Saes Q 004

Engineering Standard
SAES-Q-004 18 December 2016

Installation of Piles and Conductors for Offshore Structures
Document Responsibility: Offshore Structures Standards Committee
Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations .................................... 2
3 References ........................................................ 2
4 Pile Marking and Installation Records ............... 3
5 Pile Installation Planning ................................... 5
6 Driven Pile Installation ....................................... 7
7 Drilling ............................................................. 15
8 Insert or Grouted Piles .................................... 18
9 Grouting........................................................... 19
10 Conductors and Conductor/Piles ..................... 25
Revision Summary .................................................. 25
Previous Issue: 30 June 2014 Next Planned Update: 30 June 2019

Page 1 of 25
Contact: Kuppalli, Prakasha S. (kuppalps) on phone +966-13-8809689
©Saudi Aramco 2016. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Offshore Structures Standards Committee SAES-Q-004
Issue Date: 18 December 2016
Next Planned Update: 30 June 2019 Installation of Piles and Conductors for Offshore Structures
1 Scope
This standard presents the basis for installation of piles for use in offshore structures
and coastal zones. This specification does not apply to onshore pile installation.
This standard describes the equipment, materials, personnel and procedures that shall be
used to install offshore structure piles and conductors. The intent of this specification is
to provide minimum installation requirements for offshore pile foundations, including
anticipated problems and recommended remedial action that may be required in the
event that pile installation does not proceed as expected.
The sections on conductor/piles are included to provide installation guidance on these

elements. Conductor/piles provide foundation support to the structure and are used for
oil drilling and production purposes. The use of conductor/piles is not generally
recommended because of inherent conflicts in design and construction of such dual use
elements. Recommendations on installation of conductors on a structure are provided
primarily to prevent damage to soil formations and reductions in the capacity of nearby
foundations and support piles. This standard does not include additional aspects related
to slip-over platforms. These shall be considered on case to case basis.
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 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.
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.
3.1 Saudi Aramco References
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement
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SAEP-334 Retrieval, Certification, and Submittal of Saudi

Aramco Engineering and Vendor Drawings
Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-M-005 Design and Construction of Fixed Offshore Platforms
SAES-Q-014 Offshore Geotechnical Investigation and Analysis
Saudi Aramco Form and Data Sheet

SA-3063-M Pile Driving Record
Saudi Aramco Safety Management Guide
SMG 06-003-2013 Job Safety Analysis
3.2 Industry Codes and Standards
American Petroleum Institute

API RP 2GEO Geotechnical and Foundation Design Considerations
API RP 2A Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing,
and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms -
Working Stress Design, 21st edition
API RP 10B-2 Recommended Practice for Testing Well Cements
American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM C150 Standard Specification for Portland Cement
ASTM C494 Standard Specification for Chemical Admixtures for
Concrete
ASTM C618 Standard Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or
Calcined Natural Pozzalan for Use in Concrete
ASTM D4945 Standard Test Method for High-Strain Dynamic
Testing of Piles
4 Pile Marking and Installation Records
4.1 Pile Marking
Piles and added lengths of pile in excess of the water depth shall be marked with
12 mm wide stripes on 0.25 m centers. Stripes are to be painted with oil-based
paint to cover at least 50% of the pile perimeter. Every fourth stripe shall be
marked with the corresponding meter number, measured from the tip of the pile.
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4.2 Pile Installation Records
A complete set of pile installation records shall be prepared by the contractor's site
engineer. All records shall be made available to Saudi Aramco Representatives
immediately on completion of pile installation. Items that must be included in the
records for each operation are listed in the following subsections.
Pile driving records shall be prepared by Contractor on Saudi Aramco Form

SA-3063-M, “Pile Driving Record” in accordance with SAEP-334 and to be
submitted by PMT (Project management Team) to i-Plant as part of As-built
records for each facility including pile design drawings.
4.2.1 Driving
The following items shall be accurately recorded for each pile or

conductor driven: date, time, overall pile length, length of added pile
sections, cut-off lengths at piles, driving shoe (size and length), pile size
(wall thickness and outside diameter), splice location, and splice details,
interruptions during driving, total depth of penetration before and after
drilling pilot holes, number of blows for every 0.25 meter (depending on
marking system) of penetration, hammer type and size, operating air or
steam pressure and volume, type and dimensions (diameter and
thickness) of cushion block, and cushion packing details, overhang pile
lengths, and depth to top of internal soil plug. Any unusual phenomena
or difficulties encountered during driving shall also be recorded.
4.2.2 Drilling
The following records shall be kept for all drilling operations: date, time,
bit size, centralizers spacing, hole penetration, pile tip penetration (if
applicable), type, bit weight, torque, drill string rotation, hole penetration
rate, weight and viscosity of drilling fluid, and interruptions during
drilling. Any unusual phenomena or difficulties related to the drilling
program shall also be recorded. This includes drilled hole collapse, drill
bit plugging, equipment breakdown, and withdrawal from drilled hole.
4.2.3 Insert Piles
Records required for insert piles installed in pre-drilled holes shall

include: date, time, pile length, pile wall thickness and outside diameter,
total depth of penetration, splice locations and details, interruptions
during installation, over drill depth, internal grout plug length (top of
grout to closure plate), and any unusual conditions observed during this
portion of the installation operation.
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4.2.4 Grouting contractor shall provide for all grouting operations: date, time,
grout mix, setting time, and unit weight of grout samples, grouting
pressure, ability to establish static head, volume change, compressive
strength, seafloor leakage, interruptions or other problems encountered
during grouting, time and number of each grout sample taken, and any
unusual conditions observed during the grouting operation. If there is
any reason to believe that the mud at the bottom of the hole is not
completely displaced by the grout the same should be reported. In such
cases, the end bearing capacity shall not be considered.
4.2.5 Distribution
All records described above shall be signed by the Saudi Aramco

