Saep 501
Saep 501
Saep 501
1 Scope............................................................... 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations……………………...... 2
3 Applicable Documents...................................... 2
4 Acronyms and Definitions................................. 4
5 Instructions....................................................... 8
6 Responsibilities................................................ 9
7 Qualification of New DRA Chemicals…..….... 11
8 Approved DRA Chemicals................….......... 12
9 Quality Assurance and Quality Control
(QA/QC)/P&CSD and R&DC................. 12
10 DRA Chemical Applications and Limitations.. 17
11 Purchase of First-Fill DRA Chemicals
by Project Management Teams............ 19
12 Procurement (See Figure 1)................…....... 20
13 DRA Chemical Vendors....................….......... 20
14 Flow Assurance Standards Committee.......... 21
1 Scope
This Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP) provides guidelines for the
minimum technical requirements to ensure a consistent approach to qualify and approve
DRA chemical manufacturers/suppliers and their products. In addition, this procedure
provides guidelines for the acceptable use of DRA chemical for various pipeline
applications within Saudi Aramco. It provides Saudi Aramco DRA chemical user
organizations, manufacturers/suppliers, local agents and contractors with guidelines
describing the requirements to qualify, approve and accept DRA chemical suppliers and
purchase of DRA chemical products for conducting field trials and use in pipeline
projects and/or in de-bottlenecking existing pipeline systems.
This procedure also establishes requirements for selection, quality assurance, quality
control, and first-fill purchase of DRA chemicals in Materials Service Group (MSG)
148400. This document does not address other chemicals, such as drilling chemicals,
water treatment chemicals, chemicals used in refinery processes, or oilfield chemicals
addressed in SAES-A-205.
2.1 Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Procedures (SAEPs) and/or Standards (SAESs) and/or industry
standards, codes, and forms shall be resolved in writing through the Manager of
Process & Control Systems Department (P&CSD) of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.
2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this procedure in writing to the Company, who
shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302 and forward such requests to
the Manager of Process & Control Systems Department of Saudi Aramco,
Dhahran.
3 Applicable Documents
To ensure compliance with the appropriate Saudi Aramco and International Standards
and Codes for flow assurance in pipelines, the following Engineering Standards,
Procedures, Practices and Reports shall be referenced (or used) in conjunction with
DRA chemical studies and applications:
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
Delivery Samples: Are obtained from every shipment for Quality Control (QC) testing.
If the actual delivery sample compares to the pre-delivery sample within prescribed limits
of product specifications, it is approved by R&DC and released for field delivery.
See definitions below for Pre-Delivery Samples and for Retained Standard Sample.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
Flow Assurance Chemicals (FACs): Are specialty chemicals in MSG 148400 used in
hydrocarbon (e.g., stabilized or unstabilized oil, refined products) transporting pipes and
pipelines to assure successful and economical transport of hydrocarbons from source
points (e.g., reservoir, wells, separating plants) to destination points (e.g., terminals,
tank farms, refineries, bulk plants). These chemicals include drag reducing agents
(DRAs), hydrate inhibitors (HI), such as kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs), and
conventional hydrate inhibitors, such as methanol/MEG/TEG.
HI: Hydrate Inhibitor: A generic term for chemicals that prevent the formation of
hydrates.
KHI: Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitor: A special type of hydrate inhibitors that is used with
low dosage and enables the pipelines to operate under sub-cooled flowing conditions.
It is usually polymeric in nature. It inhibits hydrate formation by delaying rather than
preventing the nucleation and growth of hydrate crystals.
Laboratory Screening: The process of testing a large number of chemicals for the
purpose of identifying the most promising chemical or group of chemicals for rigorous
and complete laboratory testing.
LSTK: Lump Sum Turn-Key is a project in which the design, procurement, and
construction are done by the contractor.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
MSG 148400 MRP Controller: The analyst, along with Purchasing, who is
responsible for implementing and maintaining the issue restriction system and the
phase-in/phase-out of new chemicals.
Oilfield Chemicals (OFCs): Are oilfield chemicals in MSG 147000 used primarily,
although not exclusively, in oil and gas producing operations. These chemicals are
demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, and biocides. DRAs and KHIs are
not under the OFCs.
