Engineering Standard

SAES-L-470 25 September 2012

Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements
Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References.................................................... 2
4 Definitions...................................................... 3
5 General Requirements.................................. 3
6 Trenchless Construction Methods................. 5
7 Corrosion Protection...................................... 7
8 Testing and Inspection………………..……… 7
9 Reporting....................................................... 8

Appendix A – Drilling Excavation Plan………….. 9

Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017

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Primary contact: Nasri, Nadhir Ibrahim on 966-3-8809603

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2012. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

1 Scope

1.1 This standard defines the minimum design and installation requirements
governing trenchless pipeline construction.

1.2 Pipeline design and construction shall be according to SAES-L-410 and

SAES-L-450. The design of pipeline under road crossing shall be according to
SAES-L-460.

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 Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-114 Excavation and Backfill
SAES-H-002 Internal and External Coatings for Steel Pipelines
and Piping
SAES-L-410 Design of Pipelines
SAES-L-450 Construction of on-Land and Near-Shore Pipelines
SAES-L-460 Pipeline Crossings under Roads and Railroads

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

SAES-W-011 Welding Requirements for On-Plot Piping

SAES-W-012 Welding Requirements for Pipelines
SAES-X-400 Cathodic Protection of Buried Pipelines

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

A.G.A/PRCI Report Installation of Pipeline by Horizontal Directional
PR-227-9321 Drilling

4 Definitions

HDD: Horizontal Directional Drilling

Micro Tunneling: The process of drilling the hole while pushing the carrier pipe
behind through pipe jacking.

Pipe Jacking: This method requires assembling the pipes at the foot of an access shaft
and pushing them through the ground.

Pipe Ramming: This method requires a pneumatic tool to hammer the pipe or the
casing into the ground.

Auger Drilling: This method is drilling the bore by means of a rotating mechanical
auger.

Drill locator: operator of a tracking system.

5 General Requirements

5.1 The trenchless technique shall be selected based on the feasibility of the
technique, the underground utilities/equipment, geotechnical data, schedule and
cost.
Commentary Note:

The feasibility of the trenchless techniques is governed by the drill path length,
the pipe diameter and the subsurface conditions.

5.2 The operator of the trenchless machine shall have a minimum of five years’
experience.

The equipment operations manual shall be made available onsite at all times.

5.3 Geotechnical Data

5.3.1 A geotechnical report shall be prepared by Saudi Aramco approved

geotechnical contractor based on a minimum of two vertical boreholes

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

drilled at each crossing location. Additional boreholes may be required

depending on the length of the drill path and the type of crossing.

5.3.2 The geotechnical report must be prepared by a contractor on CSD’s list

of approved Geotechnical Engineering Offices. Boreholes shall be
conducted by a contractor on Inspection Department’s list of approved
Geotechnical Third Party Testing Laboratories.

5.3.3 The boreholes depth shall be a minimum of 15 meters.

5.4 The pipeline trenchless package shall be reviewed by CSD and approved by
PMT or operating organization as applicable. The package shall include as a
minimum the following where applicable:
 Type of pipeline trenchless technique with selection justification.
 Pipeline design parameters (pressure, temperature, size & material
specification)
 Proposed coating types for girth welds and overall Abrasion Resistant
Overlay (ARO) for the pipeline.
 A geotechnical report per paragraph 5.3.
 A plan drawing based on a detailed survey of the crossing area showing the
pipeline route and any surface or subsurface equipment or utilities within
20 meters of the proposed drill path.
 A cross sectional elevation drawing. The drawing shall include the grade
profile and any underground equipment or utilities.
 Operation and installation load calculations of the pipeline such as allowable
elastic bending stress, allowable elastic bend angle, allowable external hoop
stress of the pipe, approximate external pressure stress exerted by the drilling
mud. For HDD, A.G.A/PRCI Report, PR-227-9321 should be used as a
design guide.
 A drilling fluid design plan that includes mixing, storage, pumping,
filtration, recycling, etc.
 The reaming sequence and sizes (HDD) including final bore diameter.
 A buoyancy control plan per paragraph 6.3.9.1.
 An Excavation Plan as per paragraph 6.4.1.1.
 A drilling Execution Plan as per Appendix A.
 The equipment operator’s resumes per paragraph 5.2.

