Engineering Standard

SAES-L-136 19 December 2011

Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements
Document Responsibility: Materials and Corrosion Control Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 Definitions....................................................... 4
5 General........................................................... 4
6 Requirements by Materials…......................... 5

Previous Issue: 19 October 2010 Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016

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Primary contact: Anezi, Mohammed Ali on 966-3-8760229

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2011. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

1 Scope

This Standard provides requirements for the selection of metallic and non-metallic pipe,
flanges and fittings for in-plant and pipeline applications, excluding utility and
plumbing piping as defined in SAES-S-060 and SAES-S-070.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this standard and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards (SAESs), Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this standard in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

3 References

The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this standard shall comply with the latest
edition of these documents to the extent specified in this standard.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a
Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-B-064 Onshore and Nearshore Pipeline Safety
SAES-L-100 Applicable Codes and Standards for Pressure
Piping Systems
SAES-L-105 Piping Material Specifications
SAES-L-131 Fracture Control of Line Pipe
SAES-L-132 Material Selection of Piping Systems

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Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

SAES-L-133 Corrosion Protection Requirements for

Pipelines/Piping
SAES-L-310 Design of Plant Piping
SAES-L-410 Design of Pipelines
SAES-L-620 Design of Nonmetallic Piping in Hydrocarbon and
Water Injection Systems
SAES-L-650 Construction of Nonmetallic Piping in
Hydrocarbon and Water Injection Systems
SAES-W-011 Welding Requirements for On-Plot Piping
SAES-S-060 Saudi Aramco Plumbing Code
SAES-S-070 Installation of Utility Piping Systems

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

01-SAMSS-035 API Line Pipe
01-SAMSS-038 Small Direct Charge Purchases of Pipe
01-SAMSS-039 Induction Pipe Bends
01-SAMSS-042 Reinforced Thermoset Resin (RTR) Pipe and
Fittings in Water and Hydrocarbon Services
01-SAMSS-043 Carbon Steel Pipes for On-Plot Piping
01-SAMSS-044 CRA Clad Pipe Spools
01-SAMSS-046 Stainless Steel Pipe
01-SAMSS-048 CRA Clad or Lined Steel Pipe
01-SAMSS-333 High Frequency Welded Line Pipe
02-SAMSS-005 Butt Welding Pipe Fittings
02-SAMSS-011 Forged Steel and Alloy Flanges
02-SAMSS-012 Weld Overlayed Fittings, Flanges and Spool
Pieces

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute

API SPEC 5L Specification for Line Pipe

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME B31.3 Process Piping

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Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

ASME B31.4 Liquid Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons,

LPG, Anhydrous Ammonia, and Alcohols
ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems

4 Definitions

Code: The appropriate code (ASME B31.3, ASME B31.4, or ASME B31.8) as
specified in SAES-L-100.

Pipe fittings: are elbows, tees, welding outlets, reducers, caps and lap joint stub ends;
as well as blind flanges, spectacle plates, spacers and slip blinds.

Transportation Pipelines: Pipelines constructed to ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8

codes. See SAES-L-100.

5 General

5.1 Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

5.1.1 Carbon steel pipe for pipelines and on-plot applications shall be in
accordance with the applicable specification (SAMSS) as follows:
01-SAMSS-035 API Line Pipe
01-SAMSS-038 Small Direct Charge Purchases of Pipe
01-SAMSS-333 High Frequency Welded Line Pipe
01-SAMSS-043 Carbon Steel Pipes for On-Plot Piping
Commentary:

The scope of 01-SAMSS-038 “Small Direct Charge Purchase of Pipes”

does not cover ASTM pipes. Hence, small quantity ASTM A106 Grade B
pipes, intended for on-plot applications, shall be substituted by API 5L
Grades as allowed by SAES-L-105 to allow procurement of small
quantities from stockists in accordance with 01-SAMSS-038.

5.1.2 Non-Metallic Pipe shall be in accordance with 01-SAMSS-042:

Reinforced Thermoset Resin (RTR) Pipe and Fittings in Water and
Hydrocarbon Services.

5.1.3 CRA (Corrosion Resistant Alloy) Clad or Lined Pipe shall be in

accordance with 01-SAMSS-048: CRA Clad or Lined Steel Pipe.

5.1.4 CRA (Corrosion Resistant Alloy) weld overlayed flanges and fittings
shall be procured in accordance with 02-SAMSS-012.

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Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

5.15 CRA clad pipe spools shall be procured in accordance with

01-SAMSS-044.

5.3 Seamless pipe intended for sour service shall not be procured as sour service
pipe in accordance with API SPEC 5L. HIC testing is not required for seamless
pipes intended for sour service and procured in accordance with 01-SAMSS-035
and 01-SAMSS-043.

5.4 HIC test is required for small quantity seamless pipes intended for sour service
and procured in accordance with 01-SAMSS-038.

6 Requirements by Material

The following requirements apply in addition to those given in the applicable Code:

6.1 Furnace butt-welded pipe shall not be used.

6.2 Cast iron pipe and fittings may only be used for utility and plumbing services as
defined in SAES-S-060 and SAES-S-070.

6.3 Nonmetallic Reinforced Thermoset Resin (RTR) pipe shall be used per
01-SAMSS-042, SAES-L-620 and SAES-L-650. For material service
compatibility, nonmetallic specialist of ME&CCD/CSD shall be consulted.

6.4 Carbon steel pipe shall have specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) of not
less than 35 ksi (241 MPa) equivalent to ASTM A106 Grade B or higher.

