Engineering Standard

SAES-L-100 30 September, 2003

Applicable Codes and Standards
for Pressure Piping Systems

Piping Standards Committee Members

Al-Sannaa, M.S., Chairman
Al-Dossary, M.B.
Al-Nasri, N.I.
Al-Sharif, T.M.
Al-Teraiki, A.M.
Balhareth, N.M.
Fadley, G.L.
Ismail, A.A.
Khashab, J.M.
Kim, S.U.
Lewis, T.
Lunsford, W.C.
Mahmoud, K.A.
Mullen, M.A.
Phan, H.C.
Stark, G.D.
Yassein, H.A.

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 Definitions...................................................... 4
5 Governing Codes and Standards................... 6
6 Applicable ASME Codes................................ 7
Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 13

Primary contact: Muhsen S. Al-Sannaa on 874-6679

Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

7 Applicable Saudi Aramco Standards............. 9

8 Code Break and Plot Limits.......................... 10
9 General Design Basis.................................. 11

1 Scope

1.1 This standard defines the applicable ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.4 and B31.8 (hereafter
called the Codes) for design, construction and inspection of piping systems owned or
operated by Saudi Aramco.

1.2 This standard sets the rules and basis for selecting the applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards and/or Saudi Aramco Material Systems Specifications that
supplement the applicable Codes.

1.3 This standard supplements the Codes and defines additional design requirements for
piping systems.

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 (CSD) 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.

2.3 Mandatory Requirements: All piping standards contain minimum mandatory

requirements, normally indicated by the words "shall" or "shall not". However, they do
not prohibit alternatives that are equal or better. In questionable cases, the Chairman of
Piping Standards Committee in CSD shall be consulted to evaluate the alternatives.

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 the
references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

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-101 Regulated Vendor List for Pipes, Fittings and Gaskets
SAES-L-102 Regulated Vendor List for Valves
SAES-L-105 Material Specifications for Piping Systems
SAES-L-108 Selection of Valves
SAES-L-109 Selection of Pipe Flanges, Stud Bolts and Gaskets
SAES-L-110 Limitations on Piping Joints and Components
SAES-L-120 Piping Flexibility Analysis
SAES-L-125 Safety Instruction Sheet for Piping and Pipelines
SAES-L-130 Material for Low Temperature Service
SAES-L-131 Fracture Control of Line Pipe
SAES-L-132 Material Selection for Piping Systems
SAES-L-133 Corrosion Protection Requirements for
Pipelines/Piping
SAES-L-136 Pipe Selection and Restriction
SAES-L-140 Thermal Expansion Relief in Piping
SAES-L-150 Pressure Testing of Piping Systems
SAES-L-310 Design of Plant Piping
SAES-L-350 Construction of Plant Piping Systems
SAES-L-410 Design of Onshore Pipelines
SAES-L-420 Scraper Trap Station Piping and Appurtenances
SAES-L-440 Anchors for Onshore Pipelines
SAES-L-450 Construction of Onshore Pipelines

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

SAES-L-460 Pipeline Crossings under Roads and Railroads

SAES-L-610 Non-Metallic Pressure Piping Systems
SAES-L-810 Design of Piping on Offshore Structure
SAES-L-850 Design of Submarine Pipelines and Risers
SAES-O-100 General Requirements Safety and Security

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME B31.1 Power Piping
ASME B31.3 Process Piping
ASME B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid
Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids
ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems

3.3 Other References

Safety and Security Directives

SSD/1 Standard Security Fence

4 Definitions

4.1 The additional definitions specified in this Standard and other individual SAES for use in
the context of the standards involved shall apply. Conflicts between various definitions
shall be resolved by the Piping Standard Committee Chairman.

4.2 List of Definitions

Code Break: The physical location on the piping system where the design Code changes
from one Code to another, such as from ASME B31.4 to ASME B31.3.

Critical Plant Equipment and Piping: A designation imposed on equipment or piping

system that will entail extra design requirements with the objective to minimize business
interruption.

Cross-Country Pipeline: The pipeline and its appurtenances used to transport fluids
across the country or offshore between isolated plant areas or camps.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

Design Agency: The firm responsible for designing the piping system. It could be the
design Contractor, the Lump Sum Turn Key Contractor or in house design organization
of Saudi Aramco.

Design Conditions: All conditions (such as pressure, temperature, ambient conditions,

service, etc.) that govern all or part of the design and selection of piping components.

