SAUDI ELECTRIC COMPANY

As the Kingdom’s demand for electrical power in the industrial

and agricultural sectors of the economy grew, the Government
replaced the old fragmented system of electrical power generation
(provided by numerous small companies) with SCECOs – Saudi
Consolidated Electricity Companies – each providing electricity
for a whole region of the Kingdom.
The first SCECO (SCECO-East) was created in 1977, with a
capital of SR 5 billion. This was followed in 1979 by SCECO-
South, with a capital of SR 4 billion, serving more than 1,447 cities
and villages and SCECO-Central, with a capital of SR 8 billion,
serving more than 600 cities and villages, including Riyadh.
Electricity for the southwest of the Kingdom was provided by
SCECO-West, established in 1982, with a capital of SR 8 billion.

To improve and strengthen the power industry, in 1998, the

Council of Ministers issued Resolution Number 169 for the
restructuring of the electricity sector, aiming to reform its finances
and increase the participation of the private sector in its ownership,
management and energy conservation. The resolution stipulated
the following:

• Establishment of a joint stock company for electricity to be

called the Saudi Electric Company (SEC).
• Merging all the local electricity utility companies, as well as
the electricity facilities owned by the General Electricity
Corporation into the Saudi Electric Company.
• Creation of an independent agency during the first year of the
company’s establishment to review periodically the costs and
tariffs of the electricity service according to defined
principles.
• Liquidation of the General Electricity Corporation. A
ministerial committee would undertake the development and

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 execution of the liquidation plan, including the settlement of
its liabilities, while preserving the full rights of its staff.

In 2000, the Minister of Commerce issued Resolution Number

2047, announcing the establishment of the Saudi Electric
Company.

Statistics on electricity generation between 1970 and 1999

Subject 1970 1989 1999

Power generated (million KwH) 1,825 61,568 114,624
Power sold (million KwH) 1,690 55,201 105,612
Number of subscribers (thousands) 216 2,259 3,372

SYSTEM MODELING AND REQUIREMENTS

A. Generators

Generators are driven by turbines, diesel engines, water wheel, or

other types of generators. When a short circuit occurs, the
generator continues to produce voltage because the field excitation
is maintained and the prime mover drives he generators at normal
speed. The generated voltage produces a short circuit current of
large magnitude that flows from the generators to the sort circuit.

The magnitude of that current is limited only by the impedance of

the generator and the circuit impedance between the generator and
the fault location. For a short circuit at the terminals of a generator,
the current fed from this generator is limited only by its own
impedance

B. Synchronous Motors

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A synchronous motor is constructed much like a generator/ it has a
field winding excited by a D.C current and a stator winding fed
from an A.C source. During a short circuit, the voltage of the
system is reduced to a very low value. Consequently, the motor
stops delivering energy to the mechanical load and starts slowing
down. However, the inertia of the load and the motors rotor
continue driving the synchronous motor

C. Induction Motors

The inertia of the load and the rotors of an induction motor has the
same effect on an induction motors as on a synchronous motor.
However, there is a major difference, which is the induction motor
has no D/C field winding.

The field of the induction motor is produced by induction from the

stator winding. The rotors flux remains normal as long as the
voltage is applied to the stator from and external source. If the
external source is suddenly removed, when a short circuit occurs,
the flux in the rotor can not change instantly. Then the stored
energy in the rotating parts drives the induction motor and a
voltage is produced in the stator windings.

This causes a current to flow to the shorts circuit until the rotors
flux decays to zero. Since there is not sustained filed current, the
shorts circuit current decays in a few cycles. However, the flux last
long enough to produce a current which contributes to the total
short circuit current.

D. Capacitors and Transformers

The discharge, outrsuch, current from power capacitors to a system

fault of high frequency with a very shorts time constant (RC).

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Thereof, the contribution of power capacitors to system faults can
be neglected.

Transformers are not sources producing short circuit current.

Although the transformers connection greatly affects the ground
faults, transformers are never short circuit sources but merely
receive and deliver the short circuit current from one side to the
other.

E. Transmission Plan

The transmission network is designed to cater for the basic

reliability requirement of single contingent outage of network
elements. The high reliability is maintained by using proven
equipment and the continual monitoring and remote control of the
network from the Power System Control Centre (PSCC).

The design of the transmission equipment and cable are

standardized. This has the following advantages:

i) Minimum inventory costs for spare parts.

ii) Economics of scales in purchasing.
iii) Simplicity in design and operations

F. Planning And Design

In general, the process of the planning and design of transmission

lines consists of the following five phases.

