TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

CARBON STEEL PIPE (AMENDMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS TO

API SPEC 5L)

MESC SPE 74/001

February 2020

MESC SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT

This document is restricted. Neither the whole nor any part of this document may be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of Shell Global
Solutions International B.V., The Netherlands. The copyright of this document is vested in this company. All rights reserved. Neither the whole nor any part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, reprographic, recording or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
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PREFACE

MESC (Materials and Equipment Standards and Code) SPE documents reflect the views, at the time of publication, of:
Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell GSI)
and/or
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. (SIEP)
and/or
other Shell Service Companies.
They are based on the experience acquired during their involvement with the design, construction, operation and
maintenance of processing units and facilities, and they are supplemented with the experience of Shell Operating Units.
Where appropriate they are based on, or reference is made to, international, regional, national and industry standards.
The objective is to set the recommended standard for good design and engineering practice applied by Shell companies
operating an oil refinery, gas handling installation, chemical plant, oil and gas production facility, or any other such facility,
and thereby to achieve maximum technical and economic benefit from standardization.
The information set forth in these publications is provided to Shell companies for their consideration and decision to
implement. This is of particular importance where MESC SPEs may not cover every requirement or diversity of condition
at each locality. The system of MESC SPEs is expected to be sufficiently flexible to allow individual Operating Units to
adapt the information set forth in MESC SPEs to their own environment and requirements.
When Contractors or Manufacturers/Suppliers use MESC SPEs they shall be solely responsible for the quality of work
and the attainment of the required design and engineering standards. In particular, for those requirements not specifically
covered, the Principal will expect them to follow those practices, which will achieve the same level of integrity as reflected
in the MESC SPEs. If in doubt, the Contractor or Manufacturer/Supplier shall, without detracting from his own
responsibility, consult the Principal or its technical advisor.
The right to use MESC SPEs is granted by Shell GSI, in most cases under Service Agreements primarily with Shell
companies and other companies receiving technical advice and services from Shell GSI or another Shell Service
Company. Consequently, three categories of users of MESC SPEs can be distinguished:
1) Operating Units having a Service Agreement with Shell GSI or other Shell Service Company. The use of MESC
SPEs by these Operating Units is subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the relevant Service
Agreement.
2) Other parties who are authorized to use MESC SPEs subject to appropriate contractual arrangements (whether
as part of a Service Agreement or otherwise).
3) Contractors/subcontractors and Manufacturers/Suppliers under a contract with users referred to under 1) or 2)
which requires that tenders for projects, materials supplied or - generally - work performed on behalf of the said
users comply with the relevant standards.
Subject to any particular terms and conditions as may be set forth in specific agreements with users, Shell GSI disclaims
any liability of whatsoever nature for any damage (including injury or death) suffered by any company or person
whomsoever as a result of or in connection with the use, application or implementation of any MESC SPE, combination
of MESC SPEs or any part thereof, even if it is wholly or partly caused by negligence on the part of Shell GSI or other
Shell Service Company. The benefit of this disclaimer shall inure in all respects to Shell GSI and/or any Shell Service
Company, or companies affiliated to these companies, that may issue MESC SPEs or require the use of MESC SPEs.
Without prejudice to any specific terms in respect of confidentiality under relevant contractual arrangements, MESC SPEs
shall not, without the prior written consent of Shell GSI, be disclosed by users to any company or person whomsoever
and the MESC SPEs shall be used exclusively for the purpose for which they have been provided to the user. They shall
be returned after use, including any copies, which shall only be made by users with the express prior written consent of
Shell GSI. The copyright of MESC SPEs vests in Shell GSI. Users shall arrange for MESC SPEs to be held in safe custody
and Shell GSI may at any time require information satisfactory to them in order to ascertain how users implement this
requirement.
All administrative queries should be directed to the MESC SPE Administrator in Shell GSI.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 4
1.1 SCOPE........................................................................................................................ 4
1.2 DISTRIBUTION, INTENDED USE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS ......... 4
1.3 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................. 4
1.4 CHANGES SINCE PREVIOUS EDITION ................................................................... 5
1.5 COMMENTS ON THIS MESC SPE ............................................................................ 5
PART II AMENDMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS TO API SPEC 5L (46th edition including
ERRATA 1, May 2018) ............................................................................................... 6
PART III REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 9
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PART I INTRODUCTION

1.1 SCOPE
This MESC SPE specifies requirements for carbon steel pipe.
This MESC SPE shall apply in addition to the applicable MESC Buying Description, purchase
order or requisition sheet.
This MESC SPE only applies to carbon steel pipe to API SPEC 5L, Grade B.
This MESC SPE is written as amendments and supplements to API SPEC 5L (46th edition,
ERRATA 1, May 2018), which are covered in Part II of this MESC SPE. The clause
numbering of API SPEC 5L (46th edition, ERRATA 1, May 2018) has been retained and any
amendments are identified as ‘Add’, ‘Modify to read’ or ‘Delete’. Any clauses of API SPEC
5L (46th edition, ERRATA 1, May 2018) that are not amended or supplemented by this MESC
SPE shall apply as written.
This MESC SPE is also written as amendments and supplements to IOGP SPEC S-563
2018. Requirements indicated with blue bold italics underline font are covered by IOGP
SPEC S-563.

