Engineering Procedure
SAEP-1103 10 July 2014
Welding Test Supplement S03 for
SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards
Table of Contents
1 Scope............................................................ 2
2 Applicable Documents................................... 2
3 Instructions.................................................... 2
Previous Issue: 22 April 2009 Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019
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Primary contact: Kakpovbia, Anthony E. on 966-13-8801772
Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2014. All rights reserved.
Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-1103
Draft Date: 10 July 2014 Welding Test Supplement S03 for
Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019 SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
1 Scope
This welder performance qualification Test Supplement shall govern the testing of
welders with the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process, welding progression
vertical up, for welding stainless steel pipe (limited application - refer to the restrictions
in paragraph 3.4).
2 Applicable Documents
The requirements contained in the following documents apply to the extent specified in
this procedure.
2.1 Saudi Aramco References
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures
SAEP-321 Performance Qualification Testing and
Certification of Saudi Aramco Welders
SAEP-1101 Welding Test Supplement S01 for SMAW, Carbon
and Low Alloy Steel Pipe, Uphill
2.2 Industry Code(s) and Standard(s)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASME SEC IX Qualification Standard for Welding and Brazing
Procedures, Welders, Brazers, and Welding
and Brazing Operators
3 Instructions
Conduct the Performance qualification testing of welders following the requirements of
SAEP-321 as supplemented by the subsequent instructions.
3.1 Applications
Piping Yes *
Pipelines No
Pressure Vessels Yes *
Tanks Yes *
Structural Yes *
Dissimilar Metals Yes *
CRWMO Yes *
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Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-1103
Draft Date: 10 July 2014 Welding Test Supplement S03 for
Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019 SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
* See restrictions in paragraph 3.4
3.2 Testing and Inspection Requirements
Time Limit of Test Four (4) hours maximum
Radiography 100% (ASME QW-191)
Visual Inspection See paragraph 6.1.3 of SAEP-321
3.3 Qualification Limits
Material Form Plate or pipe
Joint Type Groove welds with backing and fillet welds
Base Material Stainless steels (P8)
Process SMAW
Filler Metal:
Root/Fill/Cap EXXX-15/16 (A5.4 austenitic)
Base Metal Thickness Unlimited
Diameter Range 2.5" NPS and greater
Positions All
Vertical Progression Uphill
3.4 Restrictions
A) Piping - root pass welding is only permitted:
1) when the backside of the root is accessible for back grinding and
back welding, or
2) when the piping to be welded is a gravity drain, or a vent operating at
atmospheric pressure.
B) Pressure Vessels and Tanks - limited to single sided full penetration welds
with backing, double sided full penetration welds (second side back
gouged or back ground to sound metal prior to welding), fillet welds and
CRWMO welding [see (D) below].
C) Dissimilar Metal Welds (Pressure Vessels, Tanks and Structural) -
permitted between austenitic stainless and ferritic steels using E309
welding electrodes for:
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Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-1103
Draft Date: 10 July 2014 Welding Test Supplement S03 for
Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019 SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
1) structural welding applications where welds are not in contact with
service fluid and the design temperature is less than 300°C, and
2) welding stainless steel nameplates to vessel shells.
D) Corrosion-Resistant Weld Metal Overlay - welders with valid
certifications are permitted to perform corrosion-resistant overlay welding
provided a CRWMO Ability Performance Test per SAEP-321 (paragraph
6.5.1) is performed.
Revision Summary
10 July 2014 Major revision.
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Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-1103
Draft Date: 10 July 2014 Welding Test Supplement S03 for
Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019 SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
WPS S03
WELDING PROCEDURE Rev. 0
SPECIFICATION (WPS)
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Procedure Qualification Record (PQR): None Welding Process: SMAW, manual
Scope: For welder qualification only Prior Qualification Requirement: S01 None
BASE MATERIAL (QW-403) POST WELD HEAT TREATMENT (QW-407)
Test coupon type: Pipe Temperature: None
Material Spec, type or Grade: Stainless Steel (P8)
Diameter of test coupon: NPS 2.5” and Greater Time:
Thickness of test coupon: Unlimited Other:
To Material spec. type or grade: Stainless Steel (P8)
Tack Welds: Four (4) made by the welder and
incorporated into the root pass
FILLER METALS (QW-404) GAS (QW-408)
Weld Metal Analysis Number: 8 Gas Composite Flow (CFH)
Filler Metal F No.: 5 Shielding NONE
AWS specification: A 5.4 Backing NONE
AWS Classification: See Below
Trailing
POSITION (QW-405) TECHNIQUE
Position of Groove: 6G String or weave:
Weld Progression: Uphill Stringer or Weave
PREHEAT (QW 406) Oscillation: No more than 3 times the electrode size.
Multiple or Single pass per side: Multiple
Preheat Temperature: 10°C
Interpass temperature: 177°C Single or multiple electrode: Single
Other: Other:
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Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-1103
Draft Date: 10 July 2014 Welding Test Supplement S03 for
Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019 SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
WPS S03
WELDING PROCEDURE Rev. 0
SPECIFICATION (WPS)
Page 2 of 2
Joint Design: Single Vee
A = 30° ± 2.5°
B = 1.6 ± 0.8 mm
C = 3.2 ± 0.8 mm
FILLER METAL CURRENT
TRAVELSPEED
WELD LAYER PROCESS Dia. VOLTAGE
Class Polarity Amps. (cm/min)
(mm)
All SMAW E308/308L/309 2.4 DCEP 50-80 19-25 3.8-8.9
310/316/316L
Remaining SMAW E308/308L/309 3.2 DCEP 75-110 19-25 3.8-10.2
310/316/316L
Comments:
1. The welding parameters shall be monitored during performance welding to ensure full
compliance with above parameters.
2. When more than one filler metal F-Number is used to deposit weld metal in a coupon, the
thickness, t, of the weld metal in the coupon deposited by the welder of each filler metal F-
Number shall be determined and used individually to define the “Thickness of Weld Metal
Qualified.”
3. All qualification testing and qualified ranges of diameters and thickness shall be made in
accordance with ASME Sec IX requirements.
4. Fillet Welds are qualified when a welder/welding operator qualifies on a groove weld test
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Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-1103
Draft Date: 10 July 2014 Welding Test Supplement S03 for
Next Planned Update: 10 July 2019 SMAW, Stainless Steel, Single Sided
5. Additional filler metal listing:
Base Metal Filler Metal
304 E308L/E316L
304L E308L/E316L
316 E316L
316L E316L
321 E347
347 E347
310 E310
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