ONSHORE

PIPELINE
Requirement of ISO 9000.
Item 4.18 (6.2.2)
Training
Prepared By: Maria L.
1
Quitian

The Onshore Pipeline:

A pipeline consists of pipes
strung along a Right of Way
that once welded together will
form a continuous duct for the
transport of liquids or gases
from one point to another
along a predetermined route.
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The Onshore Pipeline:

SURVEY
RIGHT OF WAY
(R.O.W)
TRENCHING
STRINGING

LOWERING
BACKFILLING
RESTORATION OF
R.O.W.

BENDING

CATHODIC
PROTECTION

WELDING

HYDROTESTING

NDT

DEWATERING, DRYING
& START UP
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FIELD JOINT

1.SURVEY:
Is the activity to stake
out the pipeline route
according to the
coordinates provided
by the Client, defining
all relocations of the
route as necessary,
thus permitting the
optimization of the
construction activities
to complete the
pipeline. 4

QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

1. SURVEY:
1. Control the calibration of survey
equipment
2. Verification of the route using the
alignment sheets
3. Random verification of the collation
and compilation of correct survey
data
4. Control of adequate number and
location of kilometer markers
It is the responsibility of the Surveyor to
prepare and keep the registration of all
information raised at site and make it
available for distribution to the interested
parties: construction superintendent,
foremen and Quality Control department.

2. RIGHT OF WAY
This activity, together with survey, is
the first phase for the construction
of a pipeline and consists in clearing
and grading the land which has been
acquired by the Client from the
owners and along which the pipeline
will be built.
Personnel, equipment and materials
will transit along the ROW for the
construction of the pipeline.
The width of Row can be between 15 to
30Mts. (Depending on the diameter of the
pipes)

2. RIGHT OF WAY (R.O.W):

1. Verification of the route using the
alignment sheets
2. Visual Inspection of grading
activities, and control that the
width and compaction is in
accordance to the specifications

QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

3. Control that the staking and

kilometer markers are not
removed by the earth moving
equipment and that safety
warning signs are in place
It is the responsibility of the QC Inspector
to fill-in and keep properly registered the
Right of Way daily reports.

3.
After the receiving
STRINGING
inspection has been
carried-out the pipes
are transported from
the port or storage
location and strung
along the right of way.
The pipes shall be lifted and
strung individually with a spreader
bar with slings on both ends that
are equipped with a hook and
guide rope to control the
movement of the pipes during
lifting operations.
The pipes shall be placed on sand
bags or wood stocks placed along
the ROW thus protecting the

QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

3. STRINGING:
1. Verification of the route and pipe
characteristics (wall thickness, coating
etc. ) against the data on the alignment
sheets
2. Verification that timber stocks or sand
bags are disposed along the ROW
3. Verification that the coating of the pipes is
not damaged during unloading and that
the final position is correct.
4. Control that the sling hooks used for this
activity have some protection to prevent
damage to the bevel of pipes.
It is the responsibility of the QC Inspector to fill-in
and keep properly updated the stringing daily
report, including comments and information
regarding the number of pipes strung and
damages (if any). The rejected pipes have to be
clearly identified and segregated from those on
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the ROW .

4.
BENDING:
Bending of the pipe is required because the
terrain is not always flat and the pipe has to
follow the contour of the land where the
pipeline will be buried.
This activity consists in give to the pipe the
necessary shape to go in the same direction of
the pipeline route. The preliminary survey will
determine the contour of the land and the
horizontal and vertical direction of the bend
along of ROW (Over Bend, Sag Bend, Right Bend
and Left Bend)
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The angle and the lateral direction of the

QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

4. BENDING:
1.

Verification that the location of

bended pipe corresponds with the
information shown on the alignment
sheet

2. Verify the angle, direction and position

of longitudinal weld of the bend
3. Verify that the coating of the pipe is
not damaged during various
operations
4. Verify the thickness of the pipe on the
outer bend and that the out of
roundness of the bend has been
checked
It is the responsibility of the QC Inspector
to fill and keep properly registration of the
Bending report for each bend and that this
data is also marked on the pipe .