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

5.5 The bore profile shall be designed to maintain a minimum two meters clearance
between any underground facility and the final hole.

5.6 The pipeline installation loads shall be calculated and evaluated. In case of
HDD, the pullback stress and bending stress should be within the acceptable
limits per applicable codes.

The contractor shall evaluate the operational loads based on the geotechnical
survey.

5.7 During boring process, if abnormal readings are noticed by the machine’s
operator, the operation shall be stopped for evaluation of the readings before
continuing with the operation.

5.8 All additives in the drilling fluid shall be environmentally safe.

Commentary Note:

To adjust the properties of the drilling fluid such as density and viscosity, various
chemical and materials are added to the drilling fluid.

5.9 All wastes including the drilling wastes shall be disposed of in a proper manner.

6 Trenchless Construction Methods

6.1 Trenchless construction method not addressed in this document shall be

approved by CSD. Pipe jacking and pipe ramming methods are not permitted for
the carrier pipe. Pipe ramming may be used for the casing pipe.

6.2 Auger Boring are permitted in a crossing length of less than 50 meters.
Guided Auger boring shall be used in area where alignment precision is
required.

6.3 Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

6.3.1 Based on the topographical survey of the crossing site, the entry and exit
points of the HDD shall be clearly marked.

6.3.2 The design of the drill path shall be based on the following as minimum:
 The geotechnical data
 The entry and exit angles.
 Bend Radius of the pipe. Bends in the drill path shall be elastic with
a minimum radius (in feet) not less than 100 times the pipe nominal
diameter.

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

6.3.3 The type and the size of HDD drill rig shall be selected based on the
required calculated bore drilling and pipe string pulling loads.

6.3.4 Drilling bits selection shall be based on the geotechnical report.

6.3.5 Steering tool system and drill bit tracking tools shall be provided during
drilling of the pilot hole.

6.3.6 Only factory made back reamers suitable for the type of soil shall be used.

6.3.7 Adequate flow of drilling mud shall be pumped during the pilot bore
drilling, reaming stages and pipe pulling.

6.3.8 The final bore diameter shall be 1.2 to 1.5 times the pipe outside
diameter. 1.5 times the pipe diameter bore may be used for pipes up to
32 inches, and to be reduced for larger diameter pipes.

6.3.9 Pipe Installation

6.3.9.1 A buoyancy control plan shall be developed for pipe diameter

36 inches and larger.

6.3.9.2 The pipe string shall be laid over roller supports or held with
side booms with cradles. Holding the pipe string by belts
through cranes or side booms is not permitted.

6.3.9.3 A swivel shall be attached between the pipe string and the
reamer.

6.3.9.4 A safety break-away swivel shall be connected between the

pipe pulling head and the rotational swivel.
Commentary Note:

This is to ensure that the exerted pulling force is not greater

than the maximum allowed for the pipe string.

6.3.9.5 Prior to pipe pulling, the entire bore between exit and entry
points shall be filled with drilling mud.

6.3.9.6 During pulling, the pipe string shall be lifted and held such the
pulling end is at an angle to match that of the bore entry angel.

6.3.9.7 The pullback operation shall be completed without interruption.

6.4 Micro Tunneling

6.4.1 In addition to the pre-planning design and construction requirements

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

stipulated in Section 5, the design drawings shall also show the size and
depth of the jacking and receiving pit.

The excavation and shoreing requirements for the jacking and receving
pits shall comply with SAES-A-114 and Saudi Aramco Safety
Management Guide No. 06-002-2008.

