Selection of Flanges, Stud Bolts and Gaskets and SAES-L-109 [PDF]

Pressure piping systems are the lifelines of many industrial processes, ensuring the smooth flow of fluids within various installations. Within this intricate network, the selection of components like metallic pipe flanges, gaskets, and stud bolts is of paramount importance to maintain the integrity and safety of the system. Saudi Aramco’s SAES-L-109 standard plays a pivotal role in guiding this selection process, and in this article, we will unravel its key aspects.

Following document SAES-L-109 for reading and downloading.

SAES-L-109

The Purpose of SAES-L-109

SAES-L-109, as a standard, serves a crucial function in Saudi Aramco’s operations. It defines mandatory requirements for the selection of metallic pipe flanges, gaskets, and stud bolts within the realm of pressure piping covered by SAES-L-100. In essence, this standard acts as a comprehensive guideline, ensuring that the choice of these essential components aligns with the highest standards of safety and performance.

To appreciate the significance of SAES-L-109, it’s vital to understand its relationship with other industry standards. This standard does not operate in isolation but rather complements key codes, namely ASME B31.1, ASME B31.3, ASME B31.4, and ASME B31.8. These codes provide a fundamental framework for the design, construction, and maintenance of various types of pressure piping systems. SAES-L-109, in its role as a supplement, further refines the selection process of flanges, gaskets, and stud bolts within the context of these broader codes.

Components:

Let’s dive deeper into the specific components that SAES-L-109 addresses:

1. Metallic Pipe Flanges

• Crucial Connections: Flanges are essential components that facilitate the connection of pipes, valves, and other equipment in a pressure piping system. They provide a means for easy assembly and disassembly, which is vital for maintenance and repairs.
• Material Matters: The standard guides the selection of metallic flanges, emphasizing the importance of choosing materials that can withstand the operating conditions and potential stresses within the system.

2. Gaskets

• Sealing Integrity: Gaskets play a critical role in ensuring leak-free connections between flanges. Their choice is integral to preventing fluid or gas leakage, which can have serious safety and environmental consequences.
• Material Compatibility: SAES-L-109 underscores the significance of material compatibility between gaskets and flanges to maintain a reliable seal.

3. Stud Bolts

• Securing Connections: Stud bolts are the fasteners that hold flanges together, ensuring the integrity of the connection. Their selection is crucial to maintaining the structural integrity of the piping system.
• Strength and Material: The standard outlines requirements for the strength and material of stud bolts, ensuring they can withstand the forces acting on them in a pressurized system.

The Guiding Principles

SAES-L-109 operates on a set of guiding principles that prioritize safety, performance, and compliance. These principles include:

1. Safety First

• The paramount concern is the safety of personnel, the environment, and the integrity of the pressure piping system. Components selected must meet stringent safety standards.

2. Compatibility

• All components, including flanges, gaskets, and stud bolts, must be compatible with each other and with the fluids or gases they will encounter in the piping system.

3. Code Alignment

• The standard aligns with established industry codes like ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, and B31.8, ensuring conformity with industry best practices.

4. Material Selection

• Material selection for flanges, gaskets, and stud bolts is critical. The standard provides guidance on choosing materials that can withstand the specific operating conditions.

In the complex world of pressure piping systems, where safety, reliability, and performance are non-negotiable, SAES-L-109 shines as a beacon of guidance. By delineating mandatory requirements for metallic pipe flanges, gaskets, and stud bolts, this standard ensures that the critical components holding these systems together are up to the task.

Ultimately, SAES-L-109 is not just a document; it’s a commitment to safety, a roadmap to reliability, and a testament to the unwavering dedication to excellence in the realm of pressure piping. In a world where precision and safety are paramount, this standard plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the pressure continues to flow smoothly and securely.

Industry Codes and Standards for Flanges, Stud Bolts and Gaskets

In the intricate world of piping systems, adherence to industry codes and standards is paramount. These codes and standards serve as the compass, guiding the design, construction, and maintenance of pipelines that crisscross industries, ensuring safety, reliability, and performance. Let’s delve into some of the key codes and standards that play a pivotal role in the world of piping.

1. API SPEC 6A – Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment

The Backbone of Oil and Gas: API SPEC 6A is the cornerstone of wellhead and Christmas tree equipment. In the oil and gas industry, where extraction and production operations are relentless, this standard ensures the integrity and functionality of critical equipment, safeguarding against well blowouts and ensuring efficient operations.