Design Factor: It is numerical multiplier used to calculate the allowable stresses for
transportation piping systems. This factor is used by ASME B31.4 and ASME B31.8
Codes.

Flowlines: Pipelines connected to oil, gas or water wells for production, injection or well
testing.

Hazardous Service: Any fluid service other than Category D as defined in ASME
B31.3.

Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP): This term refers to the maximum
pressure at which a piping system can be operated within the provisions of the applicable
ASME B31.4 and or B31.8 codes. It is the maximum internal pressure permitted in the
piping system for continued operation at the most severe condition of coincident internal
or external pressure and temperature (minimum or maximum) expected during service.

Normal Operating Conditions: The expected conditions (such as pressure, flow,

temperature, ambient conditions, service, etc.) to occur during normal operation per
design.

Off-Plot: Off-plot refers to any area outside of the plot limits. Off-plot can include
plant areas such as roads, pipeways and open lots between plant units.

On-Plot: On-plot refers to any area inside the plot limit. On-plot piping is generally, but
not necessarily, designed to ASME B31.3 code except in area(s) set aside for piping
within other code or government regulations.

Perimeter-Fence: The fence which completely surrounds an area designated by Saudi

Aramco for a distinct function (plant or camp).

Plant-Area: The designated area engaged in the production, processing, storage and
transportation of crude oil, gas, refined products and their derivatives. It could be inside
an onshore perimeter fence, or on the decks of offshore structures.

Plant Piping: Pressure piping system, within an identified plant-area.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

Plant Utility Service: The supply of steam, water, air, nitrogen or inert gas within a
processing plant.

Plot Limit: The plot limit is a boundary, within the plant area, which surrounds a single
plant or function. The plot limit may be physical such as a fence (not necessarily an SSD
fence), a wall, the edge of a road or pipe-way, chains and posts or a boundary indicated
on an approved plot plan.

Production Pipelines: Those pipelines engaged in transporting crude oil or gas from the
producing wells to the designated facility for processing. These include flowlines,
testlines, trunklines and transmission lines.

Process Piping: Pressure piping which is designed in accordance with ASME B31.3.
These piping are typically found in petroleum refineries, chemical plants, cryogenic
plants, and related processing plants and terminals.

Power Piping: Pressure piping which is designed in accordance with ASME B31.1.

Testlines: Flowlines that are used for testing an individual producing well without
affecting the operation of the trunklines.

Transportation Piping: Pressure piping system that is designed in accordance to

ASME B31.4 or/and 31.8.

Trunklines: Pipelines to which two or more flowlines are connected.

Well Head Piping: The piping system connecting the wellhead to the flowline first
isolation valve.

5 Governing Codes and Standards

5.1 Except for those excluded by this standard or by the ASME B31 Codes, all Saudi Aramco
pressure piping system shall be designed, constructed and inspected to a pre-selected
ASME B31 Code as a minimum. The selection of the Code is outlined in section 6.

5.2 Except for those excluded by this standard, all Saudi Aramco pressure piping system
shall be designed, constructed and inspected to the applicable Saudi Aramco piping
standards, per section 7 of this standard, in addition to the designated ASME B31 Code.

5.3 All piping standards shall adopt the latest edition of the applicable ASME B31.1, ASME
B31.3, ASME B31.4 and ASME B31.8 Codes for pressure piping.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

5.4 In cases where applicable Code or Standards are not identified by this standard or clear
selection could not be achieved, a resolution by the Piping Standards Committee
Chairman shall be made during the early stages of the project development.

5.5 The Standards revisions are not retroactively mandatory for piping systems built before
their dates of approval.

5.6 Exclusions

The following services are excluded from the scope of ASME B31 piping codes:
a) Sanitary and other gravity sewers (including oily water) in which the internal
pressure from static head and/or friction does not exceed 103 kPa (15 psi). Refer to
Saudi Aramco Plumbing and Utilities Standards.
b) Plumbing (including fuel gas) as defined in the Saudi Aramco Plumbing Code
including the plumbing of buildings (control rooms) inside plants.
c) Stacks, flues, vents and ducts including those for air conditioning and ventilation.
d) Tubes and tube fittings for boilers, heat exchangers and furnaces.
e) Piping inside fluid handling or processing equipment (e.g., jetting piping inside a
Dehydrator).
f) Casing, tubing and wellhead valve assemblies in gas, oil or water wells.

