Inspection of Piping Systems

( In-Service)
API 570 Code


API
570 Code

Inspection, Repair, Alteration & Rerating of in-Service

Piping Systems
API: American Petroleum Institute

Code: Means that it is a mandatory (Jurisdictional requirement) to be followed

(in USA & CANADA)

Inspection: QC Functions performed by the owners inspector or inspectors delegates

Repair: The work necessary to restore a piping system to a condition suitable
for safe operation at the design condition.

Alteration: A physical change in any component that has design implications

affecting the pressure containing capability or flexibility of a piping system
beyond the scope of its design.

Rerating: A change in either or both the design temperature or the maximum

allowable working pressure of a piping system. A rerating may consist of an
increase, a decrease, or a combination of both. Rerating below original design
conditions is a means to provide increased corrosion allowance.

Position Measurements

Piping System:

An assembly of interconnected piping, subject to the same

design
conditions .

On-Stream: Piping Containing any amount of

process fluid
Off-Stream: Piping While in Shut-Down ( No
process fluid contained in the piping )

Reasons For Inspection:

The primary purpose of inspection is to identify active deterioration
mechanisms & causes of deterioration to specify repair,
replacement or future inspections to prevent or retard further
damage.

Inspection of Piping
Systems
Proximity
Transducer

Piping Inspection
During Construction
(fabrication & Installation )
ASME B31.3
( Process Piping )

ASME B31.1
( Power Piping )

In-Service inspection
( On-Stream & Of-Stream )
Considering Risk
Ref. to API 580&581

Considering Consequenc
of failure only
Ref. to API 570 & 574

When Could API 570 Be

applied??
Scope
Intent
For Petroleum refining
& Chemical process
Industries (Services included are:)

Limitations
Excluded & Optional
Piping systems

Raw, Intermediate
& finished products

H2,NG, FG, sour water

& FL systems

Any fluid service acc.

The owner/user option

Packages, Heaters,
Boilers, Heat exchangers

Plumbing, sanitary sewers,

Less than NPS

Nonmetallic piping &

Glass-Lined Piping

Objectives of Inspection

Inspection Objectives

Safe
Operating

Reliability

Efficiency

Saving Cost

Environment

What to Inspect For & Where ??

Each owner/User should provide specific attention to
the need for inspection of piping systems that are
susceptible to specific types & area of deterioration.

Areas & Types of

Deterioration
Susceptible Areas
& Types of deterioration
Areas of more concern
Of inspection
Injection Points

Deadlegs

Types of deterioration

Corrosion Under
Insulation (CUI )

Soil-To-Air
Interfaces (S/A)

Areas & Types of

Deterioration
Deteriorations Related
To piping Systems
Erosion &
Corrosion/Erosion

Creep cracking

Fatigue Cracking

Areas & Types of

Deterioration
Deteriorations Related
To Piping Systems
Corrosion Beneath
Lining & deposits

Environmental
cracking

Brittle Fracture &

Freeze Damage

Areas of Deterioration

Injection Points

The greater of
12 upstream
or 3 times diameter

The lesser of
Second change
in direction
or 25 feet after
first change

Thickness
Measurement
Locations
(TML)

11

Areas of Deterioration Cont.

Deadlegs

Stagnant Flow
OR No Flow
Areas

High points

Low Points

Bypass

Vents

Drains

Prepared By: Eng. Osama Elsaadawy

12

Areas of Deterioration Cont.

Soil-To- Air Interfaces

S/A
6 Above ground

12 Under ground

13

Areas of Deterioration Cont.

Corrosion Under Insulation

CUI
Damaged or
unsealed
Insulation/Jacketing
& Penetrations,
Valves & fittings

Exposed to mist
From cooling
Towers / Exposed
To steam vents

Temp. of (-4 : 120)

for C.S.
& of (65 : 204)
for Aus. S.S

14

Areas of Deterioration Cont.

Erosion & Corrosion / Erosion

Down Stream
Of C.V. ,Orifice,

Down streams of
Pumps,
Compressors
Discharge

Points of flow
Directional
Changes OR
of turbulent flow

15

When to Inspect ??
Inspection Intervals
Jurisdictional
Requirements

Remaining
Life (API 570)

Service
Classes
(API 570)

RBI

Piping Service Classes Acc. API 570

Piping Classes
Class I
Flammable/
Auto refrigerate
& Rapidly
Vaporized

H2S greater 35 wt,

HF, C2,C3
& C4

Class II

Class III

Piping over or
adjacent to
water/public

17

Piping Service Classes Acc. API 570

Cont.
Class II

On-site
Strong Acids
& caustics

On-site
Hydrocarbons
Slowly
vaporize

H2, FG & NG

Piping Service Classes Acc. API 570

Cont.