2. ASME B16.5 – Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings

Connecting the Dots: ASME B16.5 is the go-to standard for pipe flanges and flanged fittings. These components are the linchpins of pipelines, enabling the connection of pipes, valves, and other equipment. This standard ensures compatibility, reliability, and leak-free connections.

3. ASME B16.20 – Ring Joint Gaskets and Grooves for Steel Pipe Flanges

Sealing with Precision: ASME B16.20 focuses on ring joint gaskets and grooves for steel pipe flanges. It’s all about sealing integrity. These gaskets and grooves ensure that the high-pressure environments within pipelines remain securely sealed, preventing leaks and ensuring safety.

4. ASME B16.21 – Nonmetallic Flat Gaskets for Pipe Flanges

The Power of Nonmetallics: Not all gaskets are metallic. ASME B16.21 dives into the world of nonmetallic flat gaskets for pipe flanges. These gaskets, made from materials like rubber and elastomers, play a critical role in creating tight seals, especially in applications where metal may not be the best choice.

5. ASME B16.25 – Buttwelding Ends

Seamless Connections: ASME B16.25 focuses on buttwelding ends, ensuring that welded connections in pipelines are strong, durable, and seamless. This standard is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of pressure piping systems.

6. ASME B16.36 – Orifice Flanges

Precision Flow Control: Orifice flanges, governed by ASME B16.36, are essential for precise flow measurement in pipelines. They enable accurate monitoring and control of fluid flow rates, critical in industries where precision is key.

7. ASME B16.47 – Large Diameter Flanges

Handling the Big Jobs: When pipelines expand in size, ASME B16.47 steps in. This standard deals with large diameter flanges, ensuring that even in hefty pipelines, connections remain secure, and safety is maintained.

8. ASME B31 Codes – Power Piping, Process Piping, Liquid Transportation, Gas Transmission

The Piping Pillars: The ASME B31 codes, including B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, and B31.8, are the bedrock of piping standards. They cover power piping, process piping, liquid transportation, and gas transmission, setting the guidelines for the design, construction, and safety of these diverse systems.

9. ASTM A193 – Bolting Materials for High Temperature Service

Bolting for the Heat: ASTM A193 dives into the world of bolting materials. In high-temperature environments, ensuring that bolts can withstand the heat and pressure is crucial for pipeline safety.

10. Norsok Standard L-005 – Compact Flanged Connections

Space-Saving Solutions: Norsok Standard L-005 introduces compact flanged connections. In situations where space is a premium, these connections provide a solution, ensuring that pipelines remain efficient even in constrained environments.

In the intricate tapestry of piping systems, these codes and standards are the threads that hold everything together. They are the safeguard against leaks, the assurance of structural integrity, and the guarantors of safety. In essence, they are the unsung heroes that keep the world of pipelines flowing smoothly and securely.

General Requirements

5.1 Flanges Design

• If there are no specific guidelines for the design of flanges in Saudi Aramco standards or industry standards, follow the design rules in ASME SEC VIII D1, Appendix 2 for regular flanges.
• For blind flanges (ones that seal off the ends of pipes), use ASME SEC VIII D1 Section UG-34.

5.2 Special Components

• If you’re using components that need special analysis or proof testing, like ASME B31.3 mentions in paragraph 304.7.2, get approval from the Chairman of the Piping Standards Committee in CSD before buying them.

5.3 Procurement of Flanges, Stud Bolts, and Gaskets

• Buy flanges, stud bolts, and gaskets only from approved manufacturers as per SAES-L-101 and the SAP list.

5.4 Insulating Joints

• If you’re using insulating joints, make sure they meet the mechanical requirements of this standard.
• Install them according to the Cathodic Protection Standards for pipelines or Stray Current Protection on loading lines, as needed.

5.5 Orifice Flanges

• For orifice flanges (used to measure flow), make sure they meet the standards in ASME B16.36 and SAES-J-100.

5.6 Jackscrews

• Use jackscrews to help separate flanges during maintenance, but only if needed.
• If you use them, follow the design in Saudi Aramco Standard Drawing AD-036630 or an approved design.
• For orifice flanges, install jackscrews at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions.
• This is especially useful for joints that need frequent separation, like those with orifice plates, spectacle plates, spacers, screens, and drop-out spools.

5.7 Pipe Joints

• Make pipe joints following the guidelines in ASME B16.25 and SAES-L-110.
• For the welding ends of flanges, follow the relevant ASME/API standards.

These requirements ensure that the design, purchase, and use of flanges and related components in your piping systems are safe and up to industry standards.