• Planning: The master guidelines of route constructions are

settled based on the long-range power supply plan. The
outline is determined for each transmission line planned,
which includes voltage, number of lines, starting and ending
substations.

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 • Survey: Information about natural environment, geological
features, local communities and regulations in the area of
interest etc. is collected in this phase and several alternative
routes are compared in terms of environmental impact,
technical issues and cost of construction.
• Basic Route: Basic route is determined by the position of
each tower along the proposed routes and interference of
radio wave caused by the transmission line is estimated. All
this is done using a medium scale top sheet.
• Detailed Route: A photogram metric surveying is performed
along the basic route. Based on the results, the detailed
position of each tower is determined in the large scale
(1:2,000) . And engineering design process follows, which
includes the determination of tower type, tower height and
supporting devices, and the cost estimation.
• Route for Implementation: In this phase, the detailed field
surveying is performed along the determined route. The
towers, wires and basement of towers are designed.

MODELING OF POWER SYSTEM COMPONENTS

A. Rotating Machines

Every rotating machine is represented by its respective saturated

direct-axis subtransient reactance which determines the magnitudes
of the fault current in the first few cycles.

B. Transformers

Despite the plenty of transformer connection, the following

representation will be limited to the most frequent ones used in the
SEC power system

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Two-winding transformers: the two winding transformers are
modeled in the positive, negative and zero sequence networks

Three-winding Transformers: three winding transformers are

usually used for there bulk transmission level. In SEC, these
transformers are connected as Y-grounded / Y-grounded in
addition to a Delta tertiary winding. The impedances of the
primary (p), secondary (S), and tertiary (t) winding are related to
each others.

C. Transmission Lines And Loads

Transmission lines (both overhead lines and underground cables)

are modeled by their series sequence impedance. Positive sequence
shunt admittance is usually neglected. Static load are also
neglected since they do not represents as sources and hence do not
contributes to the fault current.

TWO STUDY CAUSES

There are many cases for the process of planning for transmissions
lines. Because of that, it is difficult to mention all of them. During
the cope period, I have chosen two cases that show the this process
fully. The first one is for Al-Senaeyah. The second one is for
Aramco. There are many differences between the two areas and
because of these differences, these two cases have been chosen.
One of the most important differences is that the transmission lines
of Al-Senaeyah are underground while the Aramco’s projects use
overhead transmission lines. Moreover, it is a well known fact that
Aramco demands special requirements for its different part and
many sites and locations and facilities. These two cases are
discussed in the following pages.

A. Al-Senaeyah

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The first case is for establishing underground transmission lines for
Al-Senaeyah. This part is divided into three sections in order to
discuss the process from different angles. The first one is the
systems requirement. The second one is the planning process and
finally the third one is the objectives and output of the project.

System Requirements

There are many type of requirements that must be available for

completing the ground transmutation lines for Al-Senaeyah. In this
part, these requirements are presented and discussed.

1. All components and accessories required for the completion and

successful operations of the project must be available before
starting the project in order to cope with the schedule and budget
of the project.

2. The engineering design and specifications of

equipment/materials supplied must be in accordance with the scope
and purpose of the project and the technical specifications.

3. the engineering and design works must be carried out by an

engineering and design firm which has registration to carryout
engineering and design works in the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia.
The proposed engineering and design firm must also be from Saudi
Electricity Company acceptable list of engineering Design firm or
must get pre-qualified.

4. The base design shall be finalized at base design review-meeting

based on the guideline drawings issued hereof manufacturer’s
drawings, calculations and data sheets and detailed design must be
finalized based on the base design review and other required
information.

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5. a Kick-off meeting must be held for covering issues such as
project implementations, scope of the work and schedule.

Planning Process

The base design phase of the project is 10-12 weeks period of

primary engineering following the kick-off meeting. The purpose
of the base design phase is to completely define the project in
enough details in which all requirements are being incorporated.
Information developed during the design should be used as a guide
throughout the project. The design phase will include:

1. Narrative scope of work which include

a. Description of work
b. Design basis and data
c. Testing and commissioning procedures
d. Maintenance aspects
e. Special considerations including design, construction
operation constraints, problems areas and proposed solutions.
f. List of items of all equipment/facilities to be installed and
description of all work to be accomplished. This listing is to
be broken down by location, job phase and quantities of like
items.
2. Detailed project schedule and critical path.
3. Major materials purchases requisitions
4. Design calculations which include:
a. detailed cable Ampacity calculations
b. Electrical interference study in case the power cable parallels
the communications circuits
c. Calculation of power cables sequence impedance.
d. Calculation for cable metallic sheath, fault current withstand
capability and grounding
e. Calculation for sheath standing voltage, sheath voltage rise
and the selection of Sheath voltage limitations (SVL)
f. Structure calculation for duct banks on road crossings.