1.2 DISTRIBUTION, INTENDED USE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

Unless otherwise authorised by Shell GSI, the distribution of this MESC SPE is confined to
Shell companies and, where necessary, to Contractors and Manufacturers/Suppliers
nominated by them.
This MESC SPE is intended for use in oil refineries, chemical plants, gas plants, exploration
and production facilities and, where applicable, supply/distribution installations.
If national and/or local regulations exist in which some of the requirements may be more
stringent than in this MESC SPE the Contractor shall determine by careful scrutiny which of
the requirements are the more stringent and which combination of requirements will be
acceptable with regards to safety, environmental, economic and legal aspects. In all cases
the Contractor shall inform the Principal of any deviation from the requirements of this MESC
SPE which is considered to be necessary in order to comply with national and/or local
regulations. The Principal may then negotiate with the Authorities concerned, the objective
being to obtain agreement to follow this MESC SPE as closely as possible.

1.3 DEFINITIONS
The Contractor is the party that carries out all or part of the design, engineering,
procurement, construction, commissioning or management of a project, or operation or
maintenance of a facility. The Principal may undertake all or part of the duties of the
Contractor.
The Manufacturer/Supplier is the party that manufactures or supplies equipment and
services to perform the duties specified by the Contractor.
The Principal is the party that initiates the project and ultimately pays for its design and
construction. The Principal will generally specify the technical requirements. The Principal
may also include an agent or consultant authorised to act for, and on behalf of, the Principal.
The word shall indicates a requirement.
The word should indicates a recommendation.
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1.4 CHANGES SINCE PREVIOUS EDITION

The previous version of this SPE was dated Feburary 2019. The change is to clarify
the application of the material toughness requirements and the acceptable production
method for welded pipes.

1.5 COMMENTS ON THIS MESC SPE

Comments on this MESC SPE may be sent to the MESC SPE Administrator at
[email protected] . Shell staff may also post comments on this MESC SPE on the Surface
Global Network (SGN) under the Standards folder.
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PART II AMENDMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS TO API SPEC 5L (46th edition including ERRATA 1,

May 2018)

8.1 Add:
The type of manufacturing process is specified in the MESC Buying Description.
Helical seam welded pipe shall only be supplied if approved by the Principal.
8.7 Modify to read:
Welded pipes shall be produced with only a single longitudinal weld seam.
8.11.1 Modify to read:
Jointers are not allowed.
8.12 Add:
Finished Seamless pipe shall be normalised or hot finished.
SAW pipe, thicker than 19 mm (0.75 in), shall be normalised or post weld heat treated
after welding. This post weld heat treatment shall be performed at a temperature
between 593 °C (1100 °F) and 650 °C (1200 °F) for 2½ minutes per millimetre (1 hour
per inch), or 1 hour, whichever is the greater.
8.14 Add Galvanising
For galvanized carbon steel pipe only PSL -1 is specified.
If galvanised is specified, galvanising shall be in accordance with ASTM A53.
9.2.2 Add:
PSL- 2 is specified for all non-galvanized carbon steel pipe.
For non-galvanised pipe, the minimum silicon content shall be 0.10 %.
9.2.6 Add For seamless pipes, for which no toughness properties are available,
requirements of either option a) or b) apply for pipe with governing Nominal
Thickness > 5.08 mm (0.2 in):
Option a) All of the following requirements:
o The manganese to carbon ratio shall be 5 or higher;
o Micro-alloying elements shall be limited to the following:

Nb V Nb+(V/2.5) Ti B
(max) (max) (max) (max) (max)
≤ 0.01 % ≤ 0.030% ≤ 0.015% ≤ 0.020% ≤ 0.0005%
(5 ppm)

Option b) All of the following requirements:

o Al ≥ 0.02% and (Al+Ti) >3N (if N is reported in the ISO 10474 -
3.1 or EN 10204 -3.1 materials certificate.
o (Al+Ti) ≥ 0.03% (if N is not reported in the ISO 10474 -3.1 or EN
10204 -3.1 materials certificate.
o C ≥ 0.15%.
o Mn ≥ 0.60%.
Note1 : This implies that insufficient impact toughness can not be compensated by the
chemical composition.
Note 2: These requirements do not apply to welded pipes
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For seamless pipes, for which toughness properties are available, toughness
properties shall be in accordance with section 9.8.4.