Representative only to indicate concurrence with data presented and not
to indicate approval. Four copies of records for each pile and conductor
on Form SA-3063-M shall be forwarded immediately following
installation to the responsible Saudi Aramco PMT Representative.
Saudi Aramco Representative shall forward it to Consulting Services
Department (CSD) for review and acceptance of the jacket main piles.
5 Pile Installation Planning
5.1 The project specification for each individual job shall include penetrations of
piles and conductors, lengths of concrete plugs or any other specific construction
requirements to supplement the general requirements of this SAES.
Commentary:
A project specification is issued for most projects and gives requirements

applicable for the site-specific soil conditions, structure, pile types, and loads.
In addition to the above information, the pile installation specification should

also include project site geotechnical data, pile design drawings, pile capacities
with applied safety factors, pile acceptance, driving criteria, hammers to be
used, static stresses, and description of planned remedial action. This should be
supported by site-specific final geotechnical report, drivability analysis report,
pile penetration, and factored load report under various loading conditions,
minimum pile penetration required from lateral stability, lateral displacement
and tension capacity considerations. All these reports shall be submitted at 60%
detailed design stage and before start of fabrication of piles.
Procedures used to install piles to achieve the specified design capacity shall be
selected on the basis of the results from the geotechnical site investigation
performed at the site, pile drivability analyses, and pre-installation planning.
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All piles shall be installed by driving into existing undisturbed soil, except where
sound rock strata greater than three (3) pile diameters thick is located within 20 m
of the seafloor, or where pile refusal occurs above terminal penetration.
Jetting shall NOT be permitted either on the inside or on the outside of any pile.
Pile installation procedures that are acceptable for use in Saudi Aramco
operating areas are listed in Table 1. The same procedures can be adopted while
taking remedial action in case of pile refusal. Alternative installation procedures
shall be subject to review and approval by Supervisor, Offshore Engineering
Group, CSD.
A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) shall be carried out in accordance with the Loss
Prevention Department Safety Management Guide (SMG) 06-003-2013.
Table 1 - Accepted Pile Installation Procedures

Procedure Application Conditions
All locations; where soil conditions consist of soft to hard
clay and loose to very dense sand with weakly cemented
a) Driven Piles
layers and with thin layers of very weak, weathered or
highly fractured rock.
Locations where strong soils, such as stiff and cemented
Drill Out Soil Plug
b) clay, cemented sand and rock, have caused driven piles
and Redrive Piles
to refuse at penetrations above the terminal penetration.
Locations where strong soils, such as stiff and cemented
clay, cemented sand and rock, have caused driven piles
Predrilled Pilot Hole
c) to refuse at penetrations above the terminal penetration
and Redrive Pile
and insitu soil will remain stable during and after drilling
the pilot hole.
At locations with soil conditions similar to those listed for
driven piles, and where the internal soil plug resistance is
Driven Piles with not adequate to develop the full end bearing capacity of
d)
Internal Grout Plugs the soil strata below the tip of the pile, such as shallow
penetration piles, piles where the soil plug has been
removed, and where pilot holes have been drilled.
Locations with soils conditions consisting of highly
cemented clay, cemented sand, and weak to strong rock.
Driven Main Piles
Also, to be used where premature refusal occurs well
e) with Drilled and
above the required driven pile penetration. Main pile
Grouted Insert Piles
shall accommodate lateral loads and grouted insert shall
provide axial resistance.
5.2 Geotechnical Site Investigation
The geotechnical site investigation to be used in the planning effort shall be in

accordance with the requirements set forth in SAES-Q-014.
Page 6 of 25
5.3 Whenever refusal of driven pile is predicted as a result of the drivability

analysis, additional analyses shall be carried out before mobilization for
installation to confirm that in case of refusal:
a) The pile head displacements and jacket working point displacements are
within allowable limits, and
b) The pile Unity Checks are within allowable limits.
6 Driven Pile Installation
6.1 Pile Driving
6.1.1 Stabbing of Piles and Pre-driving
Contractor shall stab all piles or pile sections in all corner legs of the
platform and predrive by putting the hammer weight on each pile.
However, if the contractor wishes to adopt a different procedure,
he shall obtain prior approval of Saudi Aramco. The sequence of
stabbing should attempt to follow a diagonal pattern to reduce sideways
drift. The expected penetration under pile weight plus hammer weight
shall be analyzed prior to installation as part of the pre-installation
planning work effort.
For tripod platforms it may be necessary to pre-drive only two piles to

prevent interference of the batter piles.
6.1.2 Driving Sequence of Piles
Jacket levelling shall conform to Section 12.4.4 of API RP 2A.
Then the jacket shall be leveled and the top of the jacket leg shall be
attached to the driven pile or pile section with a temporary welded
connection. The remaining piles shall then be driven to design
penetration. Finally, (if required) the first pile shall be spliced and
redriven. During driving, every effort shall be made to maintain the
jacket top at the specified elevation.
6.1.3 Driving of Well Conductors
Conductors shall be driven to 17 m.
6.1.4 Test Pile
The first pile to be driven to the maximum design penetration or refusal

shall generally be considered as the test pile. Proposals for alternative
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test piles shall subject to review and approval by Supervisor, Offshore

