - Part 4 – Welding and NDE of Storage Tanks)
6.5 Amendment to Section E (APPENDIX E1 – Welding and NDE requirements for Weld
Overlay)
(*) According to AGES-SP-09-015 para 5.5.3. for clad piping, ERNiFeCr-1 filler may be
used for weld overlay of Alloy 825 clad pipes provided that:
- GTAW or GMAW welding process is used
- at the pipe ends the weld overlay shall be with Alloy 625 electrode
For welding together of Alloy 825 overlaid surfaces and other welding associated with Alloy
825 overlay i.e., for clad restoration of any weld seams, branch and attachment welds; the
filler metal shall be Alloy 625
6.6.8 Addendum to Table E3.9 NDE Coverage for Pressure Containment CS Welds
➢ Note-1 to be removed from the case Pressure Vessels and Equipment with wall
thickness above 50 mm.
6.6.14 Addendum to Table E3.10 NDE Coverage for Pressure Containment SS / CRA
Welds
➢ Note-1 to be removed from the case Pressure Vessels and Equipment with wall
thickness above 50 mm
➢ UT examination (as per note-2 and note-3 are applicable to clad item only (and not solid
material)
accordance with ASTM A370 at a temperature of -29 °C (-20 ˚F) with CVN ≥ 27 J
(full-size specimens).
ii. LTCS Materials: All pipe, fitting, flanges in LTCS material, shall be impact tested
at a temperature of minus 46 °C. Impact test results as an average of three tests
shall be at least 27 J for standard size specimens (10 mm x 10 mm). Only one result
may be lower than 27 J, but it shall be at least 21 J
➢ For Sub Para “b” the following sentence shall be deleted:
Impact test shall be carried out at temperature 10 °C colder than Minimum Design Metal
Temperature (MDMT).
6.6.18 Addendum to E3-1.5 Requirements For Sour Service / Wet H2S Service In Upstream
Oil And Gas Processing
➢ Full Para to be updated as E3-1.6. Therefore also the next paragraphs shall be updated
accordingly.
7. STRUCTURAL
Structural fabrication is out of the scope of this specification (see AGES-SP-07-007 clause
1.1).
For welding and NDE structures of this project, refer to the following code and documents:
• ANSI / AWS D1.1
• 2-CN0000-07-SPE-0002: Structural Steel Supply, Fabrication and Erection
Specification.
• AGES-SP-01-002: ADNOC Group Project and Engineering Standard - Structural
Steel Supply .
8. FINAL DOCUMENTATION
The following Welding and NDE documentation shall be included as minimum in Final
Construction Dossiers / Manufacturing Record Books.
9. APPENDICES
Appendix – 1: Hardness Survey for Welding Procedure Qualification for CRA Cladded Pipe
Butt Weld
APPENDIX – 1
HARDNESS SURVEY FOR WELDING PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION FOR CRA CLADDED PIPE
BUTT WELD
NOTES:
1. Parent material indentations shall be at least 20mm from the fusion line. Further indentation shall be
APPENDIX – 2
APPROVED BY:
13/04/2022
AGES-SP-07-007
REVISION HISTORY
REV. PREPARED BY REVIEWED BY ENDORSED BY ENDORSED BY
DATE (Designation / (Designation / (Designation / (Designation /
NO
Initial) Initial) Initial) Initial)
30-Mar-2022 1 Hesham Ahmed Mahmoud Abdel Najem Qambar / Ebraheem Al
ElAshkar Hakim / HOD VP/ Group Romaithi
Senior Specialist, Pipeline Engineering / SVP-GPE
Material Engineering
Engineering
12/04/2022
Group Projects & Engineering is the owner of this Specification and responsible for its custody, maintenance and
periodic update.
In addition, Group Projects & Engineering is responsible for communication and distribution of any changes to this
Specification and its version control.
DEFINITIONS
The intranet copy of this document located in the section under Group Policies on One ADNOC is the only
controlled document. Copies or extracts of this document, which have been downloaded from the intranet, are
uncontrolled copies and cannot be guaranteed to be the latest version.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL ...................................................................................................................................... 7
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 7
PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................... 7
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................ 7
SECTION A – GENERAL.......................................................................................................................... 13
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ....................................................................................................... 13
INTERNATIONAL CODES AND STANDARDS ............................................................. 13
ADNOC SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................ 15
DOCUMENT PRECEDENCE ....................................................................................................... 17
SPECIFICATION DEVIATION / CONCESSION CONTROL ....................................................... 17
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL .......................................................................... 18
SECTION B ............................................................................................................................................... 19
B0-1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 19
B1 SECTION B (PART 1) – WELDING AND NDE - GENERAL ...................................................... 20
B1-1 DOCUMENTATION ......................................................................................................... 20
B1-2 QUALIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................... 23
B1-3 WELDING PROCESSES, WELDING CONSUMABLES, WELDING OF MATERIALS 25
B1-4 FABRICATION ................................................................................................................ 36
B1-5 NDE AND TESTING ........................................................................................................ 42
B2 SECTION B (PART 2) – WELDING AND NDE OF PIPING SYSTEMS ...................................... 46
B2-1 DOCUMENTATION ......................................................................................................... 46
B2-2 QUALIFICATION............................................................................................................. 46
B2-3 WELDING PROCESSES, WELDING CONSUMABLES, WELDING OF MATERIALS 46
B2-4 FABRICATION ................................................................................................................ 46
B2-5 NDE AND TESTING ........................................................................................................ 47
B3 SECTION B (PART 3) – WELDING AND NDE OF PRESSURE VESSEL AND HEAT
EXCHANGERS ............................................................................................................................ 51
B3-1 DOCUMENTATION ......................................................................................................... 51
B3-2 QUALIFICATION............................................................................................................. 51
B3-3 WELDING PROCESSES, WELDING CONSUMABLES, WELDING OF MATERIALS 51
B3-4 FABRICATION ................................................................................................................ 51
B3-5 NDE AND TESTING ........................................................................................................ 52
B4 SECTION B (PART 4) – WELDING & NDE OF STORAGE TANKS .......................................... 54
B4-1 DOCUMENTATION ......................................................................................................... 54
B4-2 QUALIFICATION............................................................................................................. 54
B4-3 WELDING PROCESSES, WELDING CONSUMABLES, WELDING OF MATERIALS 54
B4-4 FABRICATION ................................................................................................................ 55
B4-5 NDE AND TESTING ........................................................................................................ 58
SECTION E................................................................................................................................................ 60
E1 APPENDIX E1– WELDING & NDE REQUIREMENTS FOR WELD OVERLAY ......................... 60
E2 APPENDIX E2 – WELDING & NDE REQUIREMENTS FOR CR-MO / CR-MO-V STEEL IN HIGH
TEMPERATURE, HIGH PRESSURE HYDROGEN SERVICE.................................................... 66
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE B1.1 SPECIMENS AND NOTCH DETAIL PER ASTM A370. ................................................................. 24
FIGURE B1.2 LOCATION OF PARTIAL PENETRATION WELD REPAIRS. ........................................................ 42
FIGURE E1.3 CLADDING CUTBACK .................................................................................................................... 62
FIGURE E1.4 CLADDING RESTORATION PENETRATION ................................................................................ 63
FIGURE E2.5 HARDNESS SURVEY OF WELD JOINT ........................................................................................ 69
FIGURE E2.6 WELD OVERLAY CHEMICAL ANALYSIS ...................................................................................... 70
GENERAL
Introduction
This Specification describes the welding and NDE requirements for existing and new facilities including
piping, storage tanks, pressure vessels and heat exchangers. This document is a general specification
that is applicable to COMPANY’S Onshore and Offshore production, Gas Processing, Petrochemical and
Refining facilities.
