Materials System Specification

31-SAMSS-010
12 November 2013
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service
Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

Previous Issue: 13 October 2008

Scope............................................................. 2

Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2

References..................................................... 2

Qualification Requirements............................ 3

Alternative Designs........................................ 3

Motor Basic Design........................................ 3

Pump Basic Design........................................ 5

Materials......................................................... 6

Inspection, Testing and

Preparation for Shipment........................ 7

Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

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Primary contact: Odan, Nabeel Mohammad on +966-13-8809506

CopyrightSaudi Aramco 2013. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

Scope
This Specification, together with the submersible pump and motor Data Sheet (6880-ENG
or 6880-M-ENG) and Purchase Order, covers the minimum requirements for bowl type
submersible pumps and electric motors. Pumps and motors in utility water well service
having a motor nameplate rating of 75 kW (100 HP) or less are excluded from this
Specification.

Conflicts and Deviations

2.1

Any conflicts between this Specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
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, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2

Direct all requests to deviate from this Specification to the Company or Buyer
Representative, who shall follow internal company waiver procedures and
forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department, Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran.

References
Material or equipment supplied to this Specification shall comply with the latest edition
(unless an edition is specified) of the specific references listed below or in the body of
this document.
3.1

Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Forms & Data Sheets
6880-ENG &
6880-M-ENG

Data Sheet for Submersible Pumps and Motors

Saudi Aramco Inspection Requirements Form

175-310900
3.2

Submersible Pumps and Motors for Water Well and

Offshore Service

Industry Codes and Standards

American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASME SEC VIII D1

Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels Division 1

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Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 20
4

Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection

Qualification Requirements
4.1

Submersible pumps equipment shall be supplied by Vendors qualified by

experience in manufacturing the units proposed. To qualify, the Vendor must
have manufactured, at the proposed manufacturing location, at least two
machines of comparable size and operating on temperature not less than the
specified maximum operating temperature. These machines must have been in
service for at least one year and must be performing satisfactorily.

4.2

Where experience with the proposed pump/motor combination does not exist,
service of individual design features and of individual components may be
demonstrated on several other operating machines. To qualify, each of these
machines must have been in service for at least one year and must be performing
satisfactorily.

4.3

In the area of component design, the Vendor must provide evidence that each
component has operated under the same conditions as those of the proposed
machines. The Vendor shall not quote any prototype models.

Alternative Designs
All deviations from the Specification shall be separately listed by the Vendor in his
Quotation and shall refer to the relevant paragraph numbers.

Motor Basic Design

6.1

General
6.1.1

For both onshore and offshore services where the pumped liquid
temperature does not exceed 50C (122F), either oil filled or water
filled motors may be used. For pumped liquid temperatures exceeding
50C (122C), oil filled motors shall be used. Water filled motors may
be used above 50C (122C) with approval of the Pumps, Seals and
Mixers Standards Committee Chairman.

6.1.2

For open sump applications, submersible motors shall be provided with a

shroud to ensure a minimum cooling flow velocity of 0.3 m/s (1 ft/s)
over the motor outer casing.

6.1.3

For submersible motors in slop oil service, suitable cable for constant
immersion in hydrocarbon liquid shall be used. Alternatively,
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Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

conventional submersible power cable may be used provided that the cable
is protected from the hydrocarbon liquid. The proposed method shall be
submitted through the Company or Buyer Representative for review and
approval by the Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee Chairman.

6.2

6.1.4

The winding insulation of water filled motors shall be Class Y and oil
filled motors shall be at least equivalent to Class F.

6.1.5

Motors curves showing motor efficiency and power factor at 100%, 75%
and 50% of full load shall be provided.

Rotors
Rotors shall be machined and properly finished over their entire length.
The total indicated runout of the bearing journal areas and the area under the
coupling hub shall not exceed 25 micrometers (0.001 inch). All other areas shall
not exceed 50 micrometers (0.002 inch) total indicated runout.
Exception:
The requirements of this paragraph are not applicable to long, flexible rotor
motors which employ intermediate radial steady bearings along the rotor.

6.3

6.4

Bearings
6.3.1

Radial bearings shall be of the sleeve type.