Engineering Group, CSD.
The test pile is used to prove pile capacity and setup at the site.
Dynamic measurements and CAPWAP (CAse Pile Wave Analysis
Program) type analysis are performed on the pile after at least 12 hours of
setup. Saudi Aramco Representative shall approve the DMS (Dynamic
pile Monitoring)/CAPWAP report. Based on the driving characteristics of
the test pile the Contractor and Saudi Aramco Representative shall
re-evaluate the splicing schedule, the soil stratigraphy, and pile design
parameters. Such revision shall be reviewed and accepted by Supervisor,
Offshore Engineering Group, CSD.
6.1.5 Insurance Piling
Unless specified otherwise, the Contractor shall have available at the site
a minimum 12 m long section of piling for each pile, in addition to the
design length of piling. This extra length shall be available to cover the
possibility of having to drive piles deeper than the design penetration.
Contractor shall revise the lengths of additional pile sections if so

instructed by the Saudi Aramco PMT Represnetative in order to reduce
the risk of pile refusal before design penetration has been achieved due
to driving interruptions.
6.1.6 Closure Plates (Rubber Diaphragm)
Closure devices are used on the lower end of the jacket columns and pile
sleeves to provide buoyancy. They shall be designed to avoid
interference with the installation of the piles.
If no closure plates are to be used, this shall be clearly mentioned in the

design documents. In such cases, the installation procedure shall specify
whether P1 and/or P2 section(s) will rest on the jacket top before driving.
The contractor shall remove all the flooding valves after installation.
6.1.7 Stabbing Guides
Add-on pile sections shall be provided with guides to facilitate stabbing

and aligning them with the already installed pile sections. Fit up between
the pile and the guides should be tight and uniform.
Guides shall be designed to support the full weight of the add-on pile
section prior to welding the pile sections together. If bare cages are
used, it shall be ensured that they do not interfere with the DMS gauges.
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6.1.8 Lifting Eyes and Weld-on Lugs
Lifting eyes and weld-on lugs used for pile handling shall be designed to
accommodate stresses associated with initial pile pickup, stabbing, and
impact loads as may occur during the handling of the pile.
Where lifting eyes and weld-on-lugs are used to support the initial pile
section from the top of the jacket, each eye or lug should be capable of
resisting the entire hanging weight.
In all cases, the padeyes should be designed to resist all possible out-of-
plane bending loads.
Where lifting eyes and/or weld-on-lugs are on lengths of pile that will
remain in service, they should be removed by torch cutting 6 mm from the
pile steel surface and subsequently be ground smooth to prevent damage
to internal jacket leg elements such as packers during pile driving.
6.2 Pile Driving Equipment
Contractor shall supply all equipment and experienced personnel for driving
piles in accordance with plans and specifications.
All pile driving equipment shall be in good operating condition when brought to
the work site and shall be approved by the Saudi Aramco PMT Representative at
the site.
6.2.1 Pile Hammers
Contractor shall select suitable pile hammers to drive the piles to the
design penetration, based on the drivability analyses performed as part of
the pre-installation planning. Only hydraulic hammers should be
mobilized. If the contractor wishes to mobilize diesel hammers, he
should obtain specific approval of Saudi Aramco before mobilization.
The Contractor shall submit the hammer characteristics (size

designation, ram weight, anvil weight, fall height, etc.), cushion block
characteristics (material type, coefficient of restitutions, etc.) and
proposed splice schedule to Saudi Aramco. These data shall be
submitted to Saudi Aramco at least 60 calendar days prior to the
commencement of installation.
6.2.2 Pile Hammer Guides
Pile hammer guides shall provide a close fit to the pile wall and must
hold the hammer properly in line with the pile.
Page 9 of 25
6.2.3 Cushion Block Material
Contractor shall supply cushion blocks made of micarta, wire rope or

bongossi wood, in accordance with the pile hammer manufacturer's
recommendations. Cushion block materials other than those listed above
shall be approved by Saudi Aramco PMT Representative prior to the
commencement of construction.
6.3 Pile Installation Monitoring
All pile installations shall be monitored as per ASTM D4945 with dynamic
monitoring system (DMS), operated by trained personnel and analyzed by
engineers.
6.3.1 The DMS system to be used shall be approved by the Supervisor,

Offshore Engineering Group, CSD, based on the results of the pile
drivability analyses, pile driving experience in the area, experience with
a specific pile hammer, confidence in the site investigation data and
assigned soil parameters, and expected installation problems identified
during the pre-installation planning effort.
6.3.2 Dynamic Monitoring System (DMS) for Pile
6.3.2.1 A list of all dynamic monitoring equipment shall be submitted to

the Supervisor, Offshore Engineering Group, CSD for review
and approval at least three months prior to use in the field.
Dynamic pile monitoring equipment shall provide real time

force - time curve, wave velocity, stresses in the pile, hammer
energy, cushion stiffness, cushion coefficient of restitution, and
soil resistance to driving (SRD). These data shall be recorded
and submitted to the Saudi Aramco PMT Representative within
three hours after the end of pile driving for each platform.
Within three hours after driving, the Contractor shall conduct

an analysis on a high quality representative hammer blow to
obtain soil resistance to driving (SRD). The SRD analysis
shall be performed using force/velocity signal matching
techniques with results reported in SI units. Closed-form real
time solutions will not be accepted. The SRD analysis and
results shall be approved by the Supervisor, Offshore
Engineering Group, CSD. The SRD force/signal matching
results shall include:
 Shaft friction versus depth
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 End bearing at analyzed penetration

