Engineering Procedure

SAEP-35 4 May 2017

Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage
Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee

Contents
1 Scope ............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations ................................. 2
3 Applicable Documents.................................... 2
4 Safety Precautions ......................................... 3
5 Handling and Hauling ..................................... 3
6 Receiving Inspection ...................................... 4
7 Storage........................................................... 4
8 Pressure Testing ............................................ 5
9 Records and Traceability ................................ 5
Revision Summary ................................................ 6

Appendix A - Valve Pressure Testing ................... 7

Previous Issue: 27 November 2014 Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020

Contact: Al-Jarallah, Bader M. (jarallbm) on phone +966-13-8809621 Page 1 of 8

©Saudi Aramco 2017. All rights reserved.
Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

1 Scope

1.1 This procedure provides minimum requirements for preserving valves during
handling, hauling, receipt, testing, and storage.

1.2 This procedure may not cover every valve variation and combination. The user
of this procedure must give appropriate consideration to any additional
instructions stated by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this procedure 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 Representative through the Valves
Standards Committee Chairman, of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Any deviations shall follow company procedure SAEP-302.

2.3 Any conflicts between this procedure and the OEM instructions shall be
resolved in writing by the Company Representative through the Valves
Standards Committee Chairman, of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

3 Applicable Documents

The requirements contained in the following documents apply to the extent specified in
this procedure:

 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

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

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard

SAES-A-004 General Requirements for Pressure Testing

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

04-SAMSS-035 General Requirements for Valves
04-SAMSS-048 Valve Inspection and Testing Requirements

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Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

Saudi Aramco Inspection Checklists

SAIC-A-2009 Verification of Test Preparation and Test Equipment
for Pressure Testing
SAIC-A-2015 Visual Inspection of Pressure Test
SAIC-A-2017 Depressurization and Disposal of Hydrotest Water
SAIC-L-2040 Receiving Inspection of Manual Valves
SAIC-L-2041 Storage and Preservation of Valves
SAIC-L-2042 Field Hydrostatic Testing of Isolation Valves

Saudi Aramco General Instructions

GI-0002.102 Pressure Testing Safely
GI-0007.030 Inspection and Testing Requirements for
Elevating/Lifting Equipment

4 Safety Precautions

4.1 Prior to starting any hydrotest activities, all requirements of GI-0002.102 shall
be fulfilled.

4.2 Personnel involved with the testing and inspection shall be competent to
perform the required task.

4.3 Use only designated lift lugs for lifting.

4.4 Tools must be inspected to be fit for service, including sling wires and tie
connection. All requirements of GI-0007.030 shall be fulfilled.

4.5 Never attempt to open or repair any pressurized part of the valve before first
depressurizing and verifying no trapped pressure exists.

4.6 Work area must be prepared and appropriate accessibility must be provided for
safe testing and inspection.

5 Handling and Hauling

5.1 Appropriate care and consideration shall be taken to prevent any damage to the
valve assembly during handling and transportation.

5.2 Critical points of the assembly such as the valve end ports, valve stem, actuator,
gearbox, and auxiliary valves shall be protected.

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Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

5.3 All valves shall comply with 04-SAMSS-035, Section 12, requirements during
transportation, handling and field storing at all times.

5.4 Valves shall be restrained from movements during transportation to avoid any
damage to the main valve and its accessories.

5.5 Small size valves shall be positioned carefully to prevent any damage.

5.6 Transportation, lifting and handling of valves shall be carried out using
appropriate equipment, procedures, and trained personnel.

5.7 OEM designated lifting points should be used during lifting. Hand-wheels,
stems, gears, actuators, or any other accessories, shall not be used as lifting
points.

5.8 Valves shall be transported in the OEM recommended open/closed position.

6 Receiving Inspection

Receiving inspection shall be performed prior to transfer of custody to insure no

damage has occurred during transportation and handling. It shall be conducted within
10 days from valve receipt on site. The following points shall be verified:

6.1 Confirm no visible signs of transportation damage.

6.2 Check the integrity of the caps, external fitting, and other visible parts.

6.3 Verify the end covers are intact and no dirt or sand has entered the valve body.

6.4 Confirm the valve is in the OEM recommended open/closed position.

6.5 Verify that valves are properly dried by checking that all hydrotest water has
been drained from the valve.

6.6 Verify the machined areas are coated with a light film of high viscosity rust
inhibiting oil. Secure the end covers and repack in accordance with
04-SAMSS-035, Section 12, immediately after conducting receiving inspection,
if installation is not immediate.

7 Storage

7.1 Prior to storage, valves shall be inspected for proper packaging and protection
per Section 6.

7.2 Storage area shall be assessed and approved by Saudi Aramco Inspection
department.
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Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

7.3 The storage area should provide means of protections against severe weather
conditions such as sand encroachment, rain and other conditions that can affect
valves integrity.

