SPECIFICATION NO.

PAG E

GS 400
REV. 3
REV.
NO.

BY

DATE

TR

10/16/00

1 OF 18
CHK

APP.

GENERAL SPECIFICATION
ELECTRICAL STANDARD PRACTICES
GS - 400

DATE

REMARKS
REWRITE ON MS WORD

SPECS NO.
GS 400
REV. 3

GENERAL SPECIFICATION
ELECTRICAL STANDARD PRACTICES
GS - 400

INDEX
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
11.0

SCOPE
CODES, STANDARDS AND COMPANY SPECIFICATIONS
INTENT
ENVIRONMENT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EQUIPMENT
WIRING SYSTEM
GROUNDING
CONTROL
PROTECTION
METERING

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SPECS NO.
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1.0

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SCOPE
This specification covers the standard practices to be used when designing the
electrical system on offshore platforms

2.0

CODE, STANDARDS, AND COMPANY SPECIFICATIONS

The requirements and recommendations of the latest revisions of the following listed
codes, standards and COMPANY general specifications shall apply :
2.1

2.2

Codes and Standards

2.1.1

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association

2.1.2

NEMA

National Electrical Manufacturers' Association

2.1.3

ANSI

American National Standard Institute

2.1.4

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

2.1.5

API

American Petroleum Institute

2.1.6

NEC(NFPA70)

National Electrical Code

2.1.7

UL

Underwriter's Laboratories

2.1.8

FM

Factory Mutual

General Specifications
GS-401

Electrical Installation and Testing

GS-410

Motors - Low Voltage, Single Phase

GS-411

Motors - Low Voltage, Three Phase

GS-412

Motors - Medium Voltage

GS-413

Motors - Submersible

GS-415

Power and Distribution Transformer

GS-421

Medium Voltage Switchgear

GS-425

Low Voltage MCC

GS-426

Medium Voltage MCC

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3.0

GS-430

Generators

GS-431

Navigational Aid

GS-432

Misc. Dist. & Lighting Equipment

GS-435

Electric Heaters

GS-470

D.C. Systems

GS-471

Electrical Building

GS-472

Subsea Power Cables

GS-473

Trace Heating

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INTENT
The purpose of this specification and its referenced codes, standards, and general
specifications is to establish a minimum level of design. Alternate designs of equal or
superior quality may be proposed, provided all exceptions are listed and written
approval for all exceptions is obtained from COMPANY.

4.0

ENVIRONMENT
4.1

Area Classification
Area classification shall be determined in accordance with API 500B.
For the purpose of classification it shall be assumed that a drill rig or wire line
unit are in operation.
To obtain uniformity of material and obviate classification problems if future
process equipment is installed, all equipment shall be suitable for installation
in a Class 1 Division 2 Group D area as a minimum. (Exceptionstandby/emergency generators and associated switchgear require enclosures for
an unclassified area only, provided they are installed in an unclassified area
determined in accordance with API 500B).

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4.2

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Temperature
The ambient temperature shall be 95F (35C).

4.3

Humidity
Relative humidity shall be 100%.

4.4

5.0

Atmosphere
4.4.1

Open Deck Area's - Salt laden with winds up to 80 mph (ANSI A58.1).

4.4.2

Indoor, Air Conditioned - No special consideration.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The characteristics of the power, lighting and control electrical system shall be in
accordance with the following :
Generation

Transmission/Distribution

Utilization

13800Y/7967 V, 3 phase, 4 wire, 60 Hz

4160Y/2400 V, 3 phase, 4 wire, 60 Hz

480Y/277 V, 3 phase, 4 wire, 60 Hz

34500Y/19900 V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 60 Hz

13800Y/7967 V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 60 Hz

4160Y/2400 V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 60 Hz

480Y/277 V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 60 Hz.

4160Y/2400 V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 60 Hz

480Y/277 V, 3 phase, 3 wire, 60 Hz

208 V, 1 phase, 60 Hz

120 V, 1 phase, 60 Hz.

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Motor Control

6.0

120 V, 1 phase, 60 Hz (preferred)

48 VDC

Switchgear Control

48 VDc (preferred)

Instrumentation

120 V, 1 phase, 60 Hz

24 VDC (preferred)

Communication

24 VDC

Navigational Aid

24 VDC

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EQUIPMENT
6.1

Generators
6.1.1

General
Generators shall be in accordance with the following general
specification :
GS-430

6.1.2

Generators

Emergency Generators
If required by the detailed design drawings, platforms shall be provided
with an 85KW emergency, standby, diesel driven generator as
manufactured by caterpillar model 3304T or equal.

