Use of ANSI B31.8

[toufik56]

Our Offshore pipes were constructed as per B31.8 specifications eventhough they are inside the Process Platform. Is this acceptable to have a pipe with this specification inside a process platform?
The lines in question are from the piglauncher to the sealine plus the launcher bypass. Normally these are outside the plant limits onshore but this is not possible offshore.

 

[JohnBreen]

Hello,

Personally I would rather have about every (non-power-plant) piping system designed to the ANSI/ASME B31.3 Code for Process Piping. However, having said that, yes it is acceptable to have wellhead piping designed to the B31.8 Code.

Be aware that any "pipeline" construction and maintenance is regulated by the Federal government, so that is the first place to look for guidance. A few years ago, when the Feds took over jurisdiction of gas pipelines and produced detained rules, ASME published a "guide" to the Federal regs to aid the owner, operator, designed, constructer, in interpreting the regs.

It would be useful to look at some of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 49, Part 192 was developed at about the same time using the 1967 edition of the ASME B31.8 standard as its basis. See these Internet sites:

http://ops.dot.gov/regsindex.htm

http://www.slc.ca.gov/Regulations/Article_3-3.htm

http://ops.dot.gov/regulate.htm

A new, non-mandatory supplement to ASME B31.8 was completed recently to aid gas pipeline operators in the development and implementation of an integrity management program. See this site:

http://www.asmenews.org/archives/backissues/sept02/features/pipeline.html?IMAGE.X=12\&IMAGE.Y=12

Good luck and best regards, John.