ARAMCO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Which API Specification governs valve hydrostatic test pressure?

API 598

2. What pressure tests are required for Gate Valve?

Hydrostatic Test

3. What is the purpose of backseat test?

To identify the valve stem leak

4. Is it permissible to use a sealing compound for the installation of threaded joint?

Yes

5. Of what does pipe inspection at the mill consist?

Heat Number, Material Grade

6. What is included in a dimensional inspection of a length pipe?

Pipe schedule, Length, Material specification, Pipe size, Ovality, dent.

7. What information should be stamped on a butt weld fitting?

Heat Number, Material Grade, Rating, Size, Schedule

8. What dimensions should be checked when inspecting a raised face welding?

Horizontal, vertical, Rotational, combination, bolt offset hole

9. How should a socket weld flange be setup for welding to a Pipe?

Before welding provide gap olet ring and provide 1.5mm to 3mm gap.

10. Why are vent hole put in reinforcement pad?

Reinforcing pad of welded branch connections shall be pneumatically leak tested with air at 1.75
bar through a minimum of ¼” (6mm) tapped vent hole/weep hole for venting and examined for
leaks using a soap solution at a reduced pressure of 0.2 to 0.35 bar. The 6mm tapped vent shall
not be located in the crotch of the branch.

11. List five items that you would expect to find in a material test certificate?

Chemical compositions, Hydro test report, RT report, HT report, PMI report etc.
12. What flange face is standard on steel gate valve?

Smooth finish and serrated finish.

13. Where the Saudi Aramco Line Class Designators and Service Code are be found?
It is found in SAES-L-105 and Project Piping Material Specification for the individual Packages
followed by the International Standard B31.3.
14. Break down the line class 6” – CA-127-1CS3C
6” = Pipe Size
CA = Drawing No.
127 = Drawing No.
1CS3C = 1 – 150 Flange Rating,
CS – Carbon Steel (Base Material),
3 – Corrosion Allowance (4.8mm) &
C - Caustic
15. What is a piping system?
A Piping system is a system which connects the equipment (Pressure vessel, Heat exchangers,
pumps, compressors and other fluid handling or processing equipment) which follows
International Codes & Standards based on the Industrial Application.
A piping system consists of the following.
1. Line Class
2. Service
3. Pressure Rating
4. Corrosion Allowance
16. How do you verify that the correct piping material is used?
It can be identified through the following ways
1. Heat No. Traceability with MTC
2. With Material ASTM Specification
3. Color Coding system
4. Positive Material Identification
17. What is often overlooked during orifice flange fabrication?
1. Orifice Tapping Hole orientation
2. Flow direction
3. Flush grinding after Welding
4. NDT after Flushing
5. Seal Welding of Orifice tapping with instrument connection
 6. All parallel pipe lines with adjacent orifice fittings shall have a min spacing of 300 mm (12
in) between flanges outside diameters if horizontal taps are required.
18. What are the common failures in the quality system during fit-up that leads to hydro-test failures?
1. Inappropriate Installation of Material used ( Base material, Thickness, Rating)
2. Internal Misalignment
3. Excess Root gap
19. What is the maximum diameter piping allowed in hazardous service?

Socket weld:- 2” for maintenance & minor modification & 1-½” for new construction

Threaded:- 1-½” for standard fitting & valve, and 2” maximum when required for maintenance,
minor field minor modification of existing piping system (SAES-L-110)

20. When a flange connects the pump or other equipment, is there any special tolerance involved?

For piping over 3-inch NPS and connected to machinery/equipment, flange alignment shall
be within the following limits unless piping analysis per SAES-L-120 shows that loads and
moments are within the manufacturer's limits for the machinery/equipment nozzle:
a) Vertical bolt hole offset: ± 2.4 mm
b) Horizontal bolt hole offset: ± 2.4 mm
c) Rotational offset: ± 2.4 mm
d) Flange face tilt across diameter: 0.025 mm per 25 mm (0.001 inch per inch) of
flange outside diameter up to a maximum of 0.672 mm (0.030 inch), and 0.254mm
(0.010 inch) for all flanges with an outside diameter less than 10 inches.
e) Flange face separation, gasket thickness: ± 1.6 mm
f) Combination of vertical, horizontal and rotational offset: ± 3.2 mm
21. What is required thread engagement for piping at Saudi Aramco and where can it be found?
The Minimum number of the engaged threads per nominal size is as follows.
1. For ½” and ¾” - 6 threads must be engaged
2. For 1” to 1 ½” - 7 threads must be engaged
3. For 2” to 3” - 8 threads must be engaged

It is found in SAES-L-350

22. How can an inspector determine if cold spring exists visually on a flanged section of pipe?
It can be determined, if the pipe is stressed mechanically like Bending, Twisting or Pulling. And it is not
acceptable

23. What are the attachments in Test package?

1. General Information Sheet
2. Test package flow chart
3. Test package table of contents
4. Test package diagram legend
5. Schematic package diagram and test manifold
6. Drawing summary report
7. Piping instrument (marked-up) diagram (P&IDs)
8. Piping spool diagram
9. Pretest punch list
10. Joint weld and NDT summary
11. Field valve test report
12. Bolt tightening and gasket verification report
13. Internal cleaning and flushing report
14. Visual inspection of orifice flange
15. Slope survey report
16. Reinforcement pad test report
17. Instrument removed check list
18. Test preparation check list
19. Water chemistry report
20. Calibration checklist – all certificates to be attached
21. Verify test equipment
22. Online check/control valve status
23. Safety instruction sheet
24. Blind control sheet
25. Pressure test report
26. Test package drain and lay-up report
27. Reinstatement.
24. What is SAEP – 327?

Disposal of waste water from cleaning, flushing and dewatering from pipelines and vessels.
25. What is hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure test?

Hydrostatic pressure test is a pressure test conducting using water or other approved liquid as the
test medium whereas pneumatic pressure test is a pressure test conducted air or other approved
gas as the test medium or in conjunction with liquid.

26. What we check in water analysis and its value for CS & SS?

In water analysis we check the PH value and chloride content, For CS PH value is 7.5± 5 and
chloride content is < 250ppm. For SS PH value is 10.5 ± 0.5 and chloride content is < 50ppm.

27. What are the different types of fluids in ASME, Explain?

1. Category D fluid service:- nonflammable, non-toxic and non-damaging to human tissues,
temperature range is -29 degree Celsius to 186 degree Celsius.
2. Category M fluid service:- toxic and flammable
3. High pressure fluid service:- based on class 2500 rating for specified design temperature and
material group.
4. Normal fluid service:- not subjected to D,M or high pressure fluid service.
28. Why do we provide drip leg in steam line?

To remove condensate when there is a rise of same in the pipe along the flow direction. If drip
leg is not provided in steam line, the condensate which forms inside the pipe will result in water
hammer effect causing damage to the piping system.

29. What things are found in a Piping Isometric drawing?

Line conditions, references to drawings, materials of construction(Bill Of

Materials), continuations, orientation, piping and drawing details and notes,
revision control and approval status.

30. What is the color code for the material?( standard)

 PFI ES 22( PIPING FABRICATION INSTITUTE)

31.Write inspection items during valves installation?

1. Valve type correct at location
2. Valve test certificate
3. Valve tag as per P&ID
4. Valve direction of flow as per P&ID
5. Gasket bolts as per isometric & type
6. Handle direction
7. Chain wheel installed
8. Valve flange face condition