This specification is divided under section B into 4 technical requirements parts as follows:
Section B (Part 1) - Welding & NDE - General
Section B (Part 2) - Welding & NDE of Piping System
Section B (Part 3) - Welding & NDE of Pressure Vessels and Heat Exchangers
Section B (Part 4) - Welding & NDE of Storage Tanks
For details of Welding and NDE for structural steelwork refer to AGES-SP-01-002
Supplementary sections of this specification are as follows:
Appendix E1 - Welding & NDE Requirements For Weld Overlay
Appendix E2 – Welding & NDE Requirements For Cr-Mo / Cr-Mo-V Steel In High Temperature,
High Pressure Hydrogen Service
Appendix E3 – Welding & NDE Requirements For Severe Service
Purpose
The purpose of this Specification is to define welding requirements for upstream and downstream oil,
gas, and petrochemical processes. The requirements of this Specification are intended to define welding
requirements for integrity management, minimise production problems, reduce production costs, meet
plant performance targets, achieve export specifications, protect piping and equipment, and assist in
preventing loss of containment.
right does not relieve the CONTRACTOR of their obligations under the Contract, nor does it create any
contractual relationship between COMPANY and the SUB-CONTRACTOR.
“SUPPLIER” means the party entering into a Contract with COMPANY to provide the materials,
equipment, supporting technical documents and/or drawings, guarantees, warranties and/or agreed
services in accordance with the requirements of the purchase order and relevant specification(s). The
term SUPPLIER includes any legally appointed successors and/or nominated representatives of the
SUPPLIER.
“SUB-SUPPLIER” means the sub-contracted SUPPLIER of equipment sub-components software and/or
support services relating to the equipment / package, or part thereof, to be provided by the SUPPLIER.
COMPANY maintains the right to review all proposed SUB-SUPPLIERS, but this right does not relieve
the SUPPLIER of their obligations under the Contract, nor does it create any contractual relationship
between COMPANY and any individual SUB-SUPPLIER.
The abbreviations used throughout this Specification are shown in Table 1.1.
Abbreviations
AC Alternating Current
cm Centimetre
Abbreviations
CS Carbon Steel
FN Ferrite Number
H2 Hydrogen
Abbreviations
HV Hardness Vickers
ID Internal Diameter
KV Kilovolt
m Metre
mm Millimetre
OD Outer Diameter
OT Operational Technology
Abbreviations
PT Dye-Penetrant Testing
QA Quality Assurance
QC Quality Control
RT Radiographic Testing
SS Stainless Steel
Abbreviations
UT Ultrasonic Testing
VT Visual Examination
SECTION A – GENERAL
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
ASME B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbon and other liquids.
Factory Made Rough Steel, Butt Welded Induction bends for Transportation and
ASME B16.49
Distribution systems.
ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE
ASTM A370 Standard Test methods and definitions for Mechanical testing of Steel products.
Standard Practice for Cleaning and Descaling Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment
A380
and Systems
Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Plain and Clad Steel
A578
Plates for Special Applications
Standard Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular Attack in
A262
Austenitic Stainless Steels1
A833 Indentation Hardness of Metallic Materials by Comparison Hardness Testers
BRITISH STANDARD
BS 7448, Part 1, Part
Fracture mechanics toughness tests – welds.
2
Metallic Materials – Method of tests for the determination of quasistatic
BS EN ISO 15653
toughness of welds.
DIN 54109 - Part 1 Non-Destructive Testing: Image Quality of Radiographs of Metallic Materials
NACE MR0175 /ISO Petroleum and natural gas industries — Materials for use in H2S-containing
15156 Parts 1 to 3 environments in oil and gas production
NACE MR0103 / Petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries — Materials for use in
ISO17945 H2S-containing environments in oil and gas production
Design, Fabrication, and Surface Finish Practices for Tanks and Vessels to Be
NACE SP 0178
Lined for Immersion Service
Laboratory Testing of Metals for Resistance to Sulfide Stress Cracking and
NACE TM0177
Stress Corrosion Cracking in H2S Environments
Evaluation of Pipeline and Pressure Vessel Steels for Resistance to Hydrogen-
NACE TM0284
Induced Cracking
NACE TM0316 Four-Point Bend Testing of Materials for Oil and Gas Applications
ADNOC Specifications
AGES-SP-01-002 Structural Steel Supply, Fabrication and Erection Specification
AGES-SP-07-009 Galvanizing
DOCUMENT PRECEDENCE
The specifications and codes referred to in this Specification shall, unless stated otherwise, be the latest
approved issue at the time of contract award.
It shall be the CONTRACTOR's responsibility to be, or to become, knowledgeable of the requirements
of the referenced Codes and Standards.
The CONTRACTOR shall notify the COMPANY of any apparent conflict between this specification, the
related data sheets, the Codes and Standards and any other specifications noted herein.
Resolution and/or interpretation precedence shall be obtained from the COMPANY in writing before
proceeding with the design/manufacture.
In case of conflict, the order of document precedence shall be:
a. UAE Statutory requirements
ADNOC HSE Standards
Equipment datasheets and drawings
Project Specifications and standard drawings
Company Specifications
National / International Standards
SECTION B
B0-1 Introduction
All Welding & NDE activities shall be performed in accordance with the applicable design/manufacturing
code as detailed below and as supplemented by this specification.
Piping ASME B31.1 or ASME B31.3
Pressure Vessels & Heat Exchanges ASME VIII Div 1 or Div 2
Storage Tanks API STD 620 or API STD 650
Throughout the rest of this specification the applicable code from above for the application will be
referred to as ‘fabrication code’.
Section B Welding & NDE of Piping Defines the minimum requirements that apply specifically
(Part 2) Systems to the welding & NDE of piping systems in addition to
those defined in General
Section B Welding & NDE of Pressure Defines the minimum requirements that apply specifically
(Part 3) Vessels & Heat Exchangers to the welding & NDE of pressure vessels and heat
exchangers in addition to those defined in General
Section B Welding & NDE of Storage Defines the minimum requirements that apply specifically
(Part 4) Tanks to the welding & NDE of storage tanks in addition to those
defined in General
In addition, the following Appendices shall apply for service conditions and/or applications (as applicable)
in addition to Section B1 to B4
Appendix E1 Welding & NDE Requirements For Weld Overlay
B1-1 Documentation
All documents for approval by COMPANY shall be reviewed and approved by CONTRACTOR prior to
submission to COMPANY.
temperature/time and furnace atmosphere, and heating band and insulation location for local PWHT.
AWS D10.10; “Recommended practice for local heating of welds in piping and tubing” should be referred
for band width of heating, Insulation, thermal couple placement etc.
penetrant; drying; application of developer; development time; minimum light level; acceptance level;
reporting format; operator qualification; stage performed.
