GAIL GAS LIMITED

CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION PROJECT

CLIENT JOB NO. -

SPECIFICATION FOR DRYING AND CLEANING OF PIPES
TOTAL SHEETS 05

DOCUMENT NO 11 0290 02 07 02 021

0 25.08.09 ISSUED FOR TENDER GV AP SB

B 25.08.09 ISSUED FOR CLIENT’S COMMENTS BG AP SB

A 24.08.09 ISSUED FOR IDC BG AP SB

REV DATE DESCRIPTION PREP CHK APPR

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 CONTENTS

1.0 SCOPE .....................................................................................................................................................3

2.0 DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................................................................3

3.0 CLEANING AND DRYING.......................................................................................................................3

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SPECIFICATION FOR DRYING AND
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1.0 SCOPE

This specification covers the minimum requirements to be followed by the contractor in carrying out
cleaning and drying operation of pipeline after testing.

2.0 DEFINITIONS

For this specification the following definitions shall apply:

OWNER/CONSULTANT : GAIL (GAS) LIMITED

CONSULTANT : WOOD GROUP ENGINEERING INDIA PVT. LTD. (WGI)

CONTRACTOR : The Company named as such in the Contract.

SHALL/MUST/IS TO BE : A mandatory requirement

SHOULD : A non-mandatory requirement, advisory or recommendation

3.0 CLEANING AND DRYING

3.1 Pipe Construction

For pipeline construction once the test (resistance and leak test) results have been declared
satisfactory, the cleaning and drying operations shall be carried out. The pipeline section to be cleaned
and dried is to be sealed at the ends by means of welded testing pig traps. These end stations are
equipped with instruments for permanent measurement of the temperature, pressure and dew point.
After de-watering, conventional pigs and foam pigs shall be run through the pipelines as many times as
necessary until internal surface is free of dirt, such as welding slags, rust, oil and dust particles.

The compressors used to draw the pigs shall have an absorption drying units with adequate dew point
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outlet. After having measured a constant dew point of -8 C during the last run, the pipeline is closed for
at least 24 hours.

Except otherwise specified the dew point is fixed at -80C, during this time the dew point is measured
every 4 hours. If the dew point has not increased after 24 hours, the pipeline is considered dry. It is left
at 0.2 bar overpressure dry air or under Nitrogen. Dew point measurements are carried out under the
supervision of and in consultation with the Owner / Owner’s Representative at the other end from the
drying installation. The Contractor shall only use oil – free and soundproofed compressors for supply to
the drying units. When venting the pipeline sections, there shall always be a Contractors staff present
and the public authorities concerned shall be informed by the Contractor.

3.2 Dewatering and Swabbing Of Pipeline

Dewatering of a pipeline section shall be done to facilitate EGP / calliper pigging. During the dewatering
operation, the major quantity of water shall be removed from the main pipeline.

The disposal of the water shall be performed such that no harm is done to the environment and the
dewatering procedure, to be submitted by the pipeline contractor for Company/Company’s
representative’s approval, should indicate this safe disposal methodology.

The Swabbing operation shall consist of running several suitable foam pig trains using air as propellant
through the pipeline. This is done by operating numerous swabbing pigs so that the weight increase in
pig before & after the swabbing driving operation is not more than 25%. During swabbing operation, the
residual free water content in the pipeline shall be reduced to an acceptable lower value for EGP.

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 It is the responsibility of the pipeline contractor to develop a suitable dewatering and swabbing
procedure and submit the same for Company/ Company’s representative’s approval.

Operational Requirements

The pipeline contractor may use suitable dewatering for pipeline dewatering purpose. In such case, at
least two dewatering pig runs is to be completed with air as propellant. The pipeline contractor shall
provide suitable compressor for dewatering and swabbing.

Sealing pigs shall be used and will be suitable for traversing the whole length of the pipeline segment
being dewatered, without damaging the internal pipe-wall.

If dewatering pigs are used, the minimum speed and the backpressure of the pigs to be maintained
during dewatering operation shall be proposed by the pipeline contractor to do continuous operation
and without pig getting stuck.

Upon arrival of the pigs at the receiving end, the pipeline contractor in the presence of
Company/Company’s representative shall remove the pigs without delay.

For swabbing, suitable foam pigs shall be used by pipeline contractor and will be suitable for traversing
the whole length of the pipeline segment being swabbed. Before starting swabbing operation, the
pipeline contractor has to weight the swabbing pigs and record the weight. On arrival of the pigs at the
receiving, the pipeline contractor should judge the weight gained by the swabbing and shall again
weight the pigs.

Acceptance Criteria

Before proceeding to the next stage of operation, the pipeline contractor shall ensure that bulk of the
water has been removed from the pipeline system and swabbing is done to meet the requirement of
EGP.

Note-1: After dewatering and swabbing of the main pipeline segment, other Contractor shall carry out
Electronic Geometry Pigging (EGP) / calliper pigging of the pipeline.

Note-2: Ideally, EGP / calliper pigging shall be followed by commissioning activities of the pipeline. If
subsequent to EGP activities, commissioning activities of the pipeline is taken up after long time
delay then adequate measures should be taken to preserve the pipeline during this idle period
so that internal corrosion does not occur. Suitable preservative fluid should be introduced in the
pipeline and the pipeline should be kept bottled up with this preservative inside it.

3.3 Drying

Unless otherwise stipulated the piping shall be dried with compressed air. The compressors used for
drying shall have an absorption drying units with adequate dew point outlet.

Valves shall be drained as much as possible in the half – open position under air pressure through the
vent pipes under the supervision of and in consultation with the Owner / Owner’s Representative.
Manipulation of the valves without the supervision of the Owner / Owner’s Representative is strictly
forbidden. The blowing shall be continued until a constant dew point of -80 C (or other dew point as per
TS) is measured. Subsequently, the pipe shall be closed for 24 hours. If the dew point has not
increased after 24 hours, the installation is considered dry.

• The piping to be dried must have the necessary measuring devices to measure constantly the
temperature, pressure and dew point.

• The piping is considered dry if following several measurements in 24 hours and at several branches
of the pipe the dew point measurements are constant and the desired value is not exceeded.

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For faster drying, the Contractor may propose drying with heated Nitrogen. The temperature shall be
limited to +500 0C.

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