6.4.2 The receiving pit shall be completed before starting the micro tunneling
operation.

6.4.3 All required calculations shall be conducted such as the maximum

jacking resistance, the maximum allowable face pressure or slurry
pressure and the relationship between hydraulic jacking pressure and
force applied to pipe during jacking.

6.4.4 The Micro tunneling machine shall be equipped with a control system to
enable the drilling operator to monitor at all times the X-Y coordinates of
the boring head and its longitudinal inclination, the direction of rotation,
and all other aspects of the operation to ensure a successful boring process.

7 Corrosion Protection

7.1 The external surface of steel pipe and casing shall be coated with a factory
applied external corrosion protection coating in accordance with SAES-H-002.

7.2 All pressure pipes shall have an additional Abrasion Resistance Overlay (ARO)
coating or wrapping in accordance with SAES-H-002.

7.3 All field welds shall be NDT tested and accepted then coated with an approved
field corrosion protection coating in accordance with SAES-H-002 prior to
applying the ARO layer.

7.4 Cathodic protection of cased and uncased pipeline shall be in accordance with
SAES-X-400 and applicable Saudi Aramco Standard Drawings. Casing welded
to the carrier pipe shall be considered part of the pipeline. Casing electrically
isolated from the carrier pipe shall have a separate dedicated Cathodic
Protection system.

8 Testing and Inspection

8.1 Ensure that site conditions, preparations, and selected drilling rigs equipment are
per approved pipeline trenchless package.

8.2 All drilling tracking instruments shall be calibrated at site. All battery operated
instruments shall have fresh batteries installed before use.

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

8.3 The coated carrier pipe per SAES-H-002 shall be holiday tested prior to
applying the ARO layer.

8.4 Field girth welds in the carrier pipe shall be inspected by non-destructive test
methods in accordance with SAES-W-011 or SAES-W-012 as applicable.

8.5 The carrier pipe shall be hydrostatically tested at the same pressure as the
overall pipeline per SAES-L-150.

When using HDD for pipeline construction, the pipe string may be
hydrostatically tested prior to pull back. It also shall be tested as part of the
mainline without the 90% requirements based on the area class wall thickness.

8.6 The ARO layer shall be applied by vendor or vendor certified applicators and in
full accordance with vendor instruction. Copy of application and curing
instructions shall be made available for Project Inspection.

8.7 The drilling mud mix to be used with pipe pulling shall be verified and recorded.

8.8 Pipe string shall be pulled to expose at least 6 meters at the exit end for pipeline
inspection. Any damage in the pipeline such as dent or gouges shall be per the
applicable codes. For coating damage, CSD and Proponent CP specialists shall
be involved in the evaluation.

9 Reporting

9.1 The contractor shall provide copies of inspection and quality monitoring report
forms that includes the frequency and type of monitoring.

9.2 For HDD, the contractor shall provide the drilling mud mix and the amount of
drilling mud injected during the final pull of the pipe string.

9.3 The contractor shall provide the as built drawings in the form of Cross-sectional
profile and plan view showing the actual path of the pipe.

Revision Summary
25 September 2012 New Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard.

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Document Responsibility: Piping Standards Committee SAES-L-470
Issue Date: 25 September 2012
Next Planned Update: 25 September 2017 Trenchless Pipelines Construction Requirements

Appendix A – Drilling Execution Plan

The drilling contractor shall develop a plan for the drilling execution. The plan shall include
the following as minimum:

1. Specifications of drilling rigs.

2. Drilling rig anchorage system.

3. Drilling pipes specification.

4. Details of the drilling steps operation that includes but not limited to surface
preparations, sump construction, pilot hole drilling, hole opening operation, pull back
operation, etc.

5. Drilling fluid and drilling fluid recycling system.

6. Steering system.

7. Pressure monitoring type.

8. Sample of daily drilling reports.

9. Contingency Plan for any obstruction during the operation such as piping getting stuck,
equipment lost, etc.

10. Description of the drilling fluid type and the additives.

11. Disposal plan for the drilling fluid.

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