B1-2 Qualifications
d. Certification shall be in accordance with EN10204 Level 3.1 for chemical analysis for all applications
and Level 2.2 mechanical as a minimum.
e. COMPANY may specify 3.2 on chemical and/or mechanical and/or other testing dependent upon
the application.
f. Electrode or filler wire size shall not be changed from that used in qualification.
g. Welding consumables shall be stored with care, under dry conditions in their original unopened
packing and in accordance the manufacturers recommendations and COMPANY Approved
Consumable Storage and Handling Procedure. Consumables shall be stored on shelves or pallets
as a minimum and shall not be stacked on the floor.
h. Low hydrogen electrodes and fluxes shall be stored and baked in accordance with the
MANUFACTURER’S instructions and COMPANY Approved Consumable Storage and Handling
Procedure to give a weld metal deposit with a diffusible hydrogen content which shall not exceed 5
ml/100 g weld metal.
i. Use of extra moisture resistant (EMR) consumables with a diffusible hydrogen content of less than
5ml/100 g deposited weld metal may be specified.
j. Low hydrogen vacuum packed electrodes (“vacpacs”) shall be marked with the time of opening and
used in a time within the manufacturer’s guidelines. Any unused vacpac electrodes shall be returned
for baking or discarded.
k. Sealed cans and “vacpacs” shall be stored and conditioned per the MANUFACTURER’S
recommendations. For open packs, the atmosphere exposure time shall meet the applicable
fabrication code and MANUFACTURER’S limit.
l. In addition to Fabrication Code and Manufacturers recommendations:
i. Carbon steel and low alloys Steel low hydrogen electrodes shall be stored in quivers for no more
than 8 hours.
ii. Cr-Mo steel electrodes shall be stored in quivers for no more than four hours.
m. Electrodes stored in quivers, but not used within the specified time, shall be restored in ovens. No
electrodes shall be left lying about the site or in the shop. Electrodes so left shall be scrapped.
n. Quivers, baking ovens and storage ovens shall be calibrated at least every 12 months.
o. Where the MANUFACTURER or fabrication code specify restrictions for temperature and/or
humidity, these shall be monitored by suitable calibrated equipment and readings recorded at least
one per day.
p. Where necessary due to environmental conditions; heating, cooling or dehumidifying is required to
stay within fabrication code or MANUFACTURERS recommendations, suitable equipment shall be
used.
q. Welding consumables shall be clearly identified. The identification shall state as a minimum
manufacturer, brand name, grade, size and batch number. Unidentifiable consumables shall be
discarded.
r. Welding consumables shall be withdrawn from storage only when required for immediate use.
Unused consumables shall be returned to storage on completion of the welding operation. Batch
numbers and quantity shall be recorded on issue and return. After issue from storage, flux shall be
held in a heated silo in accordance with fabrication code and MANUFACTURERs recommendations.
s. Submerged arc flux may be recirculated but shall be free from fused flux, fines, mill scale, dirt, or
other foreign matter in accordance with the MANUFACTUERS recommendations. Wet flux shall
be discarded.
t. Submerged arc flux shall not be recycled, eg reground and reused.
u. Solid wires for automatic-welding processes shall contain the principal elements required for the
deposited weld metal. Welds deposited by the submerged arc process shall not derive any principal
elements from the flux.
v. Fluxes that the flux manufacturer recommends for single pass welds shall not be used for multiple
pass welds. Active fluxes are not permitted.
w. Submerged arc welding of production parts shall be performed using same name brand and grade
of flux and the same name brand and grade of wire as used for the PQR.
B1-3.4.2.1 General
Preheat shall be 100°C minimum if UTS is greater than 450 N/mm.
B1-3.4.2.2 Consumables
a. Filler wires in specification ASME SFA-5.2 shall not be used for welding with GTAW process.
b. Carbon / 0.5% molybdenum filler metal for welding of carbon steel must be authorized by the
COMPANY and is generally not permitted. Note filler metal or deposit chemistries conforming
to A-number 2 (ASME SEC IX), i.e., carbon-0.5% Mo, shall not be used for sour service
applications without post weld heat treatment.
c. When using the SMAW process, low hydrogen electrodes shall be used for all pressure retaining
welds or attachments to pressure boundaries. For carbon steel piping welded from one side
only, E6010 may be used for the root pass of utility piping systems with company approval.
d. Electrodes of the following ASME Classifications are not acceptable for pressure retaining welds:
E6012, E6013, E6020, E7014, E7020, E7024, and E7028.
e. Carbon and low alloy steel electrodes/bare wire that have a nonspecific chemistry as indicated
by a “G” classification suffix (i.e., EXXXX-G, ERXXX-G, EG, or EXXTX G) shall not be used,
unless detailed information is provided and approved by COMPANY
i. Filler metal conforming to ER70S-6 shall not be used with GTAW process for sour service.
If ER70S-6 is to be used with GMAW process for sour service, the chemistry of the wire
shall not exceed the requirements of NACE SP0472 (as follows): Carbon (C) 0.10wt%
max;
ii. Manganese (Mn) 1.60 wt% max;
iii. Silicon (Si) 1.00 wt% max
f. Fine-grained low-carbon-manganese steels shall be welded with basic low-hydrogen type of
electrodes. The electrode deposits shall have the minimum specified yield strength and the
required minimum toughness properties at least equal to those of the base material.
g. The use of austenitic welding consumables to avoid PWHT is prohibited.
B1-3.4.3 9Cr1Mo
B1-3.4.3.1 General
a. 9Cr-1Mo-V (Grade P91) welding procedures shall be qualified with impact tests performed on
the thickest pipe section used and include testing on the base metal, and shall included testing
on the Weld Metal Centreline (WMC), Fusion Line (FL) Fusion Line =2mm (FL+2) and if Heat
input is over 2KJ/mm at Fusion Lline +5(FL+5), at mid thickness (1/2T), but shall be sufficient to
capture each welding process and consumable tradename.
b. Consumables used to provide WPQR test specimens shall be the same (brand name) as those
used in the fabrication of P91 spools.
c. For welding P91 materials, a basic electrides & flux shall be used.
d. Heat input and other relevant welding parameters shall be controlled and monitored during
production welding.
e. Inspection records showing compliance with actual WPS parameters during welding (shop
records) and PWHT procedures (including complete temperature cycles and PWHT initial
temperatures) shall be submitted to the Contractor for each weld made, and included in the
Manufacturing Record Book
B1-3.4.3.5 Miscellaneous
a. For all the hardness measurements during production welding, the Brinell hardness tester
should be used.
b. Local re-normalisation and tempering shall not be permitted.
c. If any component fabricated from Grade 91 is locally heated above Ac1 temperature, then one
of the following shall be done:
i. Re-normalise and temper the entire component;
ii. Remove the section so heat treated from the component in its entirety, re- normalise and
temper, and then re-insert into the component.
B1-3.4.4.1 Consumables
Welding consumables for austenitic stainless steels shall have a ferrite number (FN) of 3-10 FN.
B1-3.4.4.2 Other
a. Temperature indicating crayons shall not be used on austenitic stainless steels.
b. The maximum interpass temperature for austenitic stainless steel shall be 150°C.
c. PWHT of austenitic stainless steel materials need not be performed unless specified.
B1-3.4.6.1 Consumables
a. Welding consumables for welding 6% Mo grades UNS 31254, UNS N08367, UNS N08925 &
UNS N08926 shall be AWS Classification E/ER NiCrMo-3, E/ERNiCrMo-10, E/ERNiCrMo-13,
E/ERNiCrMo-14.
b. For 6% Mo alloys, separate fillet weld procedure qualification tests shall be made.
B1-3.4.7.1 Consumables
a. The brand name or country of origin of consumables for welding duplex stainless steel shall not
be changed.
b. The PREN of welding consumables used for production welding of duplex or super duplex
stainless steels shall not be less than that the parent materials being welded or reduced by more
than 0.5% from that used in qualification.
c. Duplex stainless steel consumables shall comply with a chemical composition accepted as
suitable by the material supplier. Only consumables that can be shown to meet the acceptance
criteria for the mechanical and corrosion testing required by this standard shall be proposed.