6.3.2

Thrust bearings shall be of the tilting pad or solid shoe type and shall be
rated to accept 150% of the maximum downthrust developed over the
pump operating range from minimum continuous flow to end of curve
flow. Pump starting upthrust, if any, shall be absorbed by the thrust
bearing or by a thrust button in the motor. The thrust bearing rating shall
be based on the maximum pump hydraulic thrust developed during
starting, stopping and while operating at any capacity, including zero
flow. Thrust bearing may be installed in the motor or seal section.

Sealing
Submersible motors shall be provided with mechanical seals. Mercury seals and
lip seals are not permitted.

6.5

Dynamics
Rotors shall be dynamically balanced.

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Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

6.6

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

Couplings
Couplings shall be of a rigid design and may be of the splined, claw or axially
split types.

Pump Basic Design

7.1

7.2

7.3

General
7.1.1

The guaranteed pump performance curve, as quoted, shall be

continuously rising to shut-off. The percentage head rise from rated
head to shut-off shall not be less than 10%.

7.1.2

The rated capacity shall not exceed 110% of the capacity at the best
efficiency point and shall not be less than 80% of the best efficiency
capacity. The capacity at the end of the curve shall not be less than
125% of the best efficiency capacity and the minimum continuous stable
capacity shall not be more than 50% of the rated capacity.

7.1.3

Performance of firewater pumps shall comply with NFPA 20. The pump
absorbed power curve shall be non-overloading. Firewater pumps do not
require UL/FM listing.

7.1.4

The pump bowls or internals shall not be modified after the final test to
correct hydraulic performance unless approved by the Pumps, Seals and
Mixers Standards Committee Chairman. If approved, the Vendor shall
submit a drawing showing the details of the modifications. This drawing
shall also be included in the Operation and Maintenance Manual.

Bowls
7.2.1

The thickness of all cast bowls shall be suitable for the maximum
discharge pressure at maximum pumping temperature with a 3.2 mm
minimum corrosion allowance.

7.2.2

Bowls having diameters of 200 mm (7.87 inch) and larger shall have
flanged joints.

Rotating Elements
7.3.1

Collet mounted impellers are acceptable if the absorbed power per stage
does not exceed 56 kW (75 HP), above which power, keyed impellers
shall be provided. The use of snap rings as a means of preventing axial
movement of impellers requires the prior written approval of the Pumps,
Seals and Mixers Standards Committee Chairman.

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Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

7.3.2

7.4

7.5

7.6

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

Shafts shall be machined and properly finished over their entire length so
that there is no more than 40 micrometers total indicated runout per
meter (0.0005 inch per foot) of shaft length.

Wear Rings
7.4.1

Renewable bowl wear rings shall be provided for pumps having an

outside casing diameter exceeding 254 mm (10 inch).

7.4.2

Wear rings shall be held in place by means of a press fit with locking
pins or threaded dowels (axial or radial) or by tack welding.

Bearings
7.5.1

Radial bearings shall be of the sleeve type.

7.5.2

Rotor masses and hydraulic thrusts shall be absorbed by a thrust bearing

located in the motor or seal section.

Dynamics
Impellers shall be dynamically balanced. Impellers having diameters of 152 mm
(6 inch) and larger shall be balanced according to ISO 1940-1 grade G2.5 or
better.

Materials
8.1

General
The materials of construction shall be as specified on the Submersible Pump and
Motor Data Sheet (6880-ENG and 6880-M-ENG). Equivalent materials
complying with other national standards are acceptable provided that their
physical and chemical properties are equivalent to or exceed those of the
specified materials. Substitute materials shall be submitted through the
Company or Buyer Representative for review and approval by the Pumps, Seals
and Mixers Standards Committee Chairman.
Gasket or packing materials containing asbestos are not permitted.

8.2

Castings
Castings shall not be repaired by means of peening, plugging, burning in,
impregnation or by the use of plastic or cement compounds. Steel castings may
be weld repaired.

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Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

8.3

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

Material Inspection
Steel impellers shall be subjected to a liquid penetrant examination or a wet
fluorescent magnetic particle examination if the peripheral velocity of the
impeller, at operating speed, is 45 m/s (150 ft/s) or higher. All visible surfaces
of the impeller (prior to wear ring installation) shall be examined and shall be in
agreement with the criteria set forth in the ASME SEC VIII D1, Appendices 6
and 8.

