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Pipe covers a very large part of any process plant. If you look at the Oil Exploration platform,
Refinery and Petrochemical complex one thing that catches the attention is a complex network
of piping. Piping is used to transport various process materials from one equipment to another.
But why?
Process Plant is a place where a series of activities are performed in particular ordered to
convert raw material into a useful product. Interconnected pipe and pipe components are used
to transport raw material, intermediated product and final product to the desired location.
What is Pipe?
The pipe is a straight pressure tight cylindrical hollow, used in the piping system to transport
liquid, gas and sometimes solids.
Based on the way pipe manufacturing, Pipes are mainly classified into two categories seamless
and welded. Welded pipes are further classified based on the method of welding. There are two
ways to weld pipe 1st is with filler metal and 2nd is without filler metal.
Submerged Arc Welding process is with filler metal welding whereas ERW/EFW and HFW are no filler
welding methods to weld the pipe. SAW pipes are further classified as straight seam and spiral seam
pipe. Straight seam pipes are also known as L-SAW or long seam SAW pipes. Medium diameter straight
SAW pipe has single seam whereas large diameter pipe has a two-weld seam.
Check the image below for the easy understanding.
Pipe Classification
Piping class or Pipe Class is a document that specifies the type of the components such as a
type of pipe, schedule, material, flange ratings, branch types, valve types and valve trim
material, gasket and all the other components specific requirements to be used for different
fluids under different operating conditions in a plant.
Short code is used to cover all the information applicable to the given pipe class. This pipe class
is also included in the line number so that field construction engineer can easily identify the
material required.
What is piping Specifications?
Piping Specifications are technical documents that are generated by private companies to
address additional requirements applicable to a specific product or application.
It allows a purchaser to include special requirements as per design and service condition.
It also allows customization of the product.
Please note requirement in the specification is Must meet requirements.
Normally, oil & gas facilities generate their own specification during FEED stage that is front-end
engineering and design or sometimes uses readily available specification from well-established
company such as Shell, Bechtel, EIL and chevron.
If you want to become an expert in piping components you can buy my full course that covers
all details related to piping components.
Pipe Dimension
Pipe dimensions are given in size and schedule number. Three different terms are commonly
used to define the size of the pipes.
ASME B36.10 – Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe (Carbon & Alloy Steel)
ASME B36.19 – Stainless Steel Pipe
Pipe Size up to 2” are considered small bore pipe. However, some company considered up to
2.5″ pipe as a small bore.
Pipe Size above 2″ are considered large bore or big bore pipe
Pipe Length
Pipe length is mentioned in either meter or feet. During production, pipes are not
manufactured in same lengths, and during construction of process plant, you required various
lengths of pipes. To address this issue standard has defined pipe lengths in single random and
double random categories.
These pipes come in 4.8m to 6.7m in lengths with 5% of lengths in between 3.7 to 4.8 m
These pipes have a minimum average of 10.7 m and a minimum length of 4.8 m with 5 % of
lengths in between 4.8 m to 10.7 m
Pipe End
Pipes come in following end types
Plain Ends – This kind of end are used when socket type weld fittings are used.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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Disadvantages
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Disadvantages
Socket & Spigot Ends – This type of end generally used in Ductile iron pipeline and non-metallic
piping pipeline such as PVC, GRE/GRP.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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Disadvantages
1. Used only for glass piping and not capable of holding high pressure.