Re: B31.3 Pressure Testing

From: <John>
Date: Thu Sep 27 2007 - 10:32:00 EDT


Busy right now Bruce... but

MAPW = Design Pressure and Design Pressure??? MAWP is not used bny B31.3

and look through the B31.3 interpretations... we have rec'd a million RFIs over the years yours sound familiar so you may find you answer yourself. see this page <a href="http://cstools.asme.org/csconnect/CommitteePages.cfm?Committee=N10020400">http://cstools.asme.org/csconnect/CommitteePages.cfm?Committee=N10020400</a> and download the interpretations.... they are free for the downloading

Best Regards,
John C. Luf
Cleveland Ohio U.S.A when I'm not in Austria

Member B31.3, Piping Engineer - Stress Analysis, Pipe Supports, Component Design, and Surge Analysis... according to my daughters master of unimportant trivia

             Gentlemen - I am looking for an interpretation of B31.3 testing

requirements. The system in question is a natural gas process piping

system located on & connecting 2 offshore platforms, 1440# MAWP @ ambient

temperature, 24" / 30" dia. with approx. 500 lin. feet. At one end of the

system we need to flip an existing 30"-600#rf spec blind from the closed

position to the open position, at the other extreme end we are installing

a new 24"-600# double block & bleed isolation valve to an existing 24"600#

RF Flg. as part of a phase 2 construction project. Unfortunately during

original piping installation high point vents & low point drains were not

installed - ruling out hydrotesting. ."Hot Work" is not allowable.

Please help me with the following:

  1. 345.2.3 Special Provisions for Testing

       (b) Flanged Joints. A flanged joint at which a blank is inserted to

isolate other equipment during a test need not be tested.

Does "Equipment" include piping systems as well? Will simple rotating of a

Spec Blind require code testing?

2) 345.3.4 Limits of Tested Piping.

        Equipment which is not to be tested shall be either disconnected

from the piping or isolated by blinds or other means during the test. A

valve may be used provided the valve (including its closure mechanism) is

suitable for the test pressure.

Does "Equipment" include piping systems as well? Will the flanged joint

between the existing flange & new valve qualify under 345.2.3?

3) 345.1 Required Leak Test

     (c) Where the owner considers both hydrostatic and pneumatic leak

testing impracticable, the alternative specified in para. 345.9 may be

used if both of the following conditions apply:

         (1) a hydrostatic test would damage linings or internal

insulation, or contaminate a process which would be hazardous, corrosive,

or inoperative in the presence of moisture, or would present the danger of

brittle fracture due to low metal temperature during the test; and

Hydrotest not possible due to lack of H.P. Vents & L.P. Drains. Moisture

contamination not acceptable to treated NG.

        (2) a pneumatic test would present an undue hazard of possible

release of energy stored in the system, or would present the danger of

brittle fracture due to low metal temperature during the test.

500 L.F. 24" / 30" @ 1580# test (I have a Bechtel chart which indicates a

maximum of 164 equivalent lineal feet for 24" 60S pipe @ 1600# to maintain

system within Stored Energy Limits)

4) 345.9 Alternative Leak Test

      The following procedures and leak test method may be used only under

the conditions stated in para. 345.1(c).

       345.9.3 Test Method. The system shall be subjected to a sensitive

leak test in accordance with para. 345.8.

5) 345.8 Sensitive Leak Test

      The test shall be in accordance with the Gas and Bubble Test method

specified in the BPV Code, Section V, Article 10, or by another method

demonstrated to have equal sensitivity. Sensitivity of the test shall be

not less than 10-3 atmˇml/sec under test conditions.

        (a) The test pressure shall be at least the lesser of 105 kPa (15

psi) gage, or 25% or the design pressure.

        (b) The pressure shall be gradually increased until a gage pressure

the lesser of one-half the test pressure or 170 kPa (25 psi) is attained,

at which time a preliminary check shall be made. Then the pressure shall

be gradually increased in steps until the test pressure is reached, the

pressure being held long enough at each step to equalize piping strains.

Are sections 345.9 & 345.8 applicable?

As always your valuable input is greatly appreciated -

Bruce R. Raymond

Fluor

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Received on Thu Sep 27 10:32:00 2007

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