 Extreme compressive stress vs. depth
 Extreme tension stress vs. depth
 Maximum velocity vs. depth
 Maximum displacement vs. depth
 CAPWAP summary table, dynamic resistance table and
wave-up and wave-down plots
 Comparisons of driving results with soil conditions
 Computed factors of safety using SRD and appropriate
setup
 Comparison of required FS and computed FS
 Recommendations on pile acceptance
6.3.2.2 The SRD for piles in compression shall be taken as the sum of
shaft resistance and end bearing. SRD so calculated from the
restrike test (or by applying the setup calculated from the
restrike tests) shall be taken as the static ultimate compression
pile capacity.
The SRD for piles in tension shall be taken as 0.80 x shaft

resistance after the bottom two pile diameters of shaft resistance
has first been removed. SRD so calculated from the restrike test
(or by applying the setup calculated from the restrike tests) shall
be taken as the static ultimate tension pile capacity.
A factor of safety of 2.0 for operational environmental

conditions and 1.50 for design extreme environmental
conditions shall be used over the capacities calculated above
based on restrike test results.
Commentary:
The bottom two diameters of shaft friction is subtracted to avoid

confusing end bearing and shaft resistance at the tip. The 0.80
multiplier is based on the recommendations made in the
CAPWAP manual.
6.3.2.3 Pile Capacity under Boat Impact
The pile capacity both under compression and tension may be

increased by 25% to account for the increased rate of loading
during boat impact.
Page 11 of 25
6.3.2.4 The minimum complement of personnel that will be associated

with dynamic pile monitoring includes:
6.3.2.4.1 Senior Geotechnical Engineer to provide field data

gathering, interpretation capability, and
recommendation on accepting or rejecting the pile as
needed, with the following minimum qualifications:
a. A minimum of 7 years of related experience in
offshore operating environments, and
b. A valid Certificate of Proficiency in the PDCA
(Pile Driving Contractors Association) /PDI
(Pile Dynamics, Inc.) Dynamic Measurement
and Analysis Proficiency Test at a rank of
Advanced or higher.
6.3.2.4.2 Engineer to assist the Senior Geotechnical Engineer,

instrument piles and maintain equipment, with the
following minimum qualifications:
a. A minimum of 3 years related experience in
offshore operating environments,
b. A valid Certificate of Proficiency in the
PDCA/PDI Dynamic Measurement and Analysis
Proficiency Test at a rank of Advanced or higher.
Commentary:
The validity period of Advanced Rank is 4 years

from the date of certification; Master Rank is
5 years; and Expert Rank is lifetime.
6.3.2.4.3 A resume of all Dynamic Monitoring personnel with

above qualifications will be submitted to Supervisor,
Offshore Engineering Group, CSD for review and
approval at least three months prior to mobilization.
6.4 Pile Driving Requirements
Pile driving shall proceed continuously or with as little interruption as possible

to reduce increases in driving resistance during delays. Setup or restrike tests
with DMS monitoring/analysis shall be planned on at least one pile per structure
to demonstrate adequate capacity at or near final penetration. So, the hammer
deployed shall have the capability (energy) to overcome a resistance at least
equal to the pile ultimate capacity requirement at the design penetration.
Page 12 of 25
Setup or restrike tests shall be carried out 12 or 24 hours after end of initial
drive. Offshore Engineering Group, CSD shall be consulted for deciding on
necessity of another restrike test if the required capacity is not achieved in the
initial or subsequent restrike test(s). Pile installation procedure shall be
submitted by the contractor before fabrication of the piles.
In cases where it is not possible to perform a restrike test due to bad weather
conditions, the setup may be assessed based on driving data before and after
waiting periods.
When the pile capacity requirement is in excess of 35 MN, it may not be

possible to demonstrate the pile capacity from the restrike test. In such cases,
contractor may propose alternative methods of estimation of static ultimate pile
capacity for review and acceptance by Offshore Engineering Group, CSD.
Acceptance by CSD shall be done at 60% detailed design stage and before
starting fabrication.
The setup shall be derived based on skin friction and should be applied to skin
friction only.
Suitable complete backup pile hammers shall be supplied and readily available,
especially when driving through soil layers that will develop increased driving
resistance (setup) during delay periods.
6.4.1 Terminal Penetration
Terminal pile penetration is the penetration achieved at the completion of

pile driving operations. At terminal penetration the capacity of the pile
and the penetration of the pile shall be checked against design
requirements to determine acceptance.
Piles shall be driven to the design penetration, and a minimum ultimate

pile capacity specified for the site, or to refusal (see Section 6.4.2 for
definition of refusal).
Design penetration shall be based on the static axial pile capacity and
lateral load requirements for each site, calculated in accordance with the
procedures presented in SAES-M-005.
Calculated static axial capacity may be revised based upon data

measured during monitoring of pile driving. Any resulting revision in
required pile penetration shall be approved by the Supervisor, Offshore
Engineering Group, CSD.
In the event that the pile refuses at a penetration less than the design
penetration and the calculated static axial capacity is less than the design
Page 13 of 25
requirements, remedial action shall be taken to provide the design pile

capacity requirements.
6.4.2 Driven Pile Refusal
Pile driving refusal shall be defined as per Section 12.5.6 of API RP 2A,
21st edition. Properly operating hammer is defined as the hammer
providing a transferred energy equal to or greater than the energy
considered in the drivability report.
Driving should be terminated; however, when driving stresses become

more than 90% of the yield stress.
6.4.3 Cushion Blocks
Prior to commencing driving, the cushion block shall be inspected by the

