Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-004

Issue Date: 30 January 2011

Next Planned Update: 30 January 2016 General Requirements for Pressure Testing

6.2 The following approval is required for the request to utilize NDT in-lieu of
pressure testing:

6.2.1 Senior operations’ representative for new facilities under construction in

projects.

6.2.2 Manager, operating facility department for existing facilities and this
include closure joints which tie into existing facilities.

6.3 The request for NDT in lieu of hydrotest shall include the requirement for the
proponent to:

6.3.1 Utilize skilled welders with rejection rate of less than five (5) percent on
a joint basis or 0.2% on a linear basis in the most recent past 12 months.

6.3.2 Use Saudi Aramco approved Welding Procedure Specification (WPS).

6.3.3 Visually inspect the root and cap pass during the welding process with a
Saudi Aramco inspector.

6.3.4 Perform 100% radiographic testing (RT) of the butt welds.

6.3.5 Perform 100% advanced ultrasonic testing (UT; TOFD and/or Phased
Array) of all welds. The examination requirements in this paragraph can
be replaced with 100% manual shear wave UT for welds that meet the
below size or service criteria:

6.3.5.1 Pipe sizes less than 4” diameter or material thicknesses less

than 0.236” (6 mm) are exempted from the Phased Array or
TOFD requirement and this examination can be replaced with
manual shear wave UT.

6.3.5.2 Material thicknesses equal to or greater than 0.236” (6 mm) but

less than 0.472” (12 mm) are exempted from the TOFD
requirement only and this examination can be replaced with
manual shear wave UT or Phased Array.

6.3.5.3 Category D or “Utility” Fluid service welds are exempted from

both the Phased Array and ToFD examination requirements of
paragraph 6.3.5 and this examination can be replaced with
manual shear wave UT.
Commentary Notes:

(a) A list of Saudi Aramco approved Advanced NDT (TOFD and Phased
Array) service providers in-kingdom, is available from Supervisor,
Advanced NDT Services Unit, Inspection Department, Dhahran.

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