Performance factors for DRA chemicals are developed from field trials, unlike
performance factors for some other chemicals such as, corrosion inhibitors, scale
inhibitors and biocides, which are determined by laboratory tests done by R&DC or by
an independent organization. Note that the Performance Factor is not a fixed number
for a DRA chemical to be used in all pipelines/services. Therefore, a specific DRA
chemical performance factor should be generated for each pipeline/system based on
either the field trial of the DRA chemical, the estimated DRA chemical performance
report of the DRA chemical contractor or proper comparison of the system (pipeline
length, pipeline size, product/service and terrain) done by the plant/pipeline engineer”.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
Plant Trial (also called a “field trial” or “field test”): The use of a DRA chemical in
a plant/pipeline, to establish its effectiveness and performance factor as well as its
performance curve. A plant or field trial runs for a limited time. The trial period should
be agreed upon among plant or field engineers, the DRA chemical vendor and FASC,
prior to initiation of the trial.
ppm: parts per million (by mass as referred to by DRA vendors), a quantitative
measure of DRA chemical concentration.
Pre-delivery Samples: Are taken by competent personnel from the plant trial shipment
of a DRA chemical prior to delivery. Pre-delivery samples are required for all new DRA
chemicals; these become the standard for QA/QC benchmark testing of future shipments.
Retained Standard Sample: A sample of each MSG 148400 chemical currently in use
by Saudi Aramco to be taken from the first delivery of each chemical at the beginning
of a new year. This sample is to be compared with the pre-delivery sample in physical
properties and in laboratory performance. If the results are suitably similar then the
retained standard sample will be used. The retained standard sample is replaced each
year.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
5 Instructions
5.1.1 PMT and operating departments shall follow and apply this procedure to
the engineering design contractor, DRA chemical vendors/bidders and
their local agents involved in DRA chemical activities for Saudi Aramco.
5.1.3 DRA chemical vendors and their products will have to be evaluated,
tested, and approved by the FASC prior to the DRA chemical application
within Saudi Aramco facilities. The evaluation process includes several
steps and the process is governed by an evaluation criteria. A very
important step in the evaluation is the field/trial test for the DRA
chemical. Refer to Section 7 (Qualification of New DRA Chemicals)
and Section 13 (DRA Chemical Vendors) below.
5.2.2 The DRA chemical supplier and/or local agent and/or contractor
conducting the field trial shall submit a proposal to Saudi Aramco
(P&CSD, Proponent, R&DC, Pipelines, OSPAS and FASC) with the
detailed required site, equipment, material and operational preparations
along with a detailed test protocol from start to finish of the field trial.
5.2.3 The DRA chemical vendors shall make a presentation to the interested
proponent department and to FASC about the test procedure, duration,
safety, and potential operational impacts.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
5.2.4 Saudi Aramco (FASC and Proponent Department) shall review and
approve the submitted field test procedure prior to commencement of the
field test.
5.2.5 Saudi Aramco (FASC and Proponent Department) shall facilitate the
DRA chemical supplier and/or local agent and/or contractor conducting
the field test to bring the required crew, equipment and material to the
test site.
5.2.6 OSPAS shall provide baseline flow conditions prior to the field trial, and
forward the pressure, flow, temperature at various points of the pipeline
to field trial engineers.
5.2.7 PDT personnel shall during field trials collect fluid samples with and
without the agreed, pre-defined, DRA chemical dosages at suitable times
at points along the pipeline.
5.2.8 R&DC shall test the collected fluid samples from field trials to confirm
performance and/or non-harm properties.
6 Responsibilities
6.1 FA RSA
6.2.1 The single point contact for consultation and procedures/standards issues
related to the use of DRA chemicals for new projects. If requested,
P&CSD will coordinate screening and testing of DRA chemicals for
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
The primary organization for screening, testing and reporting test results of
DRA chemical and samples in coordination with FA RSA of P&CSD.
Responsible for implementing and maintaining the issue restriction system and
the phase-in/phase-out of new DRA chemicals.
Responsible for first-time fill of FAC tanks. Work with Operations, Operations
Engineering, Purchasing, R&DC and P&CSD/FA RSA to ensure that suitable
and cost effective chemicals are specified and purchased for the project.
Single point contact with vendors and users for all commercial considerations.
Develops competitive bids and notifies FASC, FA RSA, Operations and
Operations Engineering of the most cost effective chemicals for use.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
7.1 Protocol for the Selection and Qualification of New DRA Chemicals (Figure 1)
Tests can include, but are not limited to, the following:
i) Performance and no harm test
ii) Chemical and physical properties (e.g., solubility, acidity,
viscosity and precipitation on walls or bottom of flasks)
iii) Composition and contamination (e.g., silicon, magnesium
or phosphorus content)
7.1.2.3 In all cases, other tests may also be deemed suitable, and can
be included in the testing protocol at the discretion of R&DC,
P&CSD, CSD, or the proponent Operations Engineering
organization.