The Nickel content shall also overmatch the parent material analysis unless the finished
fabrication is to be solution annealed.
d. For duplex stainless steel, separate fillet weld procedure qualification tests shall be made.
e. For 25%Cr duplex stainless steel the PREN shall be minimum 40.
PREN = %Cr+3.3x%Mo+16x%N.
B1-3.4.8.1 Consumables
a. Welding consumables for welding copper-nickel alloys shall be Monel 67 type (E/ER CuNi).
B1-3.4.8.2 Other
a. Copper-nickel alloys shall be welded using a backing gas.
b. Maximum interpass temperature shall be 100°C.
B1-3.4.9.1 Consumables
a. Welding consumables for welding high nickel Alloy 825 (UNS N08825) or Alloy 625 (UNS
N06625) shall be AWS classification E/ER NiCrMo-3.
b. Welding consumables for Ni base Alloy 625 shall have an iron content of 5% maximum, except
for weld overlaying where it shall have a maximum Fe content of 1%.
B1-3.4.10 Titanium
This section specifies the minimum requirements for the welding and inspection of Titanium.
j. Re-melting or welding onto material that has been discolored by heating is not allowed until the
cleaning measures stipulated earlier for base metal and weld preparation are complied with.
k. If the shielding gas is supplied from cylinders the cylinder shall be changed when the pressure
drops to 25bar.
l. The use of tack welds is only permitted if the joint is shielded and back purged with inert gas.
Demonstration of welder capability to make sound tack weld is required to ensure that it meets
the visual inspection standards.
m. In order to preserve the corrosion resistance and minimize hot cracking of weldments, low heat
input welding procedures should be used. This can be achieved using small diameter filler wire,
low welding current and high speed. Incidence of hot cracking is also minimized by keeping the
joint faces clean and free from oil and grease etc., as well as maintaining the shielding gas
flowing for a few seconds before and after completion of welding.
n. The technique, consumables, joint geometry etc., shall be in accordance with the procedure
previously qualified. The manner of depositing the weld metal shall be such as to ensure
complete fusion and full penetration where applicable with no undercutting on the sidewalls of
the welding groove and that individual beads of deposited weld metal are not excessively convex.
o. During production, titanium welding shall be carried out in a suitably enclosed clean-dust fee
conditioned area dedicated to titanium fabrication. Random checks for iron contamination shall
be made by a chemical method (e.g. Ferroxyl test) on surfaces to be welded. Special care shall
be exercised to protect the weld area from draughts. All jigs, fixtures and clamps shall be
cleaned prior to use, and made from suitable materials to prevent contamination.
p. When welding has stopped for any reason, care should be taken in restarting to ensure that the
required penetration and fusion are obtained and that the weld is not contaminated. Any cracked
tack welds must be completely removed and no attempts made to incorporate them into the
finished weld.
q. At all times the root of the weld and adjacent heat affected zones must be protected from
contamination as stipulated earlier.
r. Welding and weld inspection shall meet the requirements of the fabrication code.
B1-3.4.11.1 Consumables
All dissimilar metal welded joints should be avoided whenever practical and are not allowed in sour
service applications. When proposed, specific authorization must be obtained from the
CONTRACTOR. If authorized, dissimilar metal welds should comply with the following guidelines:
a. For dissimilar joints in base metals consisting of carbon and low alloy steels (P-No.1 through P-
No.7), the filler metal shall be of the low hydrogen type and compatible with the composition of
the lower P-Number.
b. For dissimilar joints in base metals consisting of a ferritic material (P-No.1 through P-No.7) on
one side and a high nickel alloy on the other, a high nickel filler material meeting the
requirements of ASME Classification ENiCrFe-2, ENiCrFe-3, ERNiCr-3, E/ERNiCrMo-3,
E/ERNiCrCoMo-1 should be used with selection consideration being given to requirements for
materials being welded, strength, corrosion resistance and differential thermal expansion etc.
c. For dissimilar joints not subject to PWHT in base metals consisting of a ferritic material (P-No.1
through P-No.7) on one side and austenitic stainless on the other, the filler material selection
shall be reviewed based on the following guidelines:
i. For service temperatures up to and including 315°C: ASME Classification E/ER 309L or
ENiCrFe-2, ENiCrFe-3, ERNiCr-3, E/ERNiCrMo-3, E/ERNiCrCoMo-1 should be used with
selection consideration being given to requirements for materials being welded, strength,
corrosion resistance and differential thermal expansion etc.
ii. For service temperatures above 315°C: High nickel filler material meeting the requirements
of ASME Classification ENiCrFe-2, ENiCrFe-3, ERNiCr-3, E/ERNiCrMo-3,
E/ERNiCrCoMo-1, should be used with selection consideration being given to
requirements for materials being welded, strength, corrosion resistance and differential
thermal expansion etc.
d. Where PWHT of the joint is required between stainless steel or high nickel alloys, the ferritic
material (P-No.1 through P-No.7) shall be buttered with high nickel filler metal meeting the
requirements of ASME Classification ENiCrFe-2, ENiCrFe-3, ERNiCr-3, E/ERNiCrMo-3,
E/ERNiCrCoMo-1 should be used with selection consideration being given to requirements for
materials being welded, strength, corrosion resistance and differential thermal expansion etc.
prior to PWHT and subsequent welding to the austenitic stainless stee or high nickel alloy. Such
joints shall be qualified in accordance with fabrication code.
e. For dissimilar joints in base metals consisting of an austenitic stainless on one side and a high
nickel alloy on the other, a high nickel filler material meeting the requirements of ASME
Classification ENiCrFe-2, ENiCrFe-3, ERNiCr-3, E/ERNiCrMo-3, E/ERNiCrCoMo-1 should be
used with selection consideration being given to requirements for materials being welded,
strength, corrosion resistance and differential thermal expansion, design/operating temperature
etc.
f. High nickel filler metal shall not be used in services that contain sulfur compounds at service
temperatures greater than 370°C unless specific authorization is obtained from the
CONTRACTOR and the COMPANY.
B1-4 Fabrication
B1-4.1 General
a. The certified inspector shall at all times have access to all parts of the work under contract being
performed to ensure the work is being performed in accordance with the specifications and the
applicable fabrication code.
b. Mill and shop inspection shall not release the contractor from responsibility of replacing / repairing
defective workmanship that may be discovered in the field.
c. Fabrication to this specification shall conform to the requirements of the applicable fabrication code
and the requirements of this specification.
d. Compliance with this specification and authorization of WPS, PQR and weld map shall in no way
relieve the CONTRACTOR of the responsibility of providing welds which are sound and suited to
the services for which they are intended.
e. Welding terms and definitions shall be in accordance with AWS A3.0.
f. Tack welds shall be made by qualified welders in accordance with COMPANY approved procedures
and with the same ASME Classification of consumable that is stated in WPS for the root pass.
g. Peening is not permitted.
h. A back purge must be used when using GTAW for the root pass on P-No.4 and higher alloy material.
i. The back purge shall be maintained until at least 6 mm thickness of weld metal has been deposited
or the weld joint is filled, whichever is less.
j. Temporary attachments, backing rings or bars intended to be removed after weld completion shall
essentially match the chemical analysis of the base metal.
k. Temporary welds shall be made by qualified welders in accordance with COMPANY approved WPS,
the area of the weld shall be NDE’d in accordance with the requirements of the adjacent welds, but
as a minimum shall include 100%VT and MPI/DPI.
l. Attachments such as lugs, clips, support rings and similar items shall not be located on a weld seam.
m. The shop fabrication of stainless steel and nonferrous materials shall be carried out in a separate
partitioned area (preferably a separate shop) completely segregated from that of carbon steels and
low alloy steels.
n. Contamination of austenitic stainless steel and nickel alloys by zinc (eg brass, galvanised items etc)
and other low melting point metals shall be avoided. Welding of galvanized attachments from which
the galvanizing has nominally been removed by mechanical means, or material painted with zinc
rich paint, to austenitic stainless steel or nickel alloys is not permitted.
o. No welding shall be carried out when the parts to be welded are wet.
p. No welding shall be carried out during periods of high wind (greater than 8 km/hour), unless the
welder and the work are properly protected.