Contractor and Saudi Aramco PMT Representative and replaced if
required to ensure that the pile can be driven to design penetration
without interruptions caused by failure of the cushion blocks.
Acceptable ranges for cushion stiffness shall be specified for locations

where pile refusal is expected. The cushion block or hammer shall be
changed when measured cushion stiffness is outside the acceptable range.
6.4.4 Pile Splices
Any splice made to a pile extending more than 5 m into clay layers at
penetrations of more than 15 m below the seafloor will probably
experience sufficient increases in driving resistance (set-up) to make the
continuation of driving difficult. Therefore, splice locations shall be
chosen to minimize the possibility of refusal due to the increase in
driving resistance.
6.4.5 Grout Plug
When the soil plug is drilled out of the pile and the pile re-driven or a
predrilled hole is used to facilitate driving, a grout plug must be placed to
develop end bearing of the pile. The pile should first be cleaned out as
described in paragraph 7.2.7 and the grout plug placed in accordance
with paragraph 9.3.7. The length of the grout plug shall be specified for
each specific job.
Page 14 of 25
7 Drilling
7.1 Drilling Equipment and Personnel
The Contractor shall supply all equipment, materials and experienced personnel
required to drill soil plug from inside piles, drill pilot holes, and drill holes or
pre-drill holes for insert or grouted piles. Before arriving at the site, all
equipment shall be approved by Saudi Aramco PMT Representative and shall be
in good operating condition.
7.1.1 Drill Rig
The drill rig shall be either a rotary type, power swivel or turbo drill.
The rated torque for these units shall not be less than 8,100 N.m.
(6,000 ft. lbs).
7.1.2 Support Equipment
The support equipment to accompany the drill rig shall include the
following:
(1) As a minimum, a supply of drill pipe that is at least 125 mm
diameter to drill to design penetration, including pup joints and
cross-over subs with a 100% reserve.
(2) An adequate supply of drill collars to provide bit manufacturer's
recommended weight to drill bit and bumper subs for use from
floating barge.
(3) Stabilizers of appropriate size and number to keep drill string
aligned in hole.
(4) Two roller type bits with jets of each size required.
(5) Positive displacement pump(s) capable of providing at least
1100 liters per minute to the bit together with suction and discharge
hoses.
(6) Small tools and spare parts for rig and pump repairs to maintain
equipment in good working order.
(7) Air lift equipment for removing cuttings.
7.1.3 Additional Equipment
The following additional equipment shall be provided if drilling mud is

used:
Page 15 of 25
(1) One active mud tank of at least 7,600 liters capacity.

(2) One mud storage tank of at least 2,300 liters capacity.
(3) Mud return collector and pump for flow equal to at least 1,100 liters
per minute.
7.1.4 Specifications
The Contractor shall provide Saudi Aramco with equipment

specifications for review at least 30 calendar days prior to mobilization.
All drilling equipment and drilling equipment specifications are subject

to Saudi Aramco Approval.
7.1.5 Assembly and Testing
All drilling equipment shall be mobilized at the job site in time to allow
testing at least one day prior to earliest need.
7.1.6 Personnel
Experienced drillers and helpers shall be supplied by the Contractor for

each shift to drill and handle equipment. One drilling supervisor shall be
supplied for overall control of drilling procedures. The driller shall have
a minimum of 3 years drilling experience in offshore conditions and the
supervisor shall be a graduate engineer with a minimum of 5 years
offshore drilling experience.
7.2 Drilling Procedures
7.2.1 Purpose
Drilling in conjunction with offshore pile installation may be done for

one of the following reasons:
(1) Drilling out soil plug from inside pile prior to re-driving.
(2) Drilling out soil plug from inside pile and pre-drilling pilot hole to
near the terminal pile penetration prior to re-driving.
(3) Drilling out soil plug from inside pile and pre-drilling holes for
grouted insert piles below driven pile section.
(4) Drilling holes for grouted piles.
All piles installed in drilled holes shall be grouted into place.
Page 16 of 25
7.2.2 Removal of Soil Plug
The soil plug can be removed from a pile using a bit with a diameter
slightly less than the inside diameter of the pile. If plug is removed,
reassessment of pile capacity shall be carried out.
Drilling to remove a soil plug should stop one pile diameter or at least
1.5 m above the tip of the pile, whichever is greater.
7.2.3 Pre-drilled Pilot Holes
A predrilled pilot hole to assist driving shall stop two pile diameters or
2 m above terminal penetration whichever is greater. The diameter of
the pre-drilled hole shall be less than 75% of the outside diameter of the
pile when mostly in clay and, less than 50% of the outside diameter of
the pile when mostly in sand.
Predrilled pilot holes of diameter up to 95% of the pile diameter may be

used to drive piles into competent rock layers.
Where pilot holes are used the axial pile capacity shall be re-evaluated to
account for the reduction in insitu soil stress caused by the drilling. In all
cases the driven pile skin friction and end bearing unit values in disturbed
zone shall be reduced by at least 25%. In addition, the unit skin friction
values shall be reduced by 25% along the length of the already driven pile
for a distance of at least five (5) pile diameters above the pile tip.
7.2.4 Anchor Piles
For anchor piles subject to lateral loads only, the diameter of the predrilled
hole may be increased to the outside diameter of the anchor pile.
7.2.5 Predrilled Hole for Insert or Grouted Piles
Predrilled holes for grouted insert piles or grouted piles should provide at
least a 76 mm clear space around the pile to be grouted to the full design
penetration.
7.2.6 Drilling Fluid
Seawater with an air assist can be used as drilling fluid to remove drill
cuttings in stable clays, rock and sand layers of limited thickness. Drilling
mud shall be used to pre-drill holes in unstable clays and sand deposits
greater than 4.5 m thick. Mud-loss and hydraulic fracture assessment
should be carried out. Specifications for drilling mud are given below:
Page 17 of 25
Soil Mud Weight kg per m³ Viscosity, m²/sec