7.2.1 QA/QC samples shall be obtained for all new DRA chemicals.
7.2.2 The vendor shall deliver samples of any DRA chemical to R&DC, at
least 10 working days prior to the start of the plant or field trial.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
7.2.3 R&DC shall retain all samples of DRA chemicals qualified for use by a
successful plant trial until the FA RSA authorizes disposal. This will
normally occur only after the FASC officially certifies a DRA chemical
obsolete.
8.1 If a DRA chemical successfully passes the evaluation criteria and a plant/field
trial and the responsible plant engineer considers it a candidate for regular use,
the responsible proponent engineer shall inform the FA RSA in writing, with a
copy to Purchasing that it has successfully passed the test and confirm that
cataloging has been requested. The notification and the request for cataloging
shall contain the results of the plant/field trial and the performance factor
generated from that trial. All correspondence with the FASC should be attached
to the appropriate Saudi Aramco MDM cataloging procedure.
8.2 The FA RSA shall maintain an up-to-date list of all approved DRA chemicals
and keep the MRP Controller, the Standardization Engineer, and the Buyer
informed of the approved DRA chemicals.
8.3 A DRA product can be added to the list of approved DRA chemicals after the
FASC and FA RSA are notified in writing that the product has successfully
passed field trials in a Pipeline/Producing/Distribution facility. It shall be the
responsibility of the FASC to request the FA RSA and the Buyer to add the
DRA chemical to the list, and to notify the FASC members of the addition for
consideration of use in other Pipelines/Producing/Distribution departments.
Whenever the FASC identifies the use of a DRA chemical in other facilities, the
FA RSA and the Buyer shall be notified.
8.4 The FASC shall review the list of approved DRA chemicals no less than once a
year; identify new catalog items with recommendations for cataloging action; and
identify obsolete products with recommendations for their removal from SAMS.
The P&CSD Upstream Process Engineering Division and the R&DC are
responsible for the QA/QC testing of every delivery of DRA chemicals in MSG
148400.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
Prior to field trial, the vendor shall provide Saudi Aramco (FA RSA and
proponent) with a simulation study report to estimate DRA chemical
dosage/rate and performance on the specific pipeline service under
specific operating conditions.
After the field trial completion, the DRA chemical vendor shall also
provide Saudi Aramco (FA RSA, R&DC and proponent) with the field
trial results and DRA chemical performance curve in an electronic-
format report.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
9.2.2.2 Handling
- Operates in a broad range of ambient temperature variations
from 0°C to 50°C
- Stable emulsion
- May require intermittent agitation before use
- May require unloading pump to transfer the DRA chemical
to the permanent storage tank
- As DRA chemical permanent storage tank can be used for
different DRA products from different DRA vendors, utility
water connection to the DRA tank will be required for
cleaning purposes and flushing before a different DRA
product is stored.
- May require insulating the unloading pipe and associated
pipes within the system including the suction and the
discharge of the injection pump
- May require recycle pump for mixing the DRA chemical
- Does not require heating or heat-tracing
- May require air-conditioned/cool storage (20°C – 30°C)
- Does not require pressurized vessels
- Shelf life of 6 months or more and according to DRA
chemical vendor instructions (e.g., periodic agitation/mixing
and/or cooling)
- Insulated containers with a capacity of 25 to 5,000 US gallon
9.2.2.3 Performance
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
9.4.1 In the event that a routine delivery sample of a DRA chemical fails
QA/QC testing, stipulated additional testing shall be carried out upon
request of FA RSA and/or R&DC.
9.4.2 In the event that a randomly taken sample of DRA chemical should fail
the additional tests, field trials shall not be carried out.
9.4.3 The end user, Purchasing, Standardization, and the FA RSA shall be
informed of all failures. End user shall then comply with FA RSA
recommendations.
9.4.4 The FA RSA shall inform the FASC, the vendor and Purchasing of out-
of-specification DRA chemicals.
9.4.5 Repeated failures of a DRA chemical to pass routine QA/QC tests shall
result in the vendor being notified that this particular chemical shall not
be issued from Saudi Aramco system, until such time as the product
passes all re-testing. If the DRA chemical does not pass QA/QC re-tests,
the FA RSA shall notify Materials Control Department to initiate the
action to remove the chemical from SAMS.
9.5 Delivery
Delivery to the DPC shall proceed only after the appropriate QA/QC tests are
finished and the material is certified as suitable for use.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
A grass-root or new pipeline shall not be designed based on the use of DRA
chemical to achieve the design flow rate.
For condensate pipelines, the DRA chemical vendor shall provide the FASC
with simulation and calculation results to predict the DRA product performance.