B1-4.3 Preheat
a. Preheating shall extend for at least 4x material thickness or 100mm (whichever is the greater) from
the point of welding.
b. Preheat shall also be measured on the reverse side were possible.
c. Preheat shall be measurered by calibrated contact digital thermometer, or temperature indicating
crayons. Infrared pyrometers shall not be used.
d. Gas-fuelled preheat shall be applied using propane only. Oxy-propane or oxy-acetylene shall not be
used for preheating.
e. Preheating shall be in accordance with the requirements of the fabrication code and any additional
requirements of this specification. Preheat shall be no lower than the values shown in Table B1.3
below:
Table B1.3 Minimum required preheat temperatures.
PREHEAT
MATERIAL
Wall Thickness (mm) Minimum Temp. (°C) (1)
Low Nickel
All 100-150
Alloy Steels
≤20 20
0.3 - 0.5 Mo Steel
>20 100-150
1 Cr - ½ Mo,
All 150
1 ¼ Cr - ½ Mo
2-1/4 Cr - 1 Mo All 200
5 Cr - ½ Mo,
All 200-250
9 Cr - 1 Mo
3.5 Ni All 93
Notes:
i. If ambient temperature is below 5°C, preheat to 40°C is required.
ii. 100°C minimum if UTS is greater than 450 N/mm.
e. Irrespective of thickness, PWHT soak time shall be no less than one hour.
f. PWHT procedure shall be in accordance with the fabrication code and the following requirements.
g. For joints over 25mm thick, the rate of heating shall not exceed 5500/t °C/hr (where t= maximum
section thickness in mm) or 55°C/hr whichever is greater.
h. For joints over 25mm thick, the rate of cool down to 400°C shall not exceed 6875/t °C/hr (where t=
maximum section thickness in mm) or 55°C/hr whichever is greater.
i. All temperatures within the heated zone for furnace or localized PWHT shall exceed the specified
minimum holding temperature. The actual temperature range for the soak period, as recorded by
thermocouples, shall not have a spread of more than 40°C.
j. Welding or heating to joints that have been PWHT’ed requires re-PWHT. Post weld heat treatment,
where applicable, shall follow welding and repairs but shall be performed prior to any hydrotest.
k. No weld repairs to joints that have been PWHT shall be carried out without prior approval from
CONTRACTOR. Neither shall any re-PWHT be carried out without prior approval from
CONTRACTOR.
l. PWHT shall be carried out using one or more of the following types of heat sources:
i. Permanent or semi-permanent furnaces using gas or oil or electric heaters.
ii. Electrical resistance heaters.
iii. Induction heaters.
m. If PWHT is performed in the field, the minimum heating band shall be 5√(DT) and the minimum
insulation width shall be 10√(DT) where D = inside diameter in mm and T = wall thickness in mm.
n. A maximum of two complete PWHT cycles is permitted for each weld provided the time is suitably
qualified. Additional PWHT cycles shall not be performed without approval by the COMPANY.
o. Thermocouples shall be flash welded or mechanically bonded to the equipment pressure boundary.
p. All thermocouple attachments shall be adequately insulated to avoid temperature misreading
caused by the effect of radiation.
q. PWHT of materials shall be accomplished after all lugs or attachment welds are complete, unless
otherwise approved by COMPANY.
r. The temperature shall be continuously recorded. A chart of the heat up, soak and cool down while
at temperature above 260°C is required. Time intervals shall be recorded with temperature.
s. Thread and gasket surfaces shall be suitably protected from excessive oxidation during PWHT.
t. Low alloy steels (P-No. 3 through P-No. 6) shall be cooled from PWHT temperature to 150°C under
insulation.
u. For applications where PWHT is required by the service fluid or where hardness limits are specified:
i. Any reductions in the PWHT temperature or alternative temperatures below the normal
holding temperatures listed in fabrication code are not permitted.
ii. The minimum PWHT soak time shall be 1 hour.
v. If hardness limits are specified, the soak time for production welds shall not be less than 80% of the
PQR soak time unless approved by COMPANY.
w. Thermocouples and a calibrated temperature chart recorder shall be used to provide an accurate
and legible record of all PWHTs. All charts shall be marked with the date and sufficient information
to uniquely identify the vessel (or joint/component for localized PWHT) being heat treated. Multipoint
chart recorders shall clearly differentiate/identify each channel/point by use of different colored inks
or automatic number stamping.
x. Temperature recorders shall be calibrated every three months and a current calibration sticker shall
be maintained on the recorder. The calibration frequency may be extended to 12 months with the
approval of contractor if the documented calibration checks for that particular recorder demonstrate
acceptable accuracy for a suitable period.
y. Prior to the start of the PWHT, components shall be checked to ensure that all restraints are removed,
the component is free to expand and contract, and suitable and sufficient supports are used. In
addition, the PWHT chart should be marked, prior to PWHT, with identification number of the weld(s).
z. All machined surfaces, such as flange faces, threaded bolt holes, threads, etc., shall be protected
from oxidation during the heat treatment by coating with deoxaluminite or other suitable material.
aa. All PWHT chart records shall be submitted to contractor for review and approval. All records shall
be submitted as part of the equipment file for permanent record.
bb. After completion of the PWHT all thermocouples shall be removed and the attachment areas ground
smooth to clean and sound metal and the areas shall be examined by MT or PT after grinding.
cc. Controlled atmosphere, if needed to avoid deterioration of material properties, shall be considered
when applicable.
dd. Code exemptions for PWHT are not permitted if PWHT is specified for process conditions.
h. When an internal coating is specified, all welding must be completed before the internal coating is
applied.
Notes:
i. Where impact testing is required, both sides of repair shall be tested as described in B1-
5.12.
ii. Where repair qualification if required through thickness repair shall not qualify partial
thickness.
iii. The Subcontractor’s Project Quality Control organisation chart that indicates reporting order
and quality procedures.
B1-5.2 Calibration
All equipment for measurement of welding variables, execution of PWHT, consumable storage and NDE
or other required measurements of control shall be calibrated at east every 12 months. Calibration shall
be performed by a suitable organisation using standards traceable to national standards.
b. Only wet ultraviolet fluorescent or wet colour contrast (white ink) methods shall be used.
c. The magnetic yoke method shall be used.
d. Magnetic particle examination of welds shall include a band of base metal at least 25 mm wide on
each side of the weld.
e. The sensitivity of the method employed shall be demonstrated, prior to acceptance of the MPI
procedure by means of a calibrated Burmah-Castrol strip type 1 (or equivalent), and/or suitable
sample welds.
f. A hardness test shall consist of three hardness readings in the deposited weld metal. The average
of these three readings shall be reported as the test result.
g. Hardness tests shall be performed on the side exposed to the process fluid when possible.
h. Hardness testing results shall be expressed in Brinell numbers. The hardness report shall indicate
actual hardness reading for the test method used plus Brinell conversion. The use of methods other
than portable Brinell tester require CONTRACTOR approval. Conversion shall be in accordance
with ASTM E140.
i. Hardness tests shall be performed after PWHT when PWHT is required.
j. The hardness test report shall indicate type of hardness tester, personnel conducting hardness tests,
type of material, and last calibration date.
k. The COMPANY`s representative may witness the performance of production hardness testing. The
documented test results shall be submitted to the CONTRACTOR when requested.