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 g. Detailed explanation for adopting the major/minor sections
arrangement of the cross bonding
h. Cable pulling tension and sidewall pressure calculations
5. Soil investigation report for thermal and electrical receptivity
measurement along the whole cable route.
6. The drawing from this phase must include:
a. Drawing control sheet
b. Abbreviations, Symbol and legends
c. Plot plan
d. 69kV underground system one line diagram
e. Non-metallic fiber optic system one line diagram
f. 96kV power and fiber optic cables routing plant and profile
g. cable termination arrangement plan sections and details
h. cable metallic sheath grounding arrangement and details
i. link box location, connections and detail
j. 96kV power and opticak fiber cable routing sections,
elevations and details
k. foundation details for 69kv cable box and other support
structures
l. details of trenches duct banks and hand holes
m. Bonding of trenches duct banks and hand holes
n. bonding method and grounding arrangement details
o. Interface diagram with 69kV switchgear at DIE1A, DIE1Bm
DIE1C and 2A substations.
7. Manufacturing’s technical specifications (literature, catalog,
drawings, type test report and completed data schedules) of the
following equipment:
a. 69kV power cable
b. Grounding cables
c. Non-Metallic fiber optic cable
d. Non-Metallic fiber optic cable accessories
e. 69kV cable termination/Splice Kits
f. Cable supports
g. Sheath voltage limiter
h. Lin box

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 i. Link Box foundations
j. Link Box Barricade Arrangement
k. Cable Warning Tape
l. Cable titles
m.Wire mesh
n. Cable warning post
o. Duct sealing units
p. Cable title cover
q. PVC conduits and fittings
r. Power cable clamps
s. Fire proofing material to protect the cable in cable basement
t. Material related to fiber optic cables
8. Type test reports for major equipment/materials
9. Factory and site test program
10. Job safety plan
11. Site security plan
12. QA/QC plan

Objectives And Output

There are five types of underground transmission lines for the

project of Senaeyah. These four lines are as the following:

1. Al-Senaeyah BSP – DIE Sub # 1C

Provide and install approximately 1.8 km 24 cores, single mode,

non-metallic underground fiber cable along with the 69kV cable in
PVC duct/sub ducts from Al-Senaeyah BSP up to the hand hole
HH#A opposite to DIE Sub#1B.

2. Al-Senaeyah BSP – DIE Sub # 1B

Provide and install approximately 1.8 km 24 cores, single mode,

non-metallic underground fiber cable along with the 69kV cable in
PVC duct/sub ducts from Al-Senaeyah BSP to DIE Sub#1B.

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Utilize 25mmФ sub duct available in duct bank system from hand
hole HH#A up to control room to route the underground fiber optic
cable at DIE Sub #1B.

3. DIE Sub#1B to DIE # 1A

Provide and install approximately 1.3 km 24 cores, single mode,

non-metallic underground fiber cable along in PVC duct/sub ducts
between DIE Sub#1A and DIE Sub#iB.

Utilize spare 25mmФ sub duct available in duct bank system

between DIE Sub # 1A and DIE Sub # 1B to route the
underground fiber optic cable.

4. Al-Senaeyah BSP –DIE Sub# 2A

Provide and install approximately 1.0 km 24 cores, single mode,

non-metallic underground fiber cable along with 69kV cables in
PVC duct/sub ducts from Al-Senaeyah BSP to DIE Sub #2A

Spare conduits/subducts available from existing handhole # HH-13

up to 69kV basement will be utilized to route the fiber optic cable
inside DIE 2A substation.

B. ARAMCO

The second case is for establishing overhead transmission lines for

Aramco. This part is divided into three sections in order to discuss
the process from different angles. The first one is the systems
requirement. The second one is the planning process and finally
the third one is the objectives and output of the project.

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System Requirements

During the planning of the transmission line for Aramco, there

were many types of requirements that must be used in order to
make the process a success. In this part, these requirements are
presented and discussed.

