Inspection Procedure

01-SAIP-02 31 May, 2004

Retirement Thickness of In-Plant Piping
Document Responsibility: Inspection Department

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Purpose.......................................................... 2
3 Applicable Documents................................... 2
4 Definitions...................................................... 2
5 Calculation Procedure................................... 3

Appendix I – Retirement Thickness

Determination Tree................................. 5
Appendix II - Typical Example of
Calculation Procedure............................ 6

Previous Issue: 31 December , 2000 Next Planned Update: 1 June, 2009

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 6
Primary contact: Supervisor, IEU on phone 874-6604
Document Responsibility: Inspection Dept. 01-SAIP-02
Issue Date: 31 May, 2004
Next Update: 1 June, 2009 Retirement Thickness of In-Plant Piping

1 Scope

1.1 This SAIP establishes criteria for determining retirement thickness for IN-
PLANT metallic piping designed per ASME B31.3.

1.2 Some corrosion patterns, such as pitting, may require additional considerations.
For evaluation of this type of corrosion, contact the Inspection Department /
Operations Inspection Division.

1.3 The structural retirement thickness' in this SAIP do not pertain to buried piping.
The requirement for retirement thickness of buried piping is based on pressure /
temperature design only.

1.4 This SAIP is intended to establish a standardized methodology by Saudi Aramco

inspection personnel in the implementation of inspection programs within Saudi
Aramco facilities. The SAIP shall not be included in purchase orders or contract
documents issued to outside agencies.

2 Purpose

2.1 The objective of this SAIP is to specify the basic requirements of calculating the
retirement thickness of in-plant carbon steel piping. This thickness may be
dictated by either hoop stress at design pressure and temperature or by structural
limitations.

2.2 The criteria for retirement thickness, as established by this SAIP shall be used in
the preparation of Safety Instruction Sheets (SIS) (refer to SAES-A-005 and
SAES-L-125.

3 Applicable Documents

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-005 Safety Instruction Sheet
SAES-L-125 Safety Instruction Sheet for Piping and Pipelines
SAES-L-310 Design of Plant Piping

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute

API STD 574 Inspection of Piping, Tubing, Valves, and Fittings

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Document Responsibility: Inspection Dept. 01-SAIP-02
Issue Date: 31 May, 2004
Next Update: 1 June, 2009 Retirement Thickness of In-Plant Piping

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME B31.3 Process Piping

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME SEC VIII Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels

4 Definitions

4.1 tm = The Minimum Required Wall Thickness in inches, including the

corrosion allowance.
Commentary Note:

It should be noted that there is a terminology difference between ASME B31.3

and ASME SEC VIII. The tm in ASME B31.3 includes the corrosion allowance.
The tm in ASME SEC VIII excludes the corrosion allowance.

4.2 t = The Retirement Wall Thickness in inches, which is the greater of:
1. Pressure Design Thickness.
or
2. Minimum Structural Thickness (tstr) required to withstand the stresses
imposed by the weight of the line and its contents.

4.3 c = Corrosion Allowance in inches (based on corrosion rate and next

inspection).

4.4 The relationship between the retirement wall thickness (t) and the minimum
required wall thickness (tm) is as follows:

t = tm - c or tm = t + c

tm = retirement thickness as per ASME

5 Calculation Procedure

The retirement wall Thickness (t) of piping shall be equal to the greater of the values:
1. calculated in paragraph 5.1 or
2. designated in paragraph 5.2, table 1, as shown below:

5.1 Pressure Design Thickness

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Document Responsibility: Inspection Dept. 01-SAIP-02
Issue Date: 31 May, 2004
Next Update: 1 June, 2009 Retirement Thickness of In-Plant Piping

The thickness required for design pressure, in accordance with the following
Barlow's equation of ASME B31.3:

PD
t=
(2SE)

Where:

P = Internal Design Pressure (psig). For critical piping as defined in SAES-

A-005, the design pressure is given in a Safety Instruction Sheet (SIS).
If no SIS is available, other sources of design parameters are:

• Name plate of connected fixed equipment, such as pressure vessels

or pump performance curve pressure at zero flow with the pump
located at or lower than the elevation of the subject pipe.

• Relief valve settings.

• Other plant drawings, such as Process and Instrument Drawings

(P&ID's), Process Flow Diagrams (PFD's), or line designation tables.

D = Actual Outside Diameter of pipe in inches. From Table 1 API STD 574.

E = Longitudinal Weld Joint Quality Factor as specified on Table 302.3.4 of

ASME B31.3 or Table A-1B of ASME B31.3.

S = Basic Allowable Stress (psi) for metals at design temperature, from

Table A-1 of ASME B31.3.

5.2 Minimum Structural Thickness (Tstr)

The minimum structural wall thickness (tstr) required is determined from Table 1
in SAES-L-310 section 10.

In Appendix 1D: Pipe Actual Outside Diameter Table 1 API STD 574.

Revision Summary
31 May, 2004 Revised the” Next Planned Update”. Revised Structural thickness to align with SAES-L-310
and reissued with editorial changes.

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Document Responsibility: Inspection Dept. 01-SAIP-02
Issue Date: 31 May, 2004
Next Update: 1 June, 2009 Retirement Thickness of In-Plant Piping

APPENDIX I

RETIREMENT THICKNESS DETERMINATION TREE

D: Pipe Actual Outside

P: Internal Design Pressure
Diameter

t =PD/(2SE)
Barlow's Pressure Design
Formula
ASME B31.3

S: Basic Allowable Stress E: Weld Joint Quality Factor

Table A-1 ASME B31.3 ASME B31.3 Table 302.3.4

Thickness Based on
The Larger of the Two
Structural Thickness From
Values
Table 1 SAES-L-310

Retirement Thickness (t)

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Document Responsibility: Inspection Dept. 01-SAIP-02
Issue Date: 31 May, 2004
Next Update: 1 June, 2009 Retirement Thickness of In-Plant Piping

Appendix II – Typical Example of Calculation Procedure

Calculate the retirement wall thickness (t) for the following pipe:
Nominal Diameter = 8 Inches (Actual OD = 8.625")
Internal Design Pressure (P) = 500 psi
Design temperature = 300°F
Material = Carbon steel, API 5L Grade B, Seamless.
Flange Rating = 300#

1. Thickness required for pressure/temperature design:

From Table A-1 of ASME B31.3
S = 20,000 psi
E =1 (Seamless)
t = PD/2SE = 500 (8.625)/2(20000) (1) = 0.108"

2. From SAES-L-310 Table 1, the minimum structural wall thickness (tstr) is 0.10"

The retirement wall thickness (t) for this pipe is limited by the pressure design
requirement and is 0.108".

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