B2-1 Documentation
No additional requirements. Refer to with General Section B1 for documentation requirements.
B2-2 Qualification
B2-4 Fabrication
B2-4.1 General
Fabrication of piping shall be carried out in accordance with General Section B1-4 and the following
additional requirements:
a. All fillet (including slip-on flanges and non-pressure attachments) and socket welds shall be two- (2)
pass minimum unless otherwise agreed to by the CONTRACTOR and the COMPANY.
b. Frontal gap (1.6mm minimum) for socket welds shall be ensured.
c. Piping requiring special cleaning shall have the root pass deposited with the gas tungsten arc
process. The backside of the root pass shall be purged with inert gas.
d. For piping welds on P-4 up to P-8 material, the root pass shall be made with the GTAW process and
an inert back purging gas. The back purge shall be maintained until at least 6 mm thickness of weld
metal has been deposited or the weld joint is filled, whichever is less
e. Open-root welds, made with SMAW (except E6010 when allowed) electrodes or GMAW (Spray or
Globular Transfer) require back gouging and re-welding.
INSPECTION LEVELS, %
Material Service ANSI Class
RT MT PT
B3 SECTION B (PART 3) – WELDING AND NDE OF PRESSURE VESSEL AND HEAT EXCHANGERS
This section defines the welding, thermal treatment, examination and testing requirements for shop
fabricated pressure vessels and heat exchangers in accordance with ASME VIII Div 1 & 2.
This section shall be read in conjunction with the General requirements of Section B1. This section details
additions and modifications to Section B1.
B3-1 Documentation
No additional requirements. Refer to with General Section B1-1 for documentation requirements.
B3-2 Qualification
No additional requirements. Refer to with General Section B1-2 for qualification requirements.
B3-4 Fabrication
B3-4.1 General
Fabrication of pressure vessels shall be carried out in accordance with General Section B1-4 for
fabrication requirements.
e. For special applications such as wall thickness greater than 60 mm or work pieces of very
complicated shape or with double wall, the temperature at time of insertion shall not exceed 300°C.
f. The number and location of thermocouples shall be in accordance with the applicable ASME Code,
but a minimum of three shall be used, attached to the thickest and thinnest weldments of the
pressure boundary. All thermocouple attachments shall be adequately insulated to avoid
temperature misreading caused by the effect of radiation.
B4-1 Documentation
No additional requirements. Refer to with General Section B1 for documentation requirements.
B4-2 Qualification
Welding procedures and welders used for the fabrication of tanks shall be qualified in accordance with
General Section B1-2 and the following additional requirements:
B4-4 Fabrication
Fabrication of tanks shall be carried out in accordance with General Section B1-4 and the following
additional requirements:
a. Open-root welds, made from one side with low hydrogen electrodes, GMAW (Spray or Globular
Transfer) or FCAW require back gouging and re-welding.
b. Temporary fabrication attachment welds on pressure shells shall be removed. The surface under
such welds and under backing rings that have been removed shall be properly conditioned to
eliminate surface stress risers. These surfaces shall be inspected by the magnetic particle method
for ferrous materials or the dye penetrant method for CRA materials in accordance with the
applicable section of this specification.
c. The sequence employed for the tack welding and final welding of the bottom, shell and roof plates
shall be arranged to minimize distortion due to weld shrinkage. The sequences shall be approved
by the CONTRACTOR before erection starts.
d. The weld metal on both sides of all butt joints, except offset faces of horizontal joints of unequal
plate thickness, shall be built up in the form of an overlay so that all the finished face in the area of
fusion shall extend above the surface of the adjoining plates without exceeding the maximum
reinforcement requirements of the fabrication code.
e. Unless otherwise specified, all welded attachments shall be fully seal welded. Where required, drain
holes shall be provided.
f. All bottom plate lap joints shall be fully fillet welded on the top side only. If a full fillet weld cannot be
achieved in one pass, the fillet weld shall be made in two passes.
b. Tack welds in the horizontal joints between shell plates, and in the joints between roof plates and
shell plates, need not be removed provided that they are sound and free from cracks, that the
covering beads are thoroughly fused into them, and that the quality of the welding is to the
satisfaction of the CONTRACTOR’S representative.
c. The parts to be joined by fillet welds shall be brought together as closely as practical. The gap
between faying surfaces of lap joints should not exceed 1.5mm. If the separation is greater than
1.5mm after straightening and assembly, the leg of the fillet weld shall be increased by the amount
of separation but shall not exceed 6mm. The gap shall not exceed 3mm.
c. Three cross sections of the test plate weldment shall be polished and etched sufficiently to show the
weld’s penetration into the base material. Full fusion shall exist throughout each cross section. If
the first pass destroys the vertical edge of the lap weld, a minimum of 2.5 mm peak penetration into
the bottom plate shall be shown.
iv. 2% of the horizontal seam length for plates 13mm thick and less.
v. 5% of the horizontal seam length for plates over13 mm thick.
d. For bottom annular plates, applicable section of API STD 650 / 620 shall apply. Inspection of tank
bottom welds, reinforcement plate welds, vacuum testing shall be in accordance with applicable
section of API STD 650 / 620.
B4-5.2.1 General
For P-No.1 materials, hardness testing is required where automatic or semiautomatic welding processes
are used. One test from each 3 m of longitudinal and circumferential weld seam is required. In addition,
one test shall be made on each nozzle flange-to-neck and nozzle neck-to-shell weld. Each welding
procedure used shall be tested. Hardness results shall not exceed 200 HB.
SECTION E
• The use of other processes requires the prior authorization of the COMPANY.
Application of such processes shall not be assumed acceptable by the
VENDOR during bid preparation, and if intended for use must be submitted,
discussed and accepted in writing prior to award of purchase.
The base metal for clad restored seams shall be completely welded before the clad restoration is applied.
The base metal surface at the cladding interface shall be ground flush before cladding restoration.
Penetration into base metal shall not exceed 0.8 mm as shown in Figure E1.4.
Clad removal shall be verified by testing with a saturated copper sulphate solution in accordance with
ASTM A380.
E1-5.2 Cleaning
a. Each weld pass shall be thoroughly cleaned and all slag or other foreign matter removed before the
next pass is deposited.
b. All slag, flux, and spatter shall be removed from the completed weld and surrounding areas.
c. Stainless steel and nonferrous materials shall be cleaned with alloy compatible grinding wheels or
stainless steel brushes not previously used on other materials.
E1-8 Testing
b. All cracks, lack of fusion, surface slag/scale overlaps, undercuts, arc strikes and surface porosity
are unacceptable.
E2 APPENDIX E2 – WELDING & NDE REQUIREMENTS FOR CR-MO / CR-MO-V STEEL IN HIGH
TEMPERATURE, HIGH PRESSURE HYDROGEN SERVICE
Table E2.6 Chemical Composition Limits for Cr-Mo Steel Weld Consumables
Max. Element Limits (wt %)
J-factor Max. X-bar Max. K-factor Max.