6.1.3

Transportable Generators
Each platform shall be provided with switchgear and a junction box to
allow the connection of a transportable, skid mounted, diesel driven
generator.
The transportable generator will be 2400 V, 3 phase, 60 Hertz and will
be provided with a circuit breaker and synchronization controls.

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6.2

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Transformers
6.2.1

General
Transformers shall be in accordance with the following general
specification :
GS-415

6.2.2

Power and Distribution Transformers.

Rating
Transformers shall have a self cooled (OA) rating of 120 % of the
maximum running load.

6.3

Motors
6.3.1

General
Motors shall be in accordance with the following specifications:

6.3.2

GS-410

Electric Motors

Low Voltage, Single Phase

GS-411

Electric Motors

Low Voltage, Three Phase

GS-412

Electric Motors

Medium Voltage, Three Phase

GS-413

Electric Motors

Submersible

Voltage
Motor terminal voltage shall generally be as follows :
Less than 1/2 H.P.
1/2 H.P. to 200 H.P.
Above 200 H.P.

115 VAC/1 PH/60 Hz.

460 VAC/3 PH/60 Hz.
4000 VAC/3 PH/60 Hz.

Other voltages may be used for special conditions, providing written

approval is first obtained from COMPANY.
6.3.3

Starting
Motors shall generally be direct-on-line started. Other methods of
starting may be used only after written approval is obtained from
COMPANY.

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6.4

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Switchgear
6.4.1

General
Switchgear shall be in accordance with the following general
specification
GS-421

6.4.2

Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker Switchgear

Type
Switchgear shall be metalclad, withdrawable, vacuum circuit breaker or
SF6, type. Oil circuit breakers shall not be used.

6.5

Controllers
6.5.1

General
Controllers shall be in accordance with the following general
specifications :
GS-425
GS-426

6.6

Low Voltage Motor Control Center, or

Medium Voltage Motor Control Center.

Lighting and Miscellaneous

Lighting and miscellaneous equipment shall be in accordance with the
following general specification :
GS-432

7.0

Miscellaneous Distribution, Control and Lighting Equipment.

WIRING SYSTEMS
7.1

General
7.1.1

Bridge-Connected Platform
Cables between bridge connected platforms shall generally be PVC
jacketed type MC (metal clad) cable.
Subsea cable may also be used, if it is being installed elsewhere in the
system, and spare lengths are available.

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7.1.2

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Non Bridge-Connected Platform

Where there is no bridge, subsea power cables in accordance with spec.
GS-472 shall be used.

7.1.3

Deck Areas
7.1.3.1

Class 1 Division 1 Areas

Wiring shall be XHHW insulated cable enclosed in rigid,
copper free aluminum conduit or flexible conduit approved
for class I division 1 group D locations.

7.1.3.2

Class 1 Division 2 and Unclassified Areas

Wiring shall be in PVC jacketed type MC multicore cables.

7.1.4

Inside Buildings
Wiring shall be XHHW insulated cable enclosed in rigid, copper free
aluminum conduit, or PVC jacketed type MC multicore cable.

7.1.5

Segregation
Cables shall be grouped as follows :
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D

: Medium voltage ( 1 KV to 69KV) a.c. circuits

: Low voltage (0 to 600V) a.c. circuits, Navigational Aid
and d.c. circuits.
: Instrumentation signal (4-20 mA) and communication
circuits.
: Intrinsically safe circuits

Group A and B cables may be installed on the same cable tray.

Group C cables shall be installed on a separate tray from groups A & B
cables with a minimum separation of twelve (12) inches. Where space
is limited and with the approval of COMPANY, group C cables may be
installed on the same tray as group B cables provided there is a
continuous, grounded metal barrier between them.
When crossing, group C cables shall be perpendicular to group A and B
cables.
Group D cables shall be installed separate from all other cables.

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7.2

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SUBSEA CABLE
Subsea cable shall be in accordance with the following general specification :
GS-472 Subsea Power Cables.