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5.
Is the preparation
of the pipe
BEVELLING

bevel as required by the welding

procedure specification and to
remove dust and imperfections
prior to the welding operations

6. LINE-UP
This is done by using a clamp which
can be either internal or external.
The purpose is to align and keep still
the adjacent pipes in order to permit
the welding to be carried-out

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7. CONTROL OF
Before, During & after
welding the following controls shall be
PARAMETERS
taken by means of calibrated instruments:
Temperature
Amperage
Voltage

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8. WELDING
Definition as per AWS:
A localized coalescence of metals
or non-metals produced either by
heating the materials to the
welding temperature, with or
without the application of
pressure, or by the application of
pressure alone and with or without
the use of filler metal
Coalescence means: Joining

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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

WELDING ACTIVITIES
1. Check the availability of approved welding
procedures
2.

Check efficiency of welding and beveling

equipment

3. Random Inspection of fit up of pipes (bevel

configuration, longitudinal weld position,
preheat, inside cleanliness of pipe etc. )
4.

Monitor and spot record welding

parameters as specified in W.P.S.

5. Monitor that only qualified welders are

deployed in the field
5. Monitor that visual Inspection of completed
welds is done before NDT examination
It is the responsibility of the welding QC
Inspector to monitor that all data required to
fill-in and keep updated the pipe & weld
records is always available.

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9. NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING

(N.D.T)
External detection of defects:
Visual inspection
Dye Penetrant Testing (PT)
Magnetic Particles
Inspection (MPI)

Internal detection
of defects:
Radiograph
examination: X
ray & Gamma Ray
Ultrasonic
Examination

Once the welding has been completed it is

necessary to know the soundness of the weld. The
purpose of NDT is to verify the quality of the weld
using the different methods mentioned above.
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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

NDT ACTIVITIES
1. Define radiographic film identification
with project markings for future
traceability
2. Verify that the NDT inspection is
carried out as per approved
procedures and project specification
requirements with calibrated
equipment by qualified personnel
3. Monitor that NDT reports contain all
the information required by project
specifications
4. Collate all NDT reports and check the
correct storage of radiographic films

It is the responsibility of the QC Supervisor to

verify that qualified NDT inspectors perform
the evaluation and record all NDT activities.

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10. FIELD
JOINT
COATING
All pipes are protected externally
against corrosion with different types of
coating. This is carried out at the
coating yards and only the ends are left
without protection to enable the welding
activities to be carried out.
After welding this unprotected area is
coated in the field. Depending on the
coating system adopted for the project
the field joint coating is done with Heat

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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

FIELD JOINT COATING ACTIVITIES

1. Verification that approved procedures
are available and followed at site ( eg.
the surface cleanliness and tape
overlap)
2. Monitor the calibration of instruments
(holiday detector) at the prescribed
intervals
3. Verification that the joint to be coated
have been released by NDT inspection.
4. Monitor the visual and holiday detection
of coating application.
5. Witness that the adhesion and/or
destructive tests are carried out and
recorded at the prescribed intervals
It is the responsibility of the coating QC
Inspector to fill-in and keep updated the daily
coating reports with all the required
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information.

11.
TRENCHING
When the welding and coating activities have been
satisfactorily completed then the pipeline is ready
to be buried.
Then the trenching activities can start along the
ROW. ( If there is the need to carry out rock
blasting then the trench is prepared prior to
stringing the pipe).
The trenching shall be done according to the
contractual requirements. The depth and width
20
depend on the diameter of the pipe and the class

QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

TRENCHING ACTIVITIES
1. Verification that approved procedures
are available at site.
2. Verify the right dimension and location
of the trench as per approved
drawings.
3. Monitor that the excavation material is
piled at a suitable distance from the
ditch and that passage ways and ROW
are not obstructed
4. Monitor that the safety signs are in
place

It is the responsibility of the QC Inspector to

fill-in and keep updated the daily trenching
reports.

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12.
Once the
trench is ready, the pipeline is
LOWERING
lowered into the trench.

The external coating is verified with a

holiday detector which detects any
damage to the coating. All damage shall
be repair before to the pipe is lowered.

The equipment used for

these operations are
sidebooms. Operations are
carried out very slowly to
avoid accidents to personnel
and equipment or damage
to the pipes.
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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities are
performed by the Quality
Inspector:

LOWERING ACTIVITIES
1. Verify that there is adequate padding and
absence of foreign bodies on the bottom
of the trench
2. Monitor lowering operations to see that
there are the required number or sidebooms to avoid excessive sags that
overstress the pipe
3. Monitor that the lifting slings are integral,
of sufficient width and do not damage the
pipes coating.
4. Monitor that the pipe is not dragged or
dropped into the trench
5. Monitor that repairs to the coating have
been done and tested
6. Verify that the lowered pipeline follows the
contour of the trench bottom or that extra
support material is provided

It is the responsibility of the QC

Inspector to fill-in and keep updated the
daily lowering reports. 23

13.
CATHODIC
Once
the pipe is lowered into
PROTECTION
the trench, cables are
attached to the pipe ( by pin
brazing or thermo-welds)
connecting it to the anode
beds if the galvanic system is
used or to an electrical
source if the impressed
current system is used. This
is wired up to nearby
metering posts where the
functioning of the system
can be monitored during the
life-span of the pipeline.