Material
C P S Cu Ni Limits Limits Limits (ppm)
2¼Cr-1Mo
2¼ Cr-1Mo 0.2 0.3 15
/
As per AWS specification 100 1.5 Note 3
3Cr-1Mo
2¼Cr-1Mo-
¼V
Notes:
1. Phosphorous content in weld consumables for the welding of piping, pipe flanges and pipe fittings shall be a maximum of
0.012 wt%.
2. Sulphur content in weld consumables for the welding of piping, pipe flanges and pipe fittings shall be a maximum of 0.012
wt%.
3. Special requirement for SAW of 2¼Cr-1Mo-¼V: For each heat-of-wire / batch-of-flux combination, screening test for RHC
susceptibility shall be carried out as per Annex-B of API RP 934A. The acceptance criteria for wire-flux combination shall
be as follows;
i. Average Reduction of Area (RoA) of the two specimens shall be 32 % min;
ii. RoA of individual specimen shall be 29 % min.
b. A minimum of EN 10204 3.1 certification is required for all welding consumables, the certification
shall include mechanical properties and chemical composition in conformance to the welding
consumable classification of ASME BPVC II-C. All such certification shall be original or red stamped
verified copies by CONTRACTOR approved inspectors.
surveys shall include the base material, HAZ and the weld metal. See Figure E2.5 below for test
locations.
Hardness tests shall be performed on each 3 m length of weld, or fraction thereof and one test per nozzle.
This testing shall be performed on the side exposed to the process environment when accessible. The
test locations shall include weld metal and base metals close to the fusion line on both sides - one result
consisting of three hardness measurements at each test location. This requirement does not apply to
weld overlays or welds that are covered with weld overlay on the side exposed to the process.
ii. Proposed testing conditions representing or exceeding the equivalent of actual maximum
operating service are indicated in Table 3 of API RP 934- A;
iii. Six domains of test conditions, depending on reactor wall thickness, pressure and temperature
are defined in Table 4 of API RP 934-A. The disbonding test shall be carried out as per
corresponding domain test condition;
iv. The acceptance criteria shall be meet area ranking A and distribution ranking 1 of ASTM G146;
v. Previous qualified hydrogen disbonding test results can be submitted if representative of the
proposed WPS, and process conditions are similar to the contract (relaxation of testing may be
considered if the domain falls into D, E, F for 2¼Cr-1Mo, 2¼Cr 1Mo ¼V and 3Cr-1Mo or for all
domains for 1¼Cr-½Mo);
vi. The test procedure and results shall be submitted for the Contractor’s and the COMPANY’S
review and authorization with the WPS and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR)s.
g. Hardness test shall meet the hardness acceptance values mentioned in E2-4.4.2.
Notes:
1. In accordance with applicable code i.e. ASME BPVC Section VIII Div. 2, Table 6.10 or ASME BPVC Section VIII Div. 1,
Table UCS-56-3.
2. In accordance with applicable code i.e. ASME BPVC Section VIII Div. 2, Table 6.11.
3. The electrode manufacturers have developed their materials for thicker welds, and even with thinner welds, this longer
heat treatment is needed to meet toughness and tensile properties. In accordance with applicable codes, i.e. ASME BPVC,
Section VIII, Division 2 requirements table 6.11, Table UCS-56-4 must also be met if stricter.
Continuous time-temperature records of all PWHT operation shall be documented to meet the
requirements of ASME Section VIII, Div. 2.
For all heat treatments, a fully detailed heat treatment procedure shall be provided. Heat treatment shall
not commence until heat treatment procedures have been reviewed and approved by COMPANY. Heat
treatment procedures shall include support types, number and locations; thermocouple types, number,
method of attachment, locations and calibration method; heating and cooling methods, heating and
cooling rates and holding temperature, holding time and furnace atmosphere.
E2-5.1 General
a. Non-destructive Examination (NDE) personnel shall be qualified in accordance with ASNT SNT-TC-
1A Level 2. Personnel interpreting and reporting results shall also be qualified Level 3 to the same
practice.
b. For ASME VIII Div. 2 vessels, NDE personnel shall be qualified per Section VIII, Div. 2. NDE
procedures shall be submitted to COMPANY for approval prior to start of fabrication.
d. When performing the supplementary UT testing for detection of transverse RHC, the following
conditions shall apply:
e. All pressure retaining base metal welds (including nozzles) and vessel to support skirt welds shall
be fully examined for transverse RHC by UT Time-of-Flight Diffraction (ToFD) in accordance with
guidance in API RP 934-A Annex A and shall be undertaken in accordance with a COMPANY
approved NDE procedure;
f. To request a waiver of the inspection for RHC prior to final PWHT in lieu of after PWHT for pre-
screened SAW welds, the welding consumables MANUFACTURER / SUPPLIER shall provide
certification that all wire / flux combinations used in the manufacture of the vessel have negligible
susceptibility to RHC. See API RP-934-A Annex B for guidance regarding pre-screening welds for
susceptibility to RHC;
g. NDE shall be performed at least 24 hours after the welds have been intermediate PWHT’d and
cooled down to ambient temperature;
h. The ToFD examination shall be in accordance with ASME VIII, Division 2,
i. Acceptance criteria for the ToFD examination shall be in accordance with ASME Section VIII,
Division 2.
j. The ToFD operators performing the examination, data analysis, interpretation and evaluation shall
be qualified and certified in accordance with ASNT SNT-TC-1A and ASNT CP-189, Levels I and II;
k. The employer’s written practice for qualification and certification of ToFD personnel shall be subject
to the approval of the CONTRACTOR and COMPANY;
l. ToFD procedures shall be approved by an ASNT SNT-TC-1A Level III individual;
m. ToFD procedures shall be subject to the approval of the CONTRACTOR and COMPANY; The
examination shall be performed from the outer surface of the vessel;
n. The near outer surface of the welds and HAZ shall be examined using creep-wave probes that have
been calibrated on a 3 mm (1/8 in) diameter Side-drilled Hole (SDH) calibration block, located at a
depth of 3 mm (1/8 in) below the outer surface;
o. The probe-to-SDH distance shall be 10 mm (3/8 in);
p. Acceptance criteria of the creep-wave inspection shall be in accordance with ASME VIII Div. 1,
Appendix 12;
q. The creep-wave procedure shall be approved by a UT Level III individual; and,
r. The creep-wave procedure shall be subject to the approval of the CONTRACTOR and COMPANY.
E3-0 General
This appendix describes the welding and associated NDE controls required for severe service as
described in AGES-SP-07-003 and fall into the following categories:
a. Sour service / Wet H2S service;
b. Alkaline carbonate services;
c. Amine services with any concentration;
d. Caustic services with any concentration;
e. Ammonium bisulphide (NH4HS) with concentration > 2 wt%.
E3-1.4.1 General
This section applies to the fabrication of vessels and of piping systems both in the shop and on the plant.
The requirements also apply to welding of internal and external attachments to the pressure boundary
components. This section is NOT applicable to seam welding and manufacture of welded pipe.
The inside weld surfaces of pressure equipment such as vessels, exchangers, and compressor casings
fabricated from plates shall have the weld reinforcement ground smooth and as nearly flush as possible
to reduce stress risers, remove built-in notches, undercuts, etc. to facilitate NDE examination.