6 Applicable ASME Codes

6.1 The following piping systems are designated as Power Piping and shall comply with
ASME B31.1 as a minimum:

6.1.1 Steam power generation plants.

6.1.2 Co-generation plants.

6.1.3 Steam generating plants.

6.2 Piping systems within the following facilities shall be designated as Process Piping and
shall comply with ASME B31.3 as a minimum:

6.2.1 Refineries and petrochemical plants.

6.2.2 Gas oil separation plants (GOSP).

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

6.2.3 Gas plants and NGL plants.

6.2.4 Piping systems on offshore platforms except for piping beyond the code break
point, which will be considered as transportation piping.

6.2.6 Pump stations within the plot limit of a facility designated as process piping.

6.2.7 Designated pipeways or corridors, within a Process Piping facility.

6.2.8 Steam generating facilities within a Process Piping facility.

6.3 The following piping systems, in liquid service, are designated as transportation piping
and shall comply to ASME B31.4 as a minimum:

6.3.1 Cross country pipelines in hydrocarbon service having a Reid Vapor Pressure
(RVP) less than or equal to 1035 Kpa (150 psig).

6.3.2 Water injection pipelines, headers and laterals.

6.3.3 Transportation pipelines in NGL service.

6.3.4 Water transportation pipelines.

6.3.5 Pump stations not within a facility designated as process piping.

6.3.6 Terminals for transporting and shipping crude oil and its derivatives.

6.3.7 Bulk plants.

6.3.8 Tank farms not within a facility designated as process piping

6.3.9 Air Fueling Terminals.

6.4 The following piping systems, in gas or multi-phase (gas and liquid) service, shall be
designated as transportation piping systems and shall comply to ASME B31.8 as a
minimum:

6.4.1 Cross country pipelines in gas service.

6.4.2 Flowlines, testlines and trunklines in gas or crude oil service.

6.4.3 Gas compression stations in a dedicated facility and not within the plot limit of a
process piping facility.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

6.4.4 Offshore and sub-sea flowlines and pipelines.

6.4.5 Piping systems on an offshore tie-in platforms and unmanned production

platforms.

6.4.6 Liquid sulfur transportation pipelines.

6.4.7 Cross country pipelines in crude oil service having a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP)
more than 1035 Kpa (150 psig).

6.5 Shop fabricated skid mounted piping, such as metering skids, shall follow the applicable
Code selected for the facilities to which it will be installed.

7 Applicable Saudi Aramco Standards

7.1 The SAES-L series of the piping standards are structured in the format outlined in Table
1.

7.2 All pressure piping system, within the scope of this standard, shall be designed and
constructed per the applicable SAES assigned in Table 2.

7.3 All pressure piping system, within the scope of this standard, shall comply with the
standards listed in Table 3:

Table 1 - Numbering Structure of Piping Standards L-Series

SAES-L- Applicable
Series Scope/Coverage Examples
ASME Code
100 Pressure piping within the Any of B31.1, B31.3, Refineries, bulk plant, cross country
scope of SAES-L-100 B31.4 or B31.8 pipeline or flowlines
300 Plant Piping: Pressure piping Any of B31.1, B31.3, Refineries, bulk plant, tank farm or
within a designated plant area B31.4 or B31.8 pump station.
400 Onshore pipelines B31.4 and or B31.8 QRT's (Qatif to Ras Tanura) pipelines
600 Non metallic piping Any of B31.3, B31.4 or Qurayiah Sea Water Treatment Plant
B31.8
800 Offshore Piping & Pipelines B31.3, B31.4 or B31.8 Sub-sea pipelines offshore and
production platforms

Table 2 - Applicable Design and Construction Standards for Pressure Piping System

Application Applicable Applicable SAESs Examples

SAESs for Design for Construction
Plant piping SAES-L-310 SAES-L-350 Refineries, bulk plant, pump
stations
Cross country pipelines SAES-L-410 SAES-L-450 Pipelines in hydrocarbon or

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

other services
Production Pipelines SAES-L-410 SAES-L-450 Crude / gas flowlines
Offshore Piping systems SAES-L-810 Sub-sea pipelines and
SAES-L-850 offshore platform