6.5 The highest grade for all types of pipes shall be restricted to API 5L Grade X-65
for sour service and API 5L Grade X-70 for non-sour service.

6.6 Restrictions on use of High Frequency Welded (HFI or ERW) carbon steel pipe.

6.6.1 High Frequency Welded pipe shall comply with the following
requirements:
a) For sour gas or corrosive services, as defined in SAES-L-133, high
frequency welded pipe manufactured in accordance with Class C
requirements of 01-SAMSS-333 shall be used with exceptions
listed in 6.6.2.
b) For all other services not covered in (a) above, pipes manufactured
in accordance with Class B requirements of 01-SAMSS-333 shall
be used with exceptions listed in 6.6.2.

6.6.2 ERW pipe shall not be used in the following applications:

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Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

a) On-plot piping in accordance with ASME B31.3 or ASME B31.1

except for firewater systems.
b) ASME B 31.8 Gas pipelines in sour or corrosive services, as
defined in SAES-L-133, in locations Class 3 and 4 as defined in
SAES-B-064.
c) ASME B31.8 Gas pipelines within 500 meters of the battery limits
of plants and permanently manned facilities.
d) Grade X70 and above in sour service.
e) In low temperature service (below 0°C).
f) For offshore applications.

6.7 Restrictions on use of Spiral Weld Pipe

1. Spiral weld pipe shall not be used in sour services, either for ASME B31.3
in-plant piping or for ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8 pipelines.
2. Spiral welded pipe shall not be used for on-plot piping

6.8 Restrictions on use of mechanically bonded Lined Pipe

Mechanically bonded lined pipe shall not be used in subsea applications.

6.9 Longitudinally welded pipe used in ASME B31.3 on-plot piping, shall be in the
heat treated, stress relieved condition or cold expanded in the following services.
i. Sour services as defined in SAES-L-133
ii. All caustic (NaOH) solutions, including conditions where caustic carryover
may occur (e.g., downstream from caustic injection points)
iii. All monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions (all temperatures)
iv. All diglycol amine (DGA) solutions above 138°C design temperature
v. All rich amino diisopropanol (ADIP) solutions above 90°C design
temperature
vi. All lean ADIP solutions above 60°C design temperature
vii. Boiler deaerator service (i.e., ambient temperature vacuum deaerators are
exempt)
viii. All diethanolamine (DEA) solutions
ix. All MDEA / aMDEA solutions

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Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

Commentary Note:

The above provisions are related to reducing the probability of stress

corrosion cracking and stress-oriented hydrogen-induced cracking (SOHIC).
SAES-L-133 also addresses corrosion and environmental cracking
considerations.

6.10 Pipe per API SPEC 5L grades X65 and X70 shall be derated to X60 when used
for ASME B31.3 on-plot piping API SPEC 5L Grade X70 pipe shall not be used
in any sour service even if derated. The pipe shall be marked with the actual
grade. In addition, girth weld requirements established in Saudi Aramco
welding standard SAES-W-011 for grades X65 or X70 shall be followed.

70 High Frequency (HFI) welded pipe shall not be used for sour service as
indicated in paragraph 6.5.2(d) above.

6.11 Low Temperature Piping Requirements

6.11.1 When the design minimum temperature (defined in SAES-L-310 or

SAES-L-410 as applicable) is at minus -18°C and above, pipe in
accordance with 01-SAMSS-035, 01-SAMSS-038, 01-SAMSS-043 or
01-SAMSS-333 shall be used.

6.11.2 When the minimum design temperature is within the range of -18°C to -
45°C inclusive, carbon steel piping and components shall be as specified
in this section

6.11.2.1 ERW pipe shall not be used below 0°C design temperature.

6.11.2.2 Pipe purchased in accordance with the specifications listed

below may be used if longitudinal Charpy V-notch impact
tests at -45°C demonstrate absorbed energies of 34/27 J
(25/20 ft-lbs):
a) ASTM A333 Grade 6
b) ASTM A671, Class 22, Grade CC60 or CC65,
Supplementary Requirement S-2 (Charpy V-Notch
Test)

6.11.3 ANSI/ASME B16.11 socket-welding and threaded fittings, less than

2-inch NPS, manufactured in accordance with ASTM A350 Grade LF2
Class 1, can be used down to a minimum design temperature of -45°C.

6.11.4 Pipe fittings for low temperature shall comply with the requirements of
02-SAMSS-005. Acceptable materials are ASTM A420 Grade WPL 6,

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Document Responsibility: Materials & Corrosion Control Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 19 December 2011
Next Planned Update: 19 December 2016 Pipe, Flange and Fitting Material Requirements

and ASTM A350 Grade LF2 Class 1. ASTM A516 plate may used for
blind flanges, spectacle plates, spacers and slip blinds.

6.11.5 All weld neck flanges, and any lap joint flanges shall comply with
requirements specified in 02-SAMSS-011.

6.11.6 Carbon steel pipe for sour service shall comply with 01-SAMSS-035 for
pipelines, or 01-SAMSS-043 for on-plot piping. Carbon steel pipe
fittings for sour service shall comply with 02-SAMSS-005. Flanges for
sour service shall comply with 02-SAMSS-011.

6.12 The additional requirements of 01-SAMSS-035 shall be applied as specified in

SAES-L-131 for fracture control of transportation pipelines.

Revision Summary
19 December 2011 Major revision.

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