8.4

Miscellaneous
8.4.1

Major components shall be shouldered or doweled to ensure accurate

alignment on assembly.

8.4.2

The pump and motor shall be supplied with all special tools necessary
for dismantling and assembling the units.

8.4.3

Pump and motor nameplates of austenitic stainless steel or Monel shall

be provided, securely attached to the surface plate assembly by means of
fasteners of the same material.

Inspection, Testing and Preparation for Shipment

9.1

Inspection and Testing

Inspection and Testing shall be in accordance with Form 175-310900.

9.2

Testing
9.2.1

Each motor shall be given a routine test to demonstrate that it is free

from mechanical and electrical defects. This test shall include the
following:
a.

A high potential test on the stator.

b.

An insulation resistance test.

c.

Measurement of the winding resistance.

d.

Measurement of the no-load current (each phase).

9.2.2

Pump bowl assemblies shall be hydrostatically tested, using water at

ambient temperature, to a pressure of 1.5 times the maximum allowable
bowl assembly pressure.

9.2.3

Performance testing shall be at rated speed. If this is not feasible due to

power or supply frequency limitations, an alternative procedure shall be

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Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

submitted through the Company or Buyer Representative for review and

approval by the Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee Chairman.
9.2.4

Test measurements shall be taken at shut-off, minimum continuous

stable capacity, mid-way between minimum continuous stable capacity
and rated capacity, rated capacity and 120% of rated capacity.
Firewater pumps shall be tested out to 150% of rated capacity.

9.2.5

The pump test performance characteristics shall not deviate from the
quoted performance characteristics by more than the following
tolerances:
Condition
Differential Head
0-150 m (0-500 ft)
151-300 m (501-1000 ft)
Over 300 m (1000 ft)
Rated Power
Note:

9.2.6

9.3

Rate Point (%)

Shutoff (%)

-2
+5
-2
+3
-2
+2

+10
-10 See Note
+8
-8 See Note
+5
-5 See Note

+4

The negative head tolerance is permissible only if the test curve shows a
constant rise from the rated point to shut-off.

On completion of performance testing, the pump set shall be set at its

rated point and run for a continuous period of not less than one hour.
Test measurements shall be taken at fifteen minute intervals during this
period.

Preparation for Shipment

9.3.1

Equipment shall be suitably prepared for the type of shipment specified,

including restraint of rotors when necessary. Restrained rotors shall be
identified by means of corrosion resistant tags attached with stainless steel
wire. The preparation shall make the equipment suitable for six months of
outdoor storage from the time of shipment, with no disassembly required
before operation, except for inspection of motor seals.

9.3.2

The Vendor shall provide any instructions necessary to preserve the

integrity of the storage preparation after the equipment arrives at the job
site and before start-up.

9.3.3

The equipment shall be prepared for shipment after all testing and
inspection has been completed and the equipment has been released by
the Buyer.

Page 8 of 9

Document Responsibility: Pumps, Seals and Mixers Standards Committee

Issue Date: 12 November 2013
Next Planned Update: 12 November 2018

31-SAMSS-010
Submersible Pumps and Motors
for Water Well and Offshore Service

9.3.4

Unless otherwise specified, pumps shall not be disassembled after

performance testing with acceptable test results, provided that the pump
is completely drained and dried and suitable rust preventative is applied
for all internal parts.

9.3.5

Flanged openings shall be provided with metal closures at least 5 mm

thick with elastomeric gaskets and at least four full diameter bolts.
For studded openings, all nuts required for the intended service shall be
used to secure the enclosures.

9.3.6

Threaded openings shall be provided with stainless steel plugs.

9.3.7

The equipment shall be identified with item and serial numbers.

Material shipped separately shall be identified with securely fixed,
corrosion resistant metal tags indicating the item and serial number of
the equipment for which it is intended. In addition, crated equipment
shall be shipped with duplicate packing lists, one inside and one on the
outside of the shipping container.

9.3.8

Exposed shafts and shaft couplings shall be wrapped with waterproof,

moldable waxed cloth or volatile corrosion inhibitor paper. The seams
shall be sealed with oil proof adhesive tape.
One copy of the manufacturer's standard installation instructions shall be
packed and shipped with the equipment.

12 November 2013

Revision Summary
Revised the Next Planned Update, reaffirmed the content of the document, and reissued as
major revision.

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