7.3

CABLE (Non Subsea)

Cable shall be PVC jacketed type MC (metal clad), in accordance with article
334 of N.E.C., with uncoated soft annealed copper conductor, class B stranded
per ASTM B- 8. Insulation shall be labeled UL type XHHW or EPR, resistant
to surface tracking and electric discharge.
The conductors shall be cabled together with non-hydroscopic fillers and
binder tape and have a gas/vapour-tight, continuous, close fitting, impervious,
corrugated aluminum sheath, covered with a PVC jacket.
Cables operated at 2.4KV and below shall be non-shielded.
Cables operated above 2.4KV shall have a conductor and insulation
semi-conducting shield and a metallic tape screen.

7.4

CONDUIT
Conduit shall be rigid, copper free aluminum in accordance with Article 346 of
NEC or liquid tight flexible metal conduit in accordance with Article 351 A of
N.E.C.
The minimum conduit size shall be 3/4 inch except at instrument connections
where 1/2 inch conduit may be used.
The size of conduit required shall be determined in accordance with NEC
(NFPA70) requirements.

7.5

CABLE TRAY
Cable tray shall be of copper free (less than 0.4%) aluminum or fiberglass
reinforced polymer in accordance with Article 318 of NEC.

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7.6

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CONDUCTORS
7.6.1

Voltage Rating
Conductors shall be rated for the following minimum voltage relative
to the operating voltage.
Operating Voltage
34500Y/19,900V AC
13800Y/7967V AC
4160Y/2400V AC
2400Y/1385V AC
480Y/277V AC
208Y/120V AC
120V AC
120DC and Below
Instrumentation 4-20mA

7.6.2

Rated Cable Voltage

35 KV (133% Insulation)
15 KV (133% Insulation)
5 KV
3 KV
600V
600V
600V
600V
300V

Size
Conductor shall be sized as follows :
-

In accordance with the N.E.C.

Conductors shall be sized based on a 75C

Branch circuit voltage drop shall be 3% maximum

Feeder circuit voltage drop shall be 2% maximum

Motor starting voltage drop shall be 15% maximum of the

motor nameplate voltage

Minimum sizes shall be as follows :

Current Transformer Secondaries
Lighting and Power
Control
Instrumentation

#10 AWG
#12 AWG
#14 AWG
#16 AWG

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7.6.3

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Color Coding
Power Conductors shall be color coded as follows :
3 phase : Phase A
Phase B
Phase C

- Black
- Red
- Blue

1 phase : Phase
Neutral

- Black
- White

DC

- Red
- Black

: Positive
Negative

Control conductors shall be identified by color coding per NEMA

WC-8 method 1 or by numbering each conductor per NEMA WC-8
method 4.
Equipment grounding conductors shall be colored green or green with a
yellow stripe.
8.0

GROUNDING
8.1

General
All non-current carrying metal shall be grounded in accordance with the NEC
(NFPA 70).

8.2

Grounding Electrode and Conductor

The grounding electrode and conductor shall be the structural sections of the
deck and jacket.

8.3

Equipment Grounding Conductors

The primary equipment grounding conductors shall be the conduit system and
the aluminum sheath of the MC cables.

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8.4

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Bonding Jumper
Bonding Jumpers sized in accordance with NEC (NFPA 70) article 250 shall
be installed between equipment metallic enclosures and the structural deck or
jacket (grounding electrode conductors).
Two (2) bonding jumpers shall be installed for the following equipment:
-

Switchgear
Motor Control Centers
Transformers rated over 225 KVA
Generator frames
Outdoor Switchracks
Skids containing electrical equipment
Buildings containing electrical equipment

One (1) bonding jumper shall be installed for the following equipment:
8.5

Electric motor frames

Lighting and distribution panels
Transformers rated 225 KVA and smaller.

Static Grounding
Process equipment and pipes shall be effectively grounded to the deck or
jacket structure.

9.0

CONTROL
9.1

Manual Operation
Where manual operation of equipment is required, local stop and start
pushbuttons shall be provided and a stop pushbutton installed on the controller
unit.
Equipment normally inaccessible to personnel e.g. submersible pump, shall
have a start pushbutton installed on the controller unit.

9.2

Automatic Operation
Where automatic operation of equipment is required a local hand/off/auto
selector switch shall be installed to allow the equipment to be controlled
manually if desired.