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

Table 3 - Other Applicable L-Series Engineering Standards for Pressure Piping System
Applicable
SAES-L Series Scope of Application
Standards
101 Material procurement for line pipes, fittings and gaskets
102 Material procurement for valves
105 Material specifications and line class designations
108 Valves selections and material limitations
109 Selection and limitations on flanges, bolts and gaskets
110 Limitations on piping joints and components
120 Flexibility analysis and pipe supports
125 Safety Instructions Sheet for piping systems
130 Materials requirements for piping in low temperature service
131 Fracture toughness requirements for line pipe
132 Basic material selection for piping systems
133 Corrosion aspects in piping systems
136 Limitations on Carbon Steel line pipe
140 Relief requirements for piping system subject to sun radiation
150 Pressure testing of piping systems
420 Scraper Trap Station Piping and Appurtenances
440 Anchor design for cross onshore pipelines
460 Traffic load on line pipes at road crossings and effects of dead weight
610 Non-Metallic Pressure Piping Systems

8 Code Break and Plot Limits

8.1 The code break shall be defined and well established at the early stage of the piping
systems design. If the code break location is not identified according to paragraph 8.4 of
this standard, safety, practicality and economical impacts should be always the prime
justifications for selecting the physical location.

8.2 Existing code breaks should not be altered to meet new requirements or to match newly
assigned code breaks within specific facilities. Any changes to the existing code breaks
shall be approved jointly by the Piping Standards Committee Chairman, Proponent
Representative, Loss Prevention, PMT and CSD through a letter of understanding.

8.3 In all cases, the Code break boundary between Codes shall be on the side of the more
stringent Code resulting in the higher pipe class.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

8.4 The following are recommended locations for code break:

8.4.1 Plot limits boundary, preferably the plot limit valve.

8.4.2 Emergency isolation valves located in the vicinity of the perimeter fence.

8.4.3 The isolation valve on the lateral line of an onshore scraper launcher receiver
trap.

8.4.4 For Offshore piping code boundaries:

a) The first flanged joint on the riser above the water level is considered the
break point between piping codes ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.4/ASME
B31.8.
b) Where a drop-out spool is installed above the riser, the break point shall be
the drop-in spool upper flange.
c) Piping systems designed for instrument scraping capabilities, the ASME
B31.4 or B31.8 Code of the pipeline shall be extended to the launcher /
receiver barrel.

9 General Design Basis

9.1 It is the responsibility of the Design Agency, who is designing the piping systems for
Saudi Aramco, to identify the applicable design parameters.

9.2 Each piping system shall be designed to the most realistic condition in order to make the
constructed facility cost effective.

9.3 Piping systems shall not be design for double contingency unless the possibility for that
to occur based on HAZOP studies. The following are examples, but not limited to, of the
Contingent Design Conditions:
a) Uncontrolled shutdown of plants, including power failure and activation of
emergency shutdown (ESD) systems.
b) Improper operation due to a single act or operating decision, such as the
inadvertent closure of a valve, disregarding an alarm, or disabling a protective
device.
c) Failure of a single device or function and any chain of events following a single
failure.
d) The occurrence of fire in fire hazardous areas.

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Document Responsibility: Piping SAES-L-100

Issue Date: 30 September, 2003 Applicable Codes and Standards

Next Planned Update: 1 October, 2008 for Pressure Piping Systems

e) Ambient conditions such as storms which have an expected average return interval
of less than 100 years.
f) Coincident unrelated contingencies or failures of more than one device shall be
considered when so specified in the SAES for specific circumstances (such as in
populated areas).

9.4 The general Saudi Aramco philosophy for protection piping system is that the piping
system shall be mechanically capable to withstand design condition within the applicable
Code requirement.

9.5 Requirement to paragraph 9.4 may be exempted if economically and technically justified
to allow protecting the piping system by redundant instrumentation devices or provisions.
These devises shall be fully independent and designed such that failure risk disabling is
negligible.

On a case by case basis, this shall be reviewed and approved by CSD, LP, P&CSD and
Proponent through the waiver process per SAEP-302.

9.6 The following piping systems are considered Critical Piping or Equipment:
a) It is part of a vital plant as defined in SAES-O-100.
b) It is essential for the operation of the plant at design capacity.
c) It cannot be replaced readily using materials from local stocks.
d) It is vulnerable to damage from fire or explosion.
e) It is in hydrocarbon service except lube oil and seal oil.

Revision Summary
30 September, 2003 This is a new SAES to streamline the piping standards.

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