JOB PROCEDURE FOR

RADIOGRAPHY
(X-RAY)

HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED

(HPCL)

CGD NETWORK FOR WEST BENGAL CLUSTER GA’s

DOC. NO. SGAPL/TEPL/HPCL/WB/SCH.04/RT-JP-14 Rev-00

Rev. Date Description Prepared By Checked By Approved By

00 02.05.2023 For Review &

SGAPL SGAPL TEPL/HPCL
Approval
 JOB PROCEDURE FOR
RADIOGRAPHY
(X-RAY)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 PURPOSE
2.0 SCOPE
3.0 REFERENCES
4.0 EQUIPMENTS,CONSUMABLES & ACCESSORIES
5.0 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION
6.0 METHODS
7.0 PROCEDURE/TECHNIQUE
8.0 PLACEMENT OF MARKER AND I.Q.I
9.0 SOURCE TO FILM DISTANCE
10.0 EXPOSURE TIME
11.0 FILM LOADING
12.0 NO. OF EXPOSURES
13.0 FILM PROCESSING
14.0 FILM VIEWING
15.0 FILM DENSITY
16.0 FILM CONTRAST
17.0 SENSITIVITY
18.0 INTERPRETATION
19.0 ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION CRITERIA
20.0 RE-TEST
21.0 REPORTING
22.0 FILM, STORAGE & ARCHIVE LIFE
23.0 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT

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1.0 PURPOSE
This procedure is used to detect/Identify volumetric and certain favorably oriented planar
Discontinuities in Metallic specimens during execution of Steel Pipeline Construction.

2.0 SCOPE
This Procedure describes Radiographic Testing of welds by using X-Radiations from respective Source
for detecting the discontinuities of pipeline butt welds.

All butt weld joints of pipeline shall be subjected to 100% radiography

Radiographic examinations of pipe to pipe butt weld shall be carried out using X-radiations only.

3.0 REFERENCES
3.1 ASME Section V, Article 2
3.2 API 1104 (Latest edition)- Standard for welding of pipelines and related Facilities
3.3 ASNT SNT TC-1A/CP-189

4.0 EQUIPMENT, CONSUMABLES & ACCESSORIES

❑ X-ray Source with control units (X-ray Crawler/External X-ray Unit) with all arrangements
❑ Survey Meter
❑ Dosimeter
❑ Films loaded in Cassettes as per Requirement
❑ Lead Screen
❑ Warning Placards
❑ Cordoning Rope
❑ Crayon or Paint Markers
❑ Measuring tape
❑ Elastic
❑ Pentameters (ASTM SET A/10 ISO 16)
❑ Lead Markers
❑ Dark Room Accessories & Consumables

5.0 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION

Pipeline radiographers shall be qualified in accordance with the requirement of API 1104 and to the full
satisfaction of PMC & Owner and as per ASNT-TC-1A Level 2

Certification of all the radiographers, qualified as per above, shall be furnished by the Contractors to the
Owner before a radiographer will be permitted to perform production radiography.

The radiographers shall be required to qualify with each radiographic procedure they use, prior to
performing the work assigned to him in accordance with the specification.

6.0 MEHTODS

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6.1 I.Q.I. SELECTION (IQI: IMAGE QUALITY INDICATOR)

I.Q.I selection shall be as per ASME Section V article 2 Table T 276 for ASTM WIRE TYPE PENETRAMETER.
The reference Tables are as follows.

Pipe Wall Thickness or Essential Wire Dia

ASTM SET DIN SET
Weld Thickness(mm) (mm)

0-6.4 0.20 A 10 ISO 16

6.4-9.5 0.25 A OR B 10 ISO 16
10 ISO 16 OR
9.5-12.7 0.33 B
6 ISO 12

12.7-19.1 0.41 B 6 ISO 12

19.1-25.4 0.51 B 6 ISO 12
25.4-50.8 0.64 B 6 ISO 12

6.2 FILM SELECTION

Radiographs shall be obtained using Industrial Radiography films. The Films used shall be Class II or III
(D4, D7 or equivalent); Fine grain, High contrast Film.

6.3 INTENSIFYING SCREEN

Lead screen of thickness 0.005”/0.1 to 0.15 mm and 0.2 to 0.25 mm front & back respectively shall be
used.

6.4 SURFACE PREPARATION

As far as possible all irregularities from the surface (to the extent of coverage of films) shall be removed
for better results and interpretation.

6.5 PREVENTION OF BACK SCATTERING

To achieve Radiography definition, it is required to check back scattering by placing lead no. B on the
backside of film holder to ensure the back scattering does not harm the film quality. In such case, it is
advised to place lead sheets on the backside of holder.

7.0 PROCEDURE / TECHNIQUE

Radiography shall be carried out using the following Techniques with X-Radiation.

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a) SINGLE WALL SINGLE IMAGE :

This Technique is ideal for pipelines. In this technique the radiation penetrates through single wall of
test Object & image of the single wall is recorded on the Radiograph. In the case of Pipelines the
Radiography Equipment with Panoramic X-ray source is placed at the Center of the Pipeline if possible.

b) DOUBLE WALL SINGLE IMAGE :

This Technique is also ideal for pipelines. Here the Single wall single image is not possible. In this
technique the Radiation penetrates through both the walls of test object (Pipeline) and Single image of
the test object closest to the film is recorded on the Radiography film.

8.0 PLACEMENT OF MARKER AND I.Q.I

Lead markers shall be kept to identify the test Object, Date of Radiography, area of interest of the object,
the weld numbers location of the Radiographs and any other information as specified by the
PMC/Owner.