Clay 1140 to 1200 55 to 60
Sand 1140 to 1200 80 to 100
Drilling mud supply should be adequate to maintain continuous and

speedy drilling operation. The effect of drilling fluid on shaft friction
shall be assessed by the installation contractor and should be included as
a part of the drilling method statement.
7.2.7 Stabilizers
Stabilizers shall be employed at 9 m intervals along the drill string to

provide a straight and true hole.
7.2.8 Cleaning the Hole
7.2.8.1 Internal Grout Plug - After drilling out the internal soil plug
and re-driving the pile to an acceptable penetration and prior to
installing the grout plug, all loose soil shall be removed from
the inside of the pile.
7.2.8.2 Pilot Hole - After drilling the pilot hole and re-driving the pile
to an acceptable penetration, all loose soil shall be removed
from inside the pile prior to placing the grout plug.
7.2.8.3 Insert or Grouted Piles - Drilled hole shall be washed for at

least 15 minutes after reaching design penetration, so as to
remove all loose soil and drilling mud from the hole.
Any problems or anomalies observed during cleaning or
removing the loose soil and drilling mud must be reported.
7.2.9 Detailed Drilling Procedure
Contractor shall provide Saudi Aramco with a detailed drilling procedure

for approval prior to commencing drilling. The procedure shall include
equipment descriptions and all techniques to be used, as well as the
drilling fluid program to be followed.
8 Insert or Grouted Piles
8.1 Size and Length
Insert or grouted piles shall be of the size and length indicated in the Pile
Installation Specification and drawings for a specific job.
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8.2 Centralizers
Piles shall be equipped with centralizers at 6 m to 9 m intervals to ensure proper

alignment in the predrilled hole, so that a uniform grout envelope can form
around the entire pile.
8.3 Pile Placement
Piles shall be placed in the predrilled holes and should advance into the hole
under self-weight plus the weight of a pile hammer, if necessary. No blows
shall be applied to any pile to be grouted. The tip of pile shall be 30 cm above
bottom of predrilled hole.
9 Grouting
Contractor shall provide all equipment, materials and experienced personnel required to
grout structure piles in jacket sleeves, structure piles to insert piles and structure or
insert piles to foundation formations. All equipment shall be in good operating
condition when it is brought to the job site and shall be approved by the Saudi Aramco
PMT Representative at the site.
9.1 Grouting Equipment and Personnel
9.1.1 Grouting Equipment
The following minimum support equipment shall be supplied by the

contractor for grouting operations.
9.1.1.1 Bulk Cement

(1) One air operated grout surge tank unit with mixing
hopper.
(2) Three 31 m³ conical bottom pneumatic cement silos
(“P” tanks) or equivalent.
(3) Two pump skids each equipped with diesel or turbine
powered positive displacement cementing pumps and a
5.7 m³ tank calibrated to determine discharge rate.
Minimum pump capacity shall be 1,100 liter/min at
10.3 MPa discharge pressure.
(4) Two centrifugal pumps each capable of moving sea
water at 1,100 liter/min to cementing tanks.
(5) Two air compressors each capable of discharging
190 liter/min at 345 kPa minimum.
Page 19 of 25
(6) Flexible cementing hose in sufficient quantity to allow

hook-up from cementing equipment to any jacket leg
without moving work barge, including adequate
allowance for normal hose losses.
(7) A suitable system of slips and elevators for handling
grout pipes for insert and grouted piles.
9.1.1.2 Bagged Cement

(1) Mixing hopper and tank with circulation, mixing, and
transfer pumps.
(2) Two pump skids each equipped with diesel or turbine-
powered positive displacement cementing pumps and a
5.7 m³ tank calibrated to determine discharge rate.
Minimum pump capacity shall be 1,100 liter/min at
10.3 MPa discharge pressure.
(3) Dry storage for calculated cement quantity required for
the structure plus adequate reserve.
(4) Two centrifugal pumps capable of moving sea water at
1100 liter/min to cement mixing unit.
(5) Flexible cementing hoses in sufficient quantity to allow
hook-up from cementing equipment to any jacket leg
without moving work barge, including adequate
allowance for normal hose losses.
(6) A suitable system of slips and elevators for handling
grout pipes for insert or grouted piles.
9.1.2 Equipment Specifications
A detailed Specification for all equipments, including horse power,

capacity, layout and hook-up on barge shall be given to Saudi Aramco
PMT Representative at least 30 calendar days prior to mobilization.
9.1.3 Assembly and Testing
All cementing equipment shall be mobilized in time to allow hook-up

and testing at least one day prior to grouting. Saudi Aramco approval to
proceed will be contingent upon proof testing of the equipment.
Page 20 of 25
9.1.4 Personnel
Competent and experienced equipment operators shall be provided by the