The DRA chemical vendor shall present such results to the proponent/ FASC.
Field trial of the DRA chemical will follow the vendor calculation/simulation
and presentation and shall be decided by the FASC and proponent.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
and presentation to the FASC shall be conducted before the field trial is decided
as described in 10.3 and 10.4 above.
DRA samples for use in jet fuel could be tested in the R&DC laboratories only
but shall not be field tested or used in jet fuel service pipelines. If the jet fuel (or
the kerosene used for jet fuel) is batched with other DRA treated refined or
hydrocarbon products such as diesel or gasoline, then the multi-product pipeline
shall be flushed and cleaned with jet fuel (or kerosene) or with non-DRA treated
refined product (non-DRA treated diesel or gasoline) to remove any traces of
contamination of DRA chemical and/or other products before sending the jet
fuel (kerosene) batch as specified by R&DC.
More than 15 ppm by mass DRA polymer in gasoline pipelines requires R&DC
approval. DRA chemical vendor/supplier shall confirm (by an official
document signed by the DRA vendor/supplier) to R&DC and to FASC the
nature of the polymer(s), solvent(s) and any other materials and the
concentration of each one in the DRA chemical. The 15 ppm by mass
concentration limit is cumulative which means that all the DRA polymer
injected in the same pipeline at various locations (in case of multiple pump
stations) should be added together and not to exceed 15 ppm by mass. More than
15 ppm by mass DRA polymer in gasoline pipelines requires R&DC approval.
More than 15 ppm by mass DRA polymer in diesel pipelines requires R&DC
approval. DRA chemical vendor/supplier shall confirm (by an official
document signed by the DRA vendor/supplier) to R&DC and to FASC the
nature of the polymer(s), solvent(s) and any other materials and the
concentration of each one in the DRA chemical. The 15 ppm by mass
concentration limit is cumulative which means that all the DRA polymer
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
injected in the same pipeline at various locations (in case of multiple pump
stations) should be added together and not to exceed 15 ppm by mass. More than
15 ppm by mass DRA polymer in diesel pipelines requires R&DC approval.
11.1 In capital projects where FACs in MSG 148400 such as DRA chemicals are to
be used, the LSTK contractor shall be responsible for the following:
The purchase of the “first fill” of all such approved chemicals, and agreeing
the QA/QC requirements with the FA RSA and R&DC.
For ensuring the cleanliness and mechanical operation of the chemical
injection systems as designed.
11.2 The selection of the DRA chemical(s) shall be the responsibility of the
proponent organization, with the concurrence of P&CSD/UPED, and
Purchasing.
11.3 PMT shall provide the operating organization, P&CSD/UPED, and Purchasing
with a letter requesting that DRA chemical vendors submit candidate DRA
chemicals for testing in the various process streams of any new facility. This
letter shall be issued as soon as possible during project construction, but in no
case later than 18 months prior to the originally identified project startup date.
12.1 Figure 1 shall be used as the protocol to follow in the procurement process for
DRA chemicals in MSG 148400.
12.3 Contact the Purchasing Department Buyer for DRA chemicals in MSG 148400
to resolve problems with delivery from vendors.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
12.5 Contact MSG 148400 MRP Controller to resolve issue restriction and phase-
in/phase-out procedures.
A DRA chemical vendor shall be subject to (but not limited to) the following
evaluation protocol before being considered for qualification:
13.1.5 Field trial testing of DRA product on the intended Saudi Aramco
pipeline,
DRA AVL shall be decided and approved by the FASC. The DRA chemicals
AVL is included under 9COM 6000016111.
This AVL is not fixed and can change (increased or decreased approved DRA
chemical vendors) depending on the number of added/deleted of
qualified/disqualified vendors. The AVL shall be updated, approved and added
by the FASC in the nearest next version of this procedure.
The vendor shall provide, at the request of Saudi Aramco (e.g., Proponent,
R&DC, FASC or FA RSA) independent laboratory test data, internal laboratory
test data, or field case histories to support vendor claims for the performance of
any DRA product that the vendor may request Saudi Aramco to evaluate for its
use.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
The membership of the FASC will vary from time to time at the discretion of the
Chairman and Saudi Aramco Management. In addition to the FA RSA/P&CSD (who is
sometimes the Chairman as well), there should be at least one representative from each
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
Revision Summary
13 July 2015 Major revision to address lesson learned from previous projects when it comes to using DRA
chemicals.
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Document Responsibility: Flow Assurance Standards Committee SAEP-501
Issue Date: 13 July 2015
Next Planned Update: 13 July 2018 Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) Chemicals
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