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9.3

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Indication
Red 'RUNNING' and green 'STOPPED' indicator lights shall be installed on
each controller unit and on each local control station.

9.4

Emergency Shutdown
Emergency shutdown circuits shall be designed to fail safe. Loss of power
shall cause the process equipment to attain the safest status.

10.0

PROTECTION
10.1

General
A system of protective relays shall be installed to detect abnormal currents and
voltages and, when detected, automatically open the appropriate circuit
breakers to remove the faulty part from the network and leave the healthy
circuits intact.
The type of protective relays to be installed in the system shall generally be as
indicated in the following paragraphs of this specification. Alternative types of
relay or systems to meet abnormal requirements may be used after written
approval by COMPANY.

10.2

Coordination
The relays shall be coordinated to allow the relay nearest the faulty part of the
circuit to operate first.
Discrimination between relays shall be obtained by using time and current
grading.
The coordinating time interval between relays shall be a minimum of 0.3
seconds.
For long radial feeders with a number of circuit breakers in series the
application of distance relays or voltage restraint relays shall be considered to
improve coordination.

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10.3

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Application
10.3.1 General
The following sections indicate the minimum requirements for
protection.
10.3.2 Diesel engine generators
Up to 100 KVA

- Phase overcurrent

Above 100 KVA to 1500 KVA

- Phase overcurrent
- Reverse power
- Under voltage

Greater than 1500 KVA

Phase overcurrent
Ground overcurrent
Reverse power
Under voltage
Phase differential

10.3.3 Turbine driven generators

Up to 5 MVA

- Phase differential
- Ground differential
ground fault)
- Phase overcurrent
- Ground overcurrent
- Reverse power
- Under voltage

Greater than 5 MVA

- Phase differential
- Ground differential (restricted
ground fault)
- Phase overcurrent
- Phase unbalance
- Rotor ground fault
- Reverse power
- Assynchroneous operation
- Stator temperature
- Bearing temperature
- Excessive vibration

(restricted

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10.3.4 Transformers
Up to 100 KVA

- Phase overcurrent

Above 100 KVA to 500 KVA

- Phase overcurrent
- Ground overcurrent

Above 500 KVA to 1500 KVA

Phase overcurrent
Ground overcurrent
High rate of rise of pressure
High oil temperature (alarm only)
Low oil level (alarm only)

Greater than 1500 KVA

Phase overcurrent
Ground overcurrent
Phase differential
High rate of rise of pressure
High oil temperature (alarm only)
Low oil level (alarm only)

34.5 KV windings shall also be protected from overvoltage.

10.3.5 Busbars
Up to 4.16 KV

- Phase overcurrent
- Ground overcurrent

13.8 KV single bus

- Phase overcurrent
- Ground overcurrent

13.8 KV split bus

- Phase overcurrent
- Ground overcurrent
- Phase differential

34.5 KV bus

- Phase overcurrent
- Ground overcurrent
- Phase differential

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10.3.6 Transmission Cables and feeders

Up to 13.8 KV

- Phase Overcurrent
- Ground Overcurrent

34.5 KV

- Phase Overcurrent
- Ground Overcurrent
- Overvoltage

10.3.7 Induction Motor

Up to 50 HP

- Overload
- Single phasing

Above 50 HP to 200 HP

- Overload
- Single phasing
- Ground fault

Greater than 200 HP

Overload
Phase Unbalance
Ground Fault
High stator temperature
Excessive vibration

Downhole pump motors

Current Unbalance
Overcurrent
Undercurrent
Phase reversal
Reverse rotation (backspin)
Voltage unbalance

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11.0

METERING
Metering of the power transmission and distribution system shall be as follows :
34.5 KV Bus Incomer

Voltmeter (Phase Voltage)

Ammeter (Phase currents)
Frequency meter

34.5 KV Feeder

Ammeter (Phase currents)

Wattmeter
Varmeter
Power factor meter

Up to 13.8 KV Incomer

Ammeter ( Phase currents)

Voltmeter (Phase voltages)
Power factor meter

Generator up to 100 KW

Ammeter (Phase currents)

Voltmeter (Phase voltages)
Powerfactor meter
Frequency meter

Generator above 100 KW

Ammeter (Phase currents)

Voltmeter (Phase voltages)
Powerfactor meter
Frequency meter
Wattmeter
Varmeter

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