First of all, all components, materials and required work for the
satisfactory completion of the project and other accessories
covered under the succeeding scope of the project are supplied and
installed according to the planning phase. In addition, the
engineering design, materials specifications and installation of
materials supplies under the project are in accordance with the
SOW/TS and Aramco’s standards. However, if there is a conflict
between the two types of standards, then a meeting must be held to
discuss the best solution. Moreover, the material specifications
specified herein are to be considered as the minimum requirements
and the bidders shall carry their own basic detailed designs
necessary for their proposal specification. The detailed design must
be finalized through design conference based on guideline
drawings issued hereof, manufacturer’s drawings, calculation data
sheet and others.

The project includes many things such as:

1. Mobilization
2. Soil investigation and analysis
3. Line route survey checks and structures staking
4. structure spotting
5. Design, fabrication and erection of the 230kV and 115kV
steel structures
6. Supply, procurement, inspection, testing storage and handling
of required materials
7. Transportation and delivery of all materials to the work site
8. Construction of access roads, finger roads and structure pads.

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 9. Installation of conductors, OPGW, OGW, spacer dampers,
vibration dampers, joint boxes and associated hardware and
accessories.
10. Design, testing and construction’s grounding system.
11. Design, fabrication and installation of steel bayonet
along the existing wood frame structures.
12. Reinstatement of damage concrete asphalt due to
construction activates.
13. Testing and commissioning
14. Demobilization and clean up.

The project that has been made for Aramco involves the
construction of the following overhead transmission lines:

1. Approximately .6 km of 320kV O/H T/L looping in and out

of the proposed Juaymah 230/115k BBSP, using 2-795 of
kcmil ACSR/AW “Dark” conductors per phase. One of the
existing circuits (circuit A) of the 230kV Ghazlan-Ras
Tanura D/C O/H T/L will be cut and loop in and out of the
new Juaymah 230/1150kV BSP.
2. Approximately 3.5 TOL km of 115kV D/C T/L using 1-795
kcmil ACSR/AW “Darke” conductor per phase, from the
new Huaymah 230/115kV BSP up to the Qatif GOSP-1.
3. Approximately 7.0 km of 115kV O/H on double circuit steel
structures using 1-795 kcmil ACSR/AW “Darke” conductor
per phase from the new Juaymah 230/115kV BSP to Abu
Sa’fa Transition Area.
4. Approximately .5 kilometers (total o two lines) of 115kV
D/C O/H T/L s/CSIN TOL double circuit steel strcuutres of
1-795 kcmil ACSR/AW “Darke” conductor per phase. The
proposed overhead transmission line shall be connected to
the exiting 3 overhead transmission lines to provide three
circuit connections from the proposed 230/115kV BSP to
Juaymah Sub .50.

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 5. Approximately 1.0 kilometers of 115kV D/C O/H T/L on
double circuit steel srtcuutres using 2-336.4 kcmil
ACSR/AW “Oriole” conductors per phase. The proposed
O/H T/L shal be connected to the existing 115kV Juaymah to
Qatif Booster Substation o/H t?l.
6. Modification of existing 230kV Ghazlan-Ras Tanura 230kV
O/H T/L near Ghazlan Power Plant, approximately 1.0 km
long, using 2-795 kcmil ACSR/AW “Drake” conductor per
phase. The existing 230kV O/H T/L shall be diverted and
reconnected to the new gantry positions inside Ghazlan
Power Plant Switchyard.

In addition to that, the project also includes the retrofitting of

existing conventional overhead ground wire and OPGW (230kV,
O/H T/L Ghazlan-Ras Tanura Sub. 80), installation o OGW and
steel bayonet, installation of OPGW on the following proposed
O/H T/L

1- Juaymah 230/115Kv BSP-GOSP-1

2- Juaymah 230/115kV BSP-Juaymah Sub 50 c
3- Qatif Booster of Qatif GOSP-2 and installation of U/G
NFOC.

Planning Process

The basic design phase of the project is a 10 to 12 week period of

preliminary engineering. The purpose of the project base design
work is to completely define the project in sufficient detail, to
satisfy the company that all requirements are understood and are
being incorporated. Information developed under the base design
shall be used as guide throughout the project. The base design
package will include:

1- Major material purchase requirement

2- Design drawings, design calculations and other documents

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 3- Manufacturer’s literature, specifications, brochures, drawings
and completed material data schedules.
4- Loss prevention program
5- Site security plan
6- Site-pre-commissioning and commissioning tests and plan
7- Schedule of required outages
8- Site project plans.