The cathodic protection system

consists in the partial or complete
protection of a metal from
corrosion by making it a cathode,
using either a galvanic or an
impressed current.

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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

CATHODIC PROTECTION ACTIVITIES

1. Verification that approved cable
attachment procedures are available at
site
2. Monitor that this activity is carried out
by qualified personnel
3. As soon as the weld is completed,
verify that the cables have adhered
well to the pipe.
4. Check that the electrical connection of
the cable/pipe has been achieved
5. Verify that the external coating of the
pipe has been repaired.
It is the responsibility of the QC Inspector to
fill-in and keep updated the cathodic
protection (temporary and permanent) daily
report.

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14. BACKFILLING
Suitable material shall be selected to back fill
the pipe. Special care will be taken to eliminate
large or sharp stones and straining materials
(oils and detergents) in order to avoid damage to
the coating of the pipe.
A first layer of clean padding material shall be
applied on top of the pipe. After that successive
layers with adequate compaction shall cover the
pipe. Additional protection material shall be put
on top of the trench forming a crown. 26

QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

BACKFILLING ACTIVITIES
1. Verify that the approved
procedure is available at site.
2. Monitor that the material for
backfilling is free from foreign
elements such as rocks, wood
timber stocks, oils detergents
etc. to avoid damage to the pipe.
3. Verify that the required
compaction has been achieved
4. Monitor that the crown profile is
as per approved drawings and
specifications
It is the responsibility of the QC
Inspector to fill-in and keep updated the
daily backfilling reports.

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15.
RESTORATION
OF RIGHT OF
WAY is restored
of the way

The right
to its
original condition before handing it back
to the land owners.
All the disruptions caused by the
construction activities shall be corrected
according to the project specifications,
local laws and to the satisfaction of the
land owners.
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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities
have to be performed by
the Quality Inspector:

RESTORATION OF R.O.W. ACTIVITIES

1. Verify that approved procedures are
available at site
2. Monitor that in sensitive places, like
a rivers, steep inclinations, swamp
areas etc. the land is well
compacted and protected against
land slides
3. Verify that all passages, access
roads drains and crossings are
restored to their original state
4. Final Inspection of ROW to verify
that kilometer markers and other
indicators are installed as required
by project specifications and/or
local laws
It is the responsibility of the QC
Inspector to fill-in and keep updated the
daily restoration reports. 29

16. CLEANING,
GAUGING &
BeforeHYDROTESTING
starting hydrotesting activities
the line shall be cleaned and gauged.
This shall be done by the passage of
several trains of Pigs some of which
will be fitted with wire brushes for
cleaning the inner surface and one
with an aluminium disk for gauging.

For the final test the line is filled with water

plus the inhibitors and the pressure is
increased gradually to that indicated in the
project specifications. The parameters to be
kept under control are : the volume of water
used, the pressure and the water and ground
temperature.If the pipeline is not going to be
filled and used immediately then it may be
necessary to dry the line and mothball it with
nitrogen.

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QC ACTIVITIES:
The following activities have
to be performed by the Quality
Inspector:

CLEANING, GAUGING &

HYDROTESTING ACTIVITIES
1.

Verify that the approved procedure and

the hydrotest plan are available at site

2.

Control integrity of calibration plate after

the passage through the line

3.

Verify the calibration of instruments and

equipment ( manometers,
thermometers ,dead weight tester,
flowmeters pumps) .

4.

Verify that valves are in open position,

spades and blinds inserted (if any)

5.

Monitor and record the pressurization of

the line, the stabilizing and hold period

6.

Obtain Clients signature on hydrotest

certificates and charts upon successful
completion of test

7.

Monitor and record dewatering and drying

operations

Is responsibility from QC Inspector to fill and keep the

report, including relevant comments of inspection during
the day.

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River Crossings

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Road Crossings

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