Stress raisers, such as welds overly reinforced with high crowns or with the tops of crowns ground flat
and having sharp edges or welds with rough bead profiles, shall be corrected. The remains of any
internal temporary attachments, line-up clamps, backing bars, or arc strikes shall be ground flush with
the base metal and inspected with MT / WFMT before preparation for shipment.
c. Preheat and inter pass temperature shall be sufficient to achieve the specified hardness levels
in the weldments.
E3-1.4.5 Attachments
a. These requirements apply to welding of all temporary or permanent internal or external
attachments made to the pressure containing components.
b. All attachment welds shall be two passes minimum.
c. All internal / external attachments shall be welded to the main component using full penetration
welds unless approved otherwise by COMPANY.
d. Fillet welding can only be used where fillet welding is the only option e.g. saddles / doubler pads.
e. Pre-heat shall be calculated based on the base metal thickness and chemistry, according to the
ruling Specification or Code. Also, the base metal shall be preheated sufficiently to ensure that
the required preheat temperature has been achieved through the full material thickness. The
preheat temperature shall be measured on the side of the member to which the attachment weld
is to be made. The internal weld surfaces shall be made as smooth and as nearly flush as
possible to reduce stress risers, remove built-in notches, and to facilitate MT/ WFMT.
E3-1.4.5.1 Production Weld Testing
a. Production weld hardness testing is required for all weld types in sour service / wet H2S service,
no exemptions are permitted
b. Production welds hardness testing shall be performed using portable comparison testers in
accordance with ASTM A833 or equivalent. Hardness measuring devices for production weld
hardness testing shall comply with NACE MR0103 / ISO 17945, Annex B.
c. Where practical, hardness checks shall be made on the process-side. Otherwise, checks shall
be made on the opposite side.
d. Hardness checks shall be made on every weld repair.
e. Hardness checks shall include attachment welds and fillet welds where practical.
f. A test shall consist of three readings, and the mean value shall be the test result.
g. A reduced frequency of hardness checks is permitted for shop fabrications where PWHT is
achieved by furnace treatment, see Table E3.8.
Test each weld seam, minimum Test each weld seam, minimum of
Main seam welds of 1 test per seam, and 1 1 test per seam, and 1 additional
Pressure vessels, other additional test every 3 m length test every 3 m length
pressure equipment, and
tanks Nozzle or man-way weld 1 Test per nozzle Each weld
Notes
1. Each weld is not applicable for tubesheet to tube field weld joints.
2. The Party responsible for hardness testing (e.g. SUPPLIER or SUB-CONTRACTOR) shall advise the schedule of testing to
CONTRACTOR or COMPANY in reasonable time and allow CONTRACTOR or COMPANY representative to witness the
testing.
3. The results of tests shall be included in the Databooks for equipment or process unit.
NDE Method
Item Wall Thickness (mm)
Visual WFMT RT / UT
100 %
≤ 50
Pressure Vessels and (Note 1, 2)
Equipment 100 % 100 %
> 50 100 %
(Note 1) (Note 1, 2, 3, 4)
100 %
Piping and Piping Systems All thicknesses
(Note 1, 2)
Notes:
1. Examined after final PWHT.
2. UT shall be used when RT is impractical.
3. Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) UT method shall be used.
4. To be performed both before and after final PWHT.
E3-1.4.6.1 General
The manufacture, welding and the properties of Stainless Steel (SS) and Corrosion Resistant Alloys
(CRAs) shall comply with the requirements of NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3 or NACE MR0103 /
ISO 17945 (including all heat treatments and hardness limits) as applicable, with any modifications
and additional requirements in this Specification / Supplement. Specific requirements for upstream
and downstream services are given in the applicable sections of this supplement.
E3-1.4.6.3 Fabrication and Welding of Stainless Steels and Corrosion Resistant Alloys
E3-1.4.6.3.1 General
This section applies to the welding & NDE of vessels and of piping systems both in the shop and on
plant. The requirements also apply to welding of internal and external attachments to the pressure
boundary components.
The requirements regarding welding procedures, welding qualification, testing and weld properties
shall be applicable in accordance with NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-3 or NACE MR0103 / ISO 17945
as applicable, in addition to the requirements of this specification that applies for the equipment or
piping.
E3-1.4.6.6 Attachments
These requirements apply to welding of all temporary or permanent internal or external attachments
made to the pressure containing components. All attachment welds shall be two passes minimum.
All internal / external attachments shall be welded to the main component using full penetration
welds unless approved otherwise by COMPANY. Fillet welding can only be used where fillet welding
is the only option e.g. saddles / doubler pads. Pre-heat shall be calculated based on the base metal
thickness and chemistry, according to the ruling Specification or Code. Also, the base metal shall
be preheated sufficiently to ensure that the required preheat temperature has been achieved through
the full material thickness. The preheat temperature shall be measured on the side of the member
to which the attachment weld is to be made.
Adequate back-purging shall be achieved in order to prevent oxidation of the surface of the metal in
contact with the process environment. The internal weld surfaces shall be made as smooth and as
nearly flush as possible to reduce stress risers, remove built-in notches, and to facilitate NDE.
NDE Method
Item Wall Thickness (mm)
Dye-penetrant Testing
Visual RT / UT
(PT)
100 % (Note
Pressure ≤ 50
1, 2)
Vessels and
Equipment 100 % (Note
> 50 100 % Note
100 % 1, 2, 3,4)
1
Piping and
All 100 % (Note
Piping
thicknesses 1, 2)
Systems
Notes:
TOFD examination shall be in accordance with ASME V and ASME BPVC code case 2235. For
welds whose configuration precludes radiography such as fillet welds or internal parts, UT
examination shall be done instead of radiography and the examination report shall be included on
the dossier. The acceptance criteria and aspects of NDE for piping and vessels shall be in
accordance with this specification and project specification as applicable.
E3-1.5 Requirements For Sour Service / Wet H2S Service In Upstream Oil And Gas Processing
E3-1.5.1 General
For upstream oil and gas production facilities, all materials in sour service / wet H2S service (pH2S>0.05
psi) shall comply with the requirements of NACE MR0175 / ISO15156-2 as modified and supplemented
by the applicable sections of this Specification.
E3-1.6.3 PWHT
b. Other process conditions may also require PWHT, as determined during the project design.
c. Code exemptions for PWHT are not permitted if PWHT is specified for process conditions.
d. All piping weldments in “HIGH” severity service (Table 8.1 and Table 8.2 of AGES-SP-07-003) or
with design pressure above 64 kg / cm2 shall be post-weld heat treated. The PWHT procedure shall
consist of heating weldments to 620 °C for a hold time of one hour for each 25 mm, or fraction
thereof, of metal thickness with a minimum hold time of one hour. The heating band requirement
piping shall be as per NACE SP0472 (Appendix D requirements are mandatory).
e. All piping components in “LOW” and “MODERATE” severity service (Table 8.1 and Table 8.2 of
AGES-SP-07-003) shall be PWHT’d with the following exceptions:
• Weld thickness is more than 5mm and ≤ 19 mm;
• Weld is not double sided;
• Hardness values are in conformance to the requirement of NACE MR0103 / NACE
SP0472;
• Weldment is multi-pass welds;
• PWHT is not specified by design code;
PWHT is mandatory:
• If not meeting any of the above requirements from a to e; However since PWHT is an
essential welding variable, a qualified weld procedure based on PWHT shall be required
to approved by COMPANY;
• Where production hardness values are not met; or where,
• PWHT is specified by Licensor.
E3-5.1 General
There are currently no additional controls identified in AGES-SP-07-003.
E3-6 Testing