I.Q.I. shall be placed approximately 25mm away from the location marker such that the thinnest wire of
the ASTM/DIN type pentameter shall be far most from the source side. In case of Panoramic Exposure
Techniques, minimum 4 Nos. of IQI’s shall be placed equal distant along the circumference.

All films shall be clearly identified by lead numbers, letters, and/or markers. The image of the markers
shall appear on the films, without interfering with the interpretation. These markers positions shall also
be marked on the part to be radiograph and shall be maintained during radiography.

9.0 SOURCE TO FILM DISTANCE

Focus (Source) to Film distance shall be such that the geometrical un-sharpness (Ug) shall be as per the
chart (as per ASME Section V, Article 2, Table 285) below.

Material thickness (inches) Ug Maximum

Under 2 0.020
2 to 3 0.030
over 3 to 4 0.040
Greater than 4 0.070

The Ug is determined by

Ug = Fd/D

Where Ug – geometrical un-sharpness

F – Focal spot the maximum projected dimension facing perpendicular to film centre.
D- Distance from focus of radiation to the specimen being radio graphed. (FFD)

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d- Distance from source side of the specimen to the film (thickness)

10.0 EXPOSURE TIME

Exposure time shall be calculated with penetrated wall thickness, F.F.D. and film speed using Exposure
chart.

11.0 FILM LOADING

Film shall be loaded in the dark room under proper safe light, Filter. Films shall be cut carefully without
any damages, scratches or finger marks/Nail marks. Sandwich the film between pair of screens & loaded
into tight PVC cassettes or holders.

12.0 NUMBER OF EXPOSURES

The number of Exposures will be such that the area of Interest is completely covered and when multiple
films are used the overlap between any 2 films will be a minimum of 40mm. One exposure shall be
taken for single wall single Image and Minimum of three exposures for Double Wall single Image
technique for Pipeline joints.

13.0 FILM PROCESSING

Film shall be process in a dark room under safe light. The temperature of the chemical shall be 20°C ±
1°C or as specified. The film shall be unloaded in hangers/ spools carefully to avoid any marks.

The manual processing involves the following steps.

All the steps shall be performed on a test film initially to determine any effect of processing.

Step: 1, Developer: Shake the hangers or spools to avoid any uneven developing marks. Developing time
shall be as recommended by film manufacturer varies from min. 3 to 8 minutes for class II films.

Step: 2, Stop bath: The stop bath is water with 5 to 6 drops of acetic acid per gallon of water. To arrest
developing action, films are immersed in a stop bath. Shake hangers/spools for 2 to 3 minutes in the
stop bath.

Step: 3, Fixer: To remove the excess silver grains from unexposed or less exposed part of film & to
harden base of film, the hangers/spools shall be immersed in fixer for at least 10 minutes.

Step: 4, Running water: Films shall be kept in running water tank where excess fixer will be washed
from the surface of the film. Wash at least for 10 minutes.

Step: 5, Drying: Films shall be dried in open space or in dryer with circulating hot air less than 55°C.

14.0 FILM VIEWING

The films shall be viewed under a high intensity Film Viewer capable of reading Radiographs of Density

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up to 4 & with adjustable light intensity. Viewing shall be done under subdued background lighting of
an intensity that will not cause troublesome reflection.

15.0 FILM DENSITY

To measure the film density, a calibrated densitometer or to calibrate the densitometer certified Step
Wedge Density Strip should be used.

The transmitted film density shall be between 1.8 and 3.5 throughout the weld incase of X-ray. The
unexposed base density of the film shall not exceed 0.30.

However as per API 1104 (Latest Edition) clause no. [Link], except small localized areas caused by
irregular weld configuration, the transmitted H&D density in the area of interest of transparent based
film shall not be less than 1.8 or greater than 4.0. Transmitted H&D Density for small localized area may
exceed these limits; however minimum densities shall not be less than 1.5 and maximum density shall
not exceed 4.2.

16.0 FILM CONTRAST

Contrast of the film shall be adequate to manifest on the Radiograph even the smallest thickness
differential. Better the contrast; better the visibility of discontinuity during interpretation.

17.0 SENSITIVITY

The film sensitivity shall be better than 2 % & shall be confirmed by computing or in accordance with
ASME Section V, Article 2, and Table 276 equivalent wire size.

The quality level of Radiographic sensitivity required for radiographic inspection shall be 2% of thickness.

18.0 INTERPRETATION

All indications that are equal to or greater than rejection level described in acceptance / rejection
criteria of API 1104 or as agreed by client’s inspector shall be considered representing defects and may
be cause of rejection or repair of the weld or base metal. All Radiographs showing film marks in the area
of interest shall be reshoot in accordance with this procedure.

19.0 ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION CRITERIA

Acceptance or rejection criteria shall be in accordance with API 1104. Radiographic examination of all
girth welds with 100% coverage of the weld shall be done as per requirement. All welds shall meet the
requirement of criteria as in API 1104 & Client Specification.

20.0 RE-TEST
Retest of the repaired area shall be carried out in accordance with this procedure and Repair film shall

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be identified with letter “R” on the film.

21.0 REPORTING

All details of inspection and results shall be documented in client’s format. NDT inspector shall sign the
reports and client’s representative.

22.0 FILM STORAGE & ARCHIVE LIFE

Films shall be stored in dry place with humidity less than 80% in proper storage boxes with
identification. Methylene blue test shall be carried out to find out its archive life.

23.0 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT

Safety in this NDT method is first priority; hence all Technicians must work as per S.I.’s radiation safety
guide & all local rules and regulations.

The safety provisions shall be brought to the notice of all concerned by display on a notice board at
prominent place at the work spot. The person responsible for the "safety" shall be named by the
Contractor.

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