contractor to perform grouting in a continuous operation. An experienced
supervisor shall be provided by contractor for each working shift.
The grout operator shall have a minimum of 3 years grouting experience
in offshore conditions and the supervisor shall be a graduate engineer with
a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a minimum of 5 years
offshore grouting experience.
9.2 Materials
9.2.1 Cementitious Material
The cement used for grouting shall be ASTM C150, type V (Sulfate
Resistant Portland Cement) with 30% Fly ash. Fly ash shall comply with
ASTM C618.
9.2.2 Grout Mix
The grout mix shall have high fluidity to ensure flow during grouting
process. Chemical admixtures complying with ASTM C494 can be used
to achieve the required fluidity of the grout mix. The maximum water to
cement ratio (water/ cement + Fly ash) shall not exceed 45%.
High Sulfate-resisting Portland Cement or API standard well cement
grouts shall be used. In general, Portland cement grouts should be used
with or without inert fillers mixed with either seawater or fresh water.
Any water used to mix grout should be free of hydrocarbons and other
deleterious matter. The 28 day grout strength shall be minimum
17.25 MPa (2,500 psi) as per Section 8.4.1 of API RP 2A.
Contractor shall conduct trial mixes to meet the specified requirement

prior to commencing the grout application.
9.2.3 Lost Circulation Material
To install a plug in jacket leg annulus or to control lost circulation in

fissured limestone or coral formations, Gel flake, pea gravel or other
approved lost circulation material may be added to the cement slurry if
required and with approval by the Saudi Aramco PMT Representative.
9.2.4 Quantities
When ordering materials, the contractor shall consider that grout seals
are normally imperfect, that grout loss can occur in the formation and at
Page 21 of 25
the seafloor.
9.3 Grouting Procedures
Contractor shall submit the grouting procedure for approval of Saudi Aramco.
9.3.1 Purpose
Grouting in conjunction with offshore pile installation may be done for

the following reasons:
(1) To fill the annulus between a pile and the jacket leg or a skirt pile
and the sleeve.
(2) To fill the annulus between insert piles and the foundation
formation and between the insert pile and initial pile section.
(3) To fill the annulus between pile and the foundation formation.
(4) To provide a grout plug in a re-driven pile for end bearing.
9.3.2 Driving During Grouting
Driving of other piles in the same structure is not permitted during

grouting or within 24 hours after completion of grouting.
9.3.3 Sampling
Grout samples shall be collected by the Contractor for testing by Saudi

Aramco at the beginning of each operation and at intermediate points as
directed by the Saudi Aramco PMT Representative. In addition, a
sample shall be taken of grout overflowing from the annulus of the pile
when grouting an insert pile.
Samples of overflowing grout shall be taken at the end of the grouting

operation. The molds used for strength test specimens shall be prepared
as outlined in Section 6 of API RP 10B-2 “Recommended Practice for
Testing Well Cements.”
9.3.4 Filling Pile-Jacket Annulus
The annulus between pile and jacket leg should be filled with grout
where it is required by design as per SAES-M-005 after the pile has been
installed to grade and is completely shimmed and welded to the jacket.
Sealer plates should be omitted until after grouting. The grouting
procedure shall be as follows:
(1) Try to establish circulation by pumping seawater through the lower
Page 22 of 25
grout line.
(2) If circulation can be established and the returns are approximately
equal to pumped quantity, pump 0.14 m³ slug of grout followed by
a sufficient volume of water to clear hoses and grout lines plus
300 liters. Slurry used for grout plug should be monitored to
ensure a minimum weight of 1,860 kg/m³.
(3) If partial or no circulation is obtained, add lost circulation material
to cement slurry, pump slug as in Step 2, allow sample to set two
hours, and try to establish circulation using seawater. If water level
in leg holds for 5 minutes proceed with Step 5. If water level will
not hold, use divers to place bagged cement around jacket leg to
seal obvious flow channels, then repeat Step 3.
(4) An alternate procedure for setting grout plug is to run a 25 mm
(1 inch) grout pipe inside the annulus between jacket and pile and
pump a grout plug consisting of 0.14 m³ plus volume needed for
grout lines followed by sufficient volume of water to clear hose and
grout lines plus 300 liters. Check water level as in Step 3.
(5) Allow four hours for plug to harden, then fill remainder of annulus
using upper grout line. Grouting should be continued until returns
at the jacket leg are 1,860 kg/m³ grout.
(6) Fill any empty space that occurs from grout settling with hand-
mixed grout within 24 hours and install sealer plates.
9.3.5 Insert Piles
Grouting insert piles to formation and initial pile section shall be done
after the insert pile with centralizers is placed in the predrilled hole. Two
pressure heads and a 75mm (3 inch) grout pipe shall be provided by
fabricator for contractor's use. The stepwise grouting procedure of insert
piles shall be as follows:
(1) Run grout pipe to 1 m above the tip of the pile. The length of grout
plug will be specified in pile installation specification for
individual projects or shown on the drawings.
(2) Connect pressure head and weld to cover top of insert pile.
(3) Hook-up lines to pressure head and pump seawater until all air in
insert is displaced through exhaust valve, then close exhaust valve.
(4) Pump 0.4 m³ to 0.6 m³ low density grout, 1,280 kg/m³ to serve as a
scouring medium ahead of structural grout.
Page 23 of 25
(5) Pump grout at minimum density of 1,860 kg/m³ until grout

uncontaminated with drilling fluid flows over top of initial pile
section. Use maximum practical pumping rate to insure scouring of
predrilled hole wall. Samples shall be taken at the mix tank during
pumping to determine density and hardening time of the grout.
(6) After good returns are obtained pump a volume of seawater
sufficient to displace grout from hoses and pipe plus 1 m inside
diameter of the insert pile. The amount of water required for
flushing shall be determined accurately to ensure a grout plug of
sufficient length is provided as specified.
(7) Discontinue pumping and simultaneously close the line valve to
maintain pressure inside the insert pile.
(8) Maintain pressure for four hours or until grout hardens.
(9) Relieve pressure through exhaust valve, remove pressure head, and
grout pipe.
9.3.6 Grouting of Drilled and Grouted Piles to the Formation and Jacket Leg
Grouting of piles to the foundation formation and jacket leg shall be