7.4 Valves shall not be laid directly on ground; means of supporting off ground shall
be provided such as wooden pallets, shelves, timber bases, or equivalent means
as approved by Saudi Aramco Inspection Department.

7.5 OEM preservation and storage procedures shall be considered.

7.6 Valves shall be stored in the OEM recommended positions and orientation.

7.7 At least once every 3 months, the valves shall be visually inspected to check the
integrity of the covers, caps, grease, and other visible conditions.

7.8 Valves which have been stored for more than 6 months shall be re-tested per
Section 8 prior to installation. Extended periods are subject to the approval of
the Chairman of the Valves Standards Committee.

7.9 Prior to cycling, valves stored for more than 3 months shall be topped up with
new lubricants.

8 Pressure Testing

Where a valve is to be subjected to pressure testing, see Appendix A for minimum

requirements.

9 Records and Traceability

9.1 Records shall be maintained to provide evidence of conformity to the

requirements in this procedure. Records shall remain legible, readily
identifiable, and retrievable.

9.2 A tagging system should be adopted for traceability. The following should be
considered:
a) Tags to be introduced during the receiving inspection and maintained by
assigned inspectors until valve installation.
b) Include a check point for each step including receiving inspection, testing,
packing and storage.
c) Tags should include the valve information, inspector name and the date of
each activity.
d) Tags of a weather proof material such as Vinyl should be securely attached
to the valve (e.g., using a Nylon quick strap).

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Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

e) Color tags should be utilized for better indication of the valve acceptance
level (i.e., green: accepted, red: rejected, blue: hold). The utilization of
color spray in the valve body is unacceptable practice.

Revision Summary
27 November 2014 Revised the Next Planned Update, reaffirmed the content of the document, and reissued as
major revision.
4 May 2017 Major revision. Retesting of valves required after 6 months of storage (See Section 7.8)
instead of after 3 months. Layout of the document has been modified, pressure testing
requirements have been moved to separate Appendix and several sections have been
reworded.

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Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

Appendix A - Valve Pressure Testing

Note: Prior to starting any pressure testing activities, all requirements of GI-0002.102 must be
fulfilled.

A.1 Test Location

The test location shall be evaluated and approved by Inspection Department

through a formal assessment. The test location conditions shall be maintained
throughout the testing period. The following requirements shall be considered:
a) The location/shop: The location should have means of protection against
foreign matters such as dirt/sand or other hard particles.
Note: During site testing, the weather conditions must be taken into consideration.

b) Valves fixtures: Valves should be supported off the ground and must be
properly restrained during testing.
c) Floor profile: Flooring shall be hard such as concrete floor, paving or any
sort tiling.
d) Accessibility: Work area must be prepared and accessibility must be
provided for inspection

A.2 Testing Equipment Capability

a) Blinds: shall match the same rating and type of the valve ends. Each blind
shall be provided with pressure/vent connections.
b) Blind/bolts conditions: must be clean and shall not have signs of corrosion.
c) Pressure gauges: shall be such that the test pressure is indicated within 30%
and 80% of the full scale range of the pressure gauge. All instruments shall
have valid calibration certificates.
d) All connections must have the proper pressure ratings.
e) Pressure reliefs and their setting must comply with SAES-A-004.

A.3 Test Fluid

The test fluid quality shall meet the requirements of 04-SAMSS-048.

A.4 Test Procedure

Prior to commencing testing, a test procedure shall be developed in accordance

with 04-SAMSS-048. OEM instructions and guidelines shall be considered.
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Document Responsibility: Valves Standards Committee SAEP-35
Issue Date: 4 May 2017
Next Planned Update: 4 May 2020 Valves Handling, Hauling, Receipt Tests, and Storage

The procedures shall address the following as minimum requirement:

a) Hydrostatic shell test and/or seat test pressure.
b) Pressure-holding period.
c) Acceptable leakage rates.
d) Sequence of testing.
e) Stabilization periods.
f) Monitoring procedures.
g) If the valve is equipped with Double-Piston Effect (DPE) feature, the
procedure shall include steps to test this seat configuration.
h) Draining, drying and corrosion prevention procedures: The procedure shall
specify the steps and methods for draining, dewatering and removal of all
test medium residuals from the valve and the quality assurance measures.
Upon completion of the drying process, means of corrosion inhibition and
lubrication shall be applied as applicable. The machined surfaces shall be
coated with a light film of high viscosity rust inhibiting oil which will not
become fluid and run off at temperatures below 80°C.
Note: Appropriate consideration must be given to the specific valve materials,
features, and hard to reach areas (e.g., seal pockets).

i) If the valve is equipped with sealant injection points, a sufficient amount of

light lubricant in order to displace any remaining test fluid in the seat
pocket area.
j) Upon completion of the testing, valves shall be restored to the original
packing condition as per 04-SAMSS-035, Section 12, if installation time is
not immediately after the testing.

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