Engineering Standard
SAES-L-136 31 December 2016
Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee
Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations .................................... 2
3 References ........................................................ 2
4 Definitions .......................................................... 4
5 General .............................................................. 4
6 Requirements by Material .................................. 5
Revision Summary................................................... 8
Previous Issue: 9 March 2013 Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019
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Contact: Rumaih, Abdullah M. (rumaam0c) on phone +966-13-8801753
©Saudi Aramco 2016. All rights reserved.
Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 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 Line Classes
SAES-L-131 Fracture Control of Line Pipe
SAES-L-133 Corrosion Protection Requirements for Pipelines,
Piping, and Process Equipment
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Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
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-S-060 Saudi Aramco Plumbing Code
SAES-S-070 Installation of Utility Piping Systems
SAES-W-011 Welding Requirements for On-Plot Piping
Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications
01-SAMSS-035 API Line Pipe
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-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
ASME B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids and
Slurries
ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
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Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
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-333 High Frequency Welded Line Pipe
01-SAMSS-043 Carbon Steel Pipes for On-Plot Piping
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.
5.1.5 CRA clad pipe spools shall be procured in accordance with
01-SAMSS-044.
5.2 Seamless pipe intended for sour service, as defined in SAES-L-133, 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.
5.3 HIC testing is not required for the backing carbon steel base metal used to
manufacture CRA clad or weld overlayed pipe or pipe spools, intended for sour
service, and procured in accordance with their applicable SAMSSs.
Sour or corrosive services are as defined in SAES-L-133.
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Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
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 MED/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:
a) On-plot piping in accordance with ASME B31.3 or ASME B31.1
except for fire water systems.
b) ASME B31.8 Gas pipelines in sour or corrosive services, as
defined in SAES-L-133, in locations Class 3 and Class 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.
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Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
e) In low temperature service (below 0°C).
f) For offshore applications.
g) Backing Carbon Steel Material for Lined or Weld Overlayed Pipes.
6.7 Restrictions on use of Spiral Weld Pipe:
1. Spiral welded pipe shall not be used for on-plot piping.
2. 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.
3. Backing Carbon Steel Material for Lined or Weld Overlayed Pipes.
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
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
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Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
actual grade. In addition, girth weld requirements established in Saudi Aramco
welding standard SAES-W-011 for grades X65 or X70 shall be followed.
6.11 Low Temperature Piping Requirements
6.11.1 When the minimum design 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 or 01-SAMSS-043 shall be used.
Pipe in accordance with 01-SAMSS-333 (ERW pipe) shall be used at
0°C and above.
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:
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,
and ASTM A350 Grade LF2 Class 1.
6.11.5 All weld neck flanges, any lap joint flanges, blind flanges, spectacle
plates, spacers and slip blinds, shall comply with requirements specified
in 02-SAMSS-011.
6.12 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.
6.13 The additional requirements of 01-SAMSS-035 for fracture control of
transportation pipelines shall be applied as specified in SAES-L-131.
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Document Responsibility: Materials Engineering Standards Committee SAES-L-136
Issue Date: 31 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 31 December 2019 Pipe, Flange, and Fitting Material Requirements
Revision Summary
19 December 2011 Major revision.
9 March 2013 Editorial revision to clarify prohibiting ERW & Spiral pipes to be used as backing carbon steel
material for lined and weld overlayed pipes, which is already stated in 01-SAMSS-048.
31 December 2016 Major revision to incorporate the following:
1) Deleted paragraph 5.4 related to the HIC test requirement for small quantity of seamless
pipes intended for sour service and procured in accordance with 01-SAMSS-038.
2) Rearranged paragraph 6.7 related to the restrictions on the use of spiral weld pipe.
3) Removed the redundancy in paragraph 6.10 related to the restriction of X70 ERW pipe for
sour service.
4) Removed the statement in paragraph 6.11.4 related to the ASTM A516 material of the
blind flanges, spectacle plates, spacers and slip blinds.
5) Removed reference to the obsolete spec 01-SAMSS-038 “Small Direct Charge purchase
of Pipes” and
6) Corrected the titles of some references.
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