done after the pile, with centralizers, is placed in the predrilled hole.
The stepwise grouting procedure shall be as follows:
(1) Run the grout pipe to the tip of the pile.
(2) Connect the grout lines and pump 0.4 m³ to 0.6 m³ of low density
grout, 1,280 kg/m³, to serve as a scouring medium ahead of further
pumping of structural grout.
(3) Station the diver at the seabed, then pump grout at minimum
density of 1,860 kg/m³ until good returns show at sea floor and pile
up around jacket leg.
(4) Grout the annulus between pile and jacket as outlined in
paragraph 9.3.4. Inflatable grout seals are required to allow
lowering of insert piles with projecting centralizer plates.
9.3.7 Placing Grout Plug
Placing a grout plug in a driven pile shall follow the stepwise procedure
given below:
(1) Run the grout line to the top of the soil plug.
(2) Connect the grout lines and pump a quantity of grout adequate to
Page 24 of 25
fill all grout lines and to provide the required length of grout plug
in the pile plus 0.3 m³ and lift grout line.
(3) Wait four hours, then measure top elevation of the grout plug.
If not adequate, repeat Steps 1 and 2.
10 Conductors and Conductor/Piles
10.1 Conductors are used as part of the oil drilling and/or production operations and
are not used to provide axial or lateral foundation support to the structure.
Conductor/piles serve a dual use and are depended upon and designed to provide
axial or lateral foundation support in addition to serving oil production and
drilling functions. The use of conductor/piles is generally not recommended
except for minimum structures.
10.2 Conductor/piles shall be installed using the techniques given in this standard for
piles. All requirements for grout should be met and detailed procedures and
materials used for installing conductor/piles should be approved at least two
months prior to installation by Supervisor, Offshore Engineering Group, CSD.
10.3 Conductors can be installed by driving or drilling or a combination of both.

During conductor installation operations - driving, drilling, drilling out, or
grouting - caution must be exercised to prevent damaging, eroding, washing out,
or reducing the strength of foundation support soils. Foundation support soils
are generally within a depth of 150 m of the mudline. Foundation support soils
are soft, loose and unconsolidated sediments that cannot resist high pump
pressures, high pump volumes, or fast drill rates. Drill bit advance rates should
be recorded and should not be faster than 3 minutes per meter.
Revision Summary
5 July 2010 Revised the “Next Planned Update”. Reaffirmed the contents of the document, and reissued
with editorial changes.
30 June 2014 Revised Next Planned Update, reaffirmed the content and reissued as major revision since it
has not been reviewed for 5 years.
18 December 2016 Major revision. Sea water is being allowed for mixing grout. Personnel requirements for pile
testing has been changed. References to API RP 2A, 21st Edition and API RP 2GEO have
been added.
Page 25 of 25

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What are the different types of piles discussed in the document?

What are the different types of piles discussed in the document?

What are the steps involved in grouting piles?

What are the steps involved in grouting piles?

Engineering Standard

SAES-Q-004 18 December 2016

Previous Issue: 30 June 2014 Next Planned Update: 30 June 2019

©Saudi Aramco 2016. All rights reserved.

The sections on conductor/piles are included to provide installation guidance on these

2 Conflicts and Deviations

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-334 Retrieval, Certification, and Submittal of Saudi

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

Saudi Aramco Form and Data Sheet

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute

American Society for Testing and Materials

4 Pile Marking and Installation Records

4.1 Pile Marking

4.2 Pile Installation Records

Pile driving records shall be prepared by Contractor on Saudi Aramco Form

The following items shall be accurately recorded for each pile or

4.2.3 Insert Piles

Records required for insert piles installed in pre-drilled holes shall

All records described above shall be signed by the Saudi Aramco

5 Pile Installation Planning

A project specification is issued for most projects and gives requirements

In addition to the above information, the pile installation specification should

Table 1 - Accepted Pile Installation Procedures

5.2 Geotechnical Site Investigation

The geotechnical site investigation to be used in the planning effort shall be in

5.3 Whenever refusal of driven pile is predicted as a result of the drivability

6 Driven Pile Installation

6.1 Pile Driving

6.1.1 Stabbing of Piles and Pre-driving

For tripod platforms it may be necessary to pre-drive only two piles to

6.1.2 Driving Sequence of Piles

Jacket levelling shall conform to Section 12.4.4 of API RP 2A.

6.1.3 Driving of Well Conductors

Conductors shall be driven to 17 m.

6.1.4 Test Pile

The first pile to be driven to the maximum design penetration or refusal

test piles shall subject to review and approval by Supervisor, Offshore

6.1.5 Insurance Piling

Contractor shall revise the lengths of additional pile sections if so

6.1.6 Closure Plates (Rubber Diaphragm)

If no closure plates are to be used, this shall be clearly mentioned in the

6.1.7 Stabbing Guides

Add-on pile sections shall be provided with guides to facilitate stabbing

6.1.8 Lifting Eyes and Weld-on Lugs

6.2 Pile Driving Equipment

6.2.1 Pile Hammers

The Contractor shall submit the hammer characteristics (size

6.2.2 Pile Hammer Guides

6.2.3 Cushion Block Material

Contractor shall supply cushion blocks made of micarta, wire rope or

6.3 Pile Installation Monitoring

6.3.1 The DMS system to be used shall be approved by the Supervisor,