9.8.4 Add Impact testing for seamless pipes

In case the requirements as specified in in 9.2.6 are not met, impact testing is required
for pipe with governing Nominal Thickness > 5.08 mm (0.20 inch) in accordance with
the following:
- Charpy impact tests shall be carried out in accordance with ASTM A370 at a
temperature of -29 °C (-20 ˚F) with CVN ≥ 27 J (full-size specimens).
- Impact testing may be performed at a temperature warmer than -29 °C (-20 ˚F),
using full-size specimen with energy value requirements at temperatures as per
Table-28.
- A set of three transverse Charpy test pieces shall be taken from the base material
from one pipe representing each heat. Test pieces shall be located at the mid
thickness.
- The notch of all Charpy pieces shall be perpendicular to the pipe surface.

- Sub-size samples can only be applied, if standard 10 mm x 10 mm (0.39 in x 0.39

in) samples are not possible.
- The acceptance criteria for sub-size samples shall be in accordance with Table 29.

Table 28 Add -29 °C -29 °C -10 °C 0 °C

Lower Design
Temperature (-20 ˚F) (-20 ˚F) (14 ˚F) (32 ˚F)

Governing > 5.08 mm > 12.7mm > 19.05mm

Thickness ≤ 5.08 mm (0.20 in) (0.50 in) (0.75 in)
≤ 12.7mm ≤ 19.05 mm ≤ 25.4mm
(See Criteria 2) (0.20 in)
(0.50 in) (0.75 in) (1 in)
Test Required Charpy Impact Energy (Full-size Specimens)
Temperature
[J] / [ft-lbf]

20 °C (68 ˚F) Not applicable 215 J (159ft-lbf) 142 J (105 ft-lbf) 119 J (88 ft-lbf)

10 °C (50 ˚F) Not applicable 156 J (115ft-lbf) 105 J (78 ft-lbf) 42 J (31 ft-lbf)

0 °C (32 ˚F) Not applicable 114 J (84ft-lbf) 42 J (31 ft-lbf) 27 (20 ft-lbf)

-10 °C (14 ˚F) Not applicable 85 J (63 ft-lbf) 27 J (20 ft-lbf)

-15 °C (5 ˚F) Not applicable 66 J (49 ft-lbf) 27 J (20 ft-lbf)

-20 °C (-4 ˚F) Not applicable 41 J (30 ft-lbf)

-29 °C (-20˚F) Not applicable 27 J (20 ft-lbf)

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Table 29 Add Table 29 – Acceptance criteria for Charpy impact testing

Size of specimen Minimum average notched bar Minimum notched bar impact
impact value of each set of three value of one specimen only of a
mm x mm specimens set
J (ft-lbf) J (ft-lbf)
10 x 10 x * 18 (y * 13)
10 x 7.5 x * 14 (y * 10) 75% of the value for Minimum
average notched
10 x 6.67 x * 12 (y * 9) bar impact value of
10 x 5 x * 9 (y * 7) each set of three
specimens
10 x 3.33 x * 7 (y * 5)
10 x 2.5 x * 5 (y * 4)
x = (Charpy impact energy value as per table 28 in J) / 18
y = (Charpy impact energy value as per table 28 in ft-lbf) / 13

(The results of the formulae to be rounded up to the next higher number with no
decimals. E.g. 19.4 to 20)
Note: This requirement does not apply to welded pipes.

9.11.1.3 Modify to read:

Unless specified otherwise in the purchase order, the Unit of Length (Uol) for pipe is in
meter or feet. The form of delivery shall be in single random length (SRL or double
random length (DRL). The specified quantities of random lengths on the purchase order
shall be converted to aggregate length on the basis of 6.1 m (20 ft) for single random
length and 10.7 m (35 ft) for double random length.
To satisfy the purchase order, the delivered quantities of random lengths shall amount
to at least the calculated aggregate length.
11.2.1 Add:
Marking shall also include the charge number (heat number) and, where applicable, the
heat treatment batch number.
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PART III REFERENCES

In this MESC SPE, reference is made to the following publications:

NOTES:
1. Unless specifically designated by date, the latest edition of each publication shall be used, together with any
amendments/supplements/revisions thereto.
2. Most of the referenced external standards are available to Shell staff on the SWW (Shell Wide Web) at
http://sww.shell.com/standards.

AMERICAN STANDARDS
Specification for Line Pipe API SPEC 5L (46th edition)
Issued by:
American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
USA

Specification for pipe, steel, black and hot-dipped, zinc- ASTM A53
coated welded and seamless
Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical ASTM A370
Testing of Steel Products
Issued by:
American Society for Testing and Materials
100 Barr Harbor Drive,
PO Box C700,
West Conshohocken,
PA 19428-2959, USA