Objectives And Output

There are five types of overhead transmission line work that have
been done for Aramco. These five lines are as the following:

A. 115kV Overhead Transmission line from New Juaymah

230/115kV BSP to Qatif GOSP:

1. Construction of approximately 3.8 km of 115kV double circuit

overhead transmission line on double circuit steel monopole
structure using 1-795 kcmil “Darke” 26/7 ACSR/AW conductor
per phase with 1-24 core OPGW conventional overhead ground
wire (24kA fault current capacity at 0.30 sec at 50 C initial
temperature) from New Juaymah 230/115kV BSP to Saudi
Aramco Qatif GOSP-1. The conductor OPGW and OGW will be
terminated at the proposed gantries at both ends.

2. The last O/H T/L structure before the gantry structure will be
anchor type structure. The grounding of the anchor structure will
be connected to the grounding grid of the substation.

B. 115kV Overhead Transmission line from New Juaymah

230/115kV BSP to Sa’fa Substation.

1. Construction of approximately 7.0 km of 115kV single circuit

overhead transmission line on double circuit steel monopole
structure using one 795 kcmil “Darke” 26/7 ACSR/AW conductor

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per phase with two conventional overhead ground wire (24kA fault
current capacity at 0.30 sec at 50 C initial temperature) from New
Juaymah 230/115kV BSP to Abu Sa’fa. The conductor OPGW and
OGW will be terminated at the proposed gantries at both ends. One
circuit position which s the left side acing New Juayamh
230/115kV BSP must remain vacant.

2. The last O/H T/L structure before the gantry structure will be
anchor type structure up to the gantry for shielding purposes.

C. 115kV Overhead Transmission line from New Juaymah

230/115kV BSP to Juaymah Substation 50:

1. Construction of approximately two 0.80 km of 115kV double

circuit steel monopole overhead transmission lines using 1-795
kcmil “Darke” 26/7 ACSR/AW conductor per phase.

Line-1 should be two circuits with 1-24 core OPGW (24kA fault
current capacity at 0.30 sec at 50 C initial temperature) and one
conventional overhead ground wire (24kA fault current capacity at
0.30 sec at 50 C initial temperature).

Line-2 should be one circuits and one circuit position (right side
facing New Juaymah 230/1115kV BSP) should remain vacant.
Two conventional overhead ground wire (24kA fault current
capacity at 0.30 sec at 50 C initial temperature).

2. The last O/H T/L structure before the gantry structure will be
anchor type structure. The grounding of the anchor structure will
be connected to the grounding grid of the substation.

D. 230kV Overhead Transmission Line Looping in and out of New

Juaymah 230/115/kV BSP from Ghazlan Power Plant and Ras
Tanura Substation 80.

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1. Cutline circuit “B” between structure #32 and #33 of the
existing Ghazaln Power Plant-ras Tanura Sub. 80 230kV overhead
transmission line is used. This Circuit is diverted to the New
Juaymah 230/115kV BSP to loop in and out of the New Juaymah
230/115kV BSP using steel monopole structure approximately .60
km with two 795 kcmil :Darke: 26/7 ACSR/AW conductor per
phase and 2-24 core OPGW (24kA fault current capacity at 0.30
sec at 50 C initial temperature). This diversion will creat new
circuit connection from Ghazlan Power Plant to New Juyamh
230/115kV BSP and New Juyamh 230/115kV BSP to Ras Tanura
Sub. 80.

2. The last O/H T/L structure before the gantry structure will be
anchor type structure. The grounding of the anchor structure will
be connected to the grounding grid of the substation.

E. 115kV Overhead Tramission Line From Juyamh Power Plant-

Qatif GOSP-2:

1. Construction of approximately 1.0 km of 115kV double circuit

overhead transmission line on double circuit steel monopole
structure using two 336.4 kcmil “Oriole” 30/7 ACSR/AW
conductor per phase with one core OPGW (24kA fault current
capacity at 0.30 sec at 50 C initial temperature) and one
conventional overhead ground wire (24kA fault current capacity at
0.30 sec at 50 C initial temperature) from the existing steel
monopole structure up to Saudi Aramco Qatif GOSP-2. The
conductors, OPGW and OGW will be terminated at the proposed
gantry at Qatif GOSP-2 Substation.

2. The last O/H T/L structure before the gantry structure will be
anchor type structure. The grounding of the anchor structure will
be connected to the grounding grid of the substation.

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CONCLUSION

In this report, there are many important aspects about power

transmission planning that have been discussed. The report
mentioned the need for electricity for many different areas. This is
followed by discussing system modeling and requirements. And
then, it discusses the modeling of power system components.
Finally, the report discusses two cases about power transmission
planning. These two cases are about Al-Senaeyah and Aramco.

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REFERENCES

www.sec.com

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