Class III

Off-Site
Acids &
Caustics &
Remote Areas

Distillate product
Lines from & to
Storage & Loading

On-site
Hydrocarbons
Slowly
Vaporize & operating
Below Flash Point

How to Inspect for

Deteriorations ??
Types of Inspection & Surveillance
On-Stream
Inspection
External VT

Thickness
Measurements

Off-Stream
Inspection

Supplemental
Inspection

Vibration
Measurement

Types of Inspection &Surveillance

Cont.
Off-Stream Inspection
Internal VT

External VT

Thickness
Measurements

Material
Verification &
traceability

Types of Inspection & Surveillance Cont.

Supplemental
Inspection
Acoustic
Emission &
Leak Detection

Thermography &
Temp. Measurements

RT / UT for Weld / BM
Inspection

22

Notes
For more information about the detailed inspection for
piping systems components & deteriorations
mechanisms, Ref. to API RP 574 & API RP 579.
Pressure tests not normally conducted as part of a
routine inspection, But when conducted this will be
after completing a repair, alteration OR rerating.

23

Recommended Max.
Intervals For Inspection
Class I
Thickness Measurements
5 Years Max.

Visual Inspection
5 Years Max.

Recommended Max.
Intervals For
Inspection
Class II
Thickness Measurements

10 Years Max.

Visual Inspection

5 Years Max.

Recommended Max.
Intervals For
Inspection
Class III
Thickness Measurements

Visual Inspection

10 Years Max.

10 Years Max.

How To Use The Inspection

Findings ??
Inspection
API

Data Evaluation & Analysis

570 Recognize fitness -For- Service concepts foe Evaluating

In-service Degradations .
API

RP 579 provides general requirements & detailed assessment

for specific types of degradation that are referenced in API 570.

Inspection Data Evaluation & Analysis

Calculations For
Remaining Life
Calculation (RL)
Corrosion Rate (CR)
Determination

MAWP Determination

MAWP >= Design Pressure

Short Term Corrosion Rate (ST)

Long Term Corrosion Rate (LT)
28

Calculations Of CR, RL &

MAWP
LTCR

(mm) =

STCR

(mm) =

RL (years) =

- t

initial
actual
Time (years) between them
previous actual
Time (years) between them

actual required
Corrosion Rate (mm)

MAWP = 2SET/D >= Design Pressure

Repair, Alteration & Rerating

Repairs
Welding Repairs
( On-Stream)
Temporary Repairs

Non-welding Repairs
(On-Stream)

Permanent Repairs

Welded split sleeve /

Box Type enclosure

Insert Patches
( Flush Patches )

Split coupling /
Plate patch
(Fillet Welded)
30

Repair, Alteration & Rerating

Non-welding Repairs
(On-Stream)
Bolted Leak Clamps

Leak Sealing

Leak Dissipating
Devices

Rerating
Rerating
Derating (Decrease Rating)

Increase the Rating

Rating: Design Pressure & Temperature Ranges As well

As

Operating Pressure & temperature

32

Inspection Of Buried piping

Inspection of Buried Process Piping is deferent from
other process piping because significant external
deterioration can be caused by corrosive soil condition.

Types & Methods of Inspection

Types Of inspection & Intervals Of Inspection

Above-Grade Visual surveillance
Each 6 months intervals (Visual)

Close-Internal Potential Survey

5 Yrs intervals

Pipe coating Holiday Survey

Soil Resistivity
(Corrosivity measurement each 5 Yrs)

Cathodic protection Monitoring

(Ref. to API RP 651)

Internal Inspection

External Inspection
(Excavation & Thickness Measurements)

Leak Testing

Frequency Of Inspection For Buried Piping

Without Effective Cathodic protection

Cathodically Protected Line

Ineffective C.P

Excavation For
Thickness measurement

Without C.P

Leak Test For C.P Lines

(as alternation)

Soil Resistivity (Ohm/cm)

< 2000 each 5Yrs
Bet. 2000 to 10000 each 10 Yrs
> 10000 each 15 Yrs

Frequency Of Inspection For Buried Piping

Without Effective Cathodic protection

Frequency
Leak Test For C.P Lines
(as alternation)

Soil Resistivity (Ohm-cm)

Leak test For

Lines Without C.P

Soil Resistivity (Ohm-cm)

< 2000 each 5Yrs

Bet. 2000 to 10000 each 10 Yrs

> 10000 each 15 Yrs

< 2000 each 2.5Yrs

Bet. 2000 to 10000 each 5 Yrs
> 10000 each 7.5 Yrs