Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Offshore Platforms Offshore Structures Construction PDF
Offshore Platforms Offshore Structures Construction PDF
Divisione Agip
GENERAL SPECIFICATION
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
08833.STR.MET.SPC
Rev. 5 December 2001
Documento riservato di proprietà di Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. Esso non sarà mostrato a Terzi né utilizzato per scopi diversi da quelli per i quali è stato inviato.
This document is property of Eni S.p.A. Divisione Agip. It shall neither be shown to Third Parties not used for purposes other than those for which it has been sent.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 2 di 89
PREFAZIONE
CONTENTS
1 GENERAL 5
1.1 SCOPE OF THE WORK 5
1.2 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS 5
1.3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 6
1.4 REPORTING 7
1.5 STRUCTURAL CLASSES AND TYPICAL ELEMENTS 7
1.6 MATERIALS 7
2 WELDING 8
2.1 GENERAL 8
2.2 DEFINITIONS 8
2.3 WELD CLASS 8
2.4 WELDING PROCESSES 9
2.5 CONSUMABLES 10
2.6 STORAGE AND HANDLING OF CONSUMABLES 11
2.7 INITIAL DOCUMENTATION 13
2.8 WELDING BOOK 14
3 WELDING PROCEDURES 16
3.1 GENERAL 16
3.2 WELDING PROCEDURE SPECIFICATIONS 17
3.3 QUALIFICATION OF WELDING PROCEDURES (WPAR) 18
3.4 QUALIFIED PRINCIPAL POSITIONS 18
3.5 VALIDITY OF WELDING PROCEDURES (ESSENTIAL VARIABLES) 18
3.6 TESTING 21
3.7 SPECIAL TESTS 24
5 PRODUCTION WELDS 29
5.1 GENERAL 29
5.2 WELDING SEQUENCES 33
5.3 TEMPERATURE 33
5.4 REPAIRS 34
5.5 CLOSURE WELDS 36
5.6 STRESS RELIEVING POST WELD HEAT TREATMENT 37
5.7 PRODUCTION TESTING COUPONS 39
5.8 WELDING PARAMETER CHECKING 40
6 FABRICATION 42
6.1 GENERAL 42
6.2 FORMING 42
6.3 WELDED ATTACHMENTS 45
6.4 SITE ASSEMBLY ACTIVITIES 45
6.5 MANUFACTURED AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 46
6.6 FINISHING OF SURFACES 46
6.7 RAT HOLES 46
6.8 BOLTED CONNECTIONS 47
9 INSPECTION OF WELDMENTS 59
9.1 GENERAL 59
9.2 DEFINITIONS 59
9.3 REFERENCE STANDARDS 59
9.4 METHODS OF NDT 60
9.5 EXTENT OF NDT 61
9.6 EDGE INSPECTION 62
9.7 QUALIFICATION OF NDT PROCEDURES 62
9.8 QUALIFICATION OF NDT PERSONNEL 64
9.9 VISUAL INSPECTION EXECUTION 65
9.10 RADIOGRAPHIC TESTING EXECUTION 65
9.11 ULTRASONIC TESTING EXECUTION 65
9.12 MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION EXECUTION 67
9.13 STANDARDS OF ACCEPTABILITY 68
9.14 REPORTS 70
12 APPENDIX 2: FIGURES 75
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 5 di 89
1 GENERAL
This specification covers the minimum requirements for fabrication and construction of
jackets, decks and modules of the offshore platforms of ENI Division AGIP spa.
This specification contains general requirements: construction drawings shall prevail over
this specification.
For items not specially covered by this specification, the latest editions (at the time of
contract award) of the following codes in the order shown below shall be used:
American Welding Society (A.W.S.), Specification for electrodes, wires and fluxes.
RINA "Guide for design, construction and installation of steel fixed off-shore platform".
RINA "List of products approved by RINA according to sections G and H to the rules".
BSI 709 "Methods of destructive testing fusion welded pressure vessel" welding
procedures (Para. 3)
BSI 5500 "Specification for unfired fusion welded pressure vessel" local out
roundness (Para. 7)
BSI 6072 "Method for magnetic particle flaw detection" NDT (Para. 9)
EN 287 "Approval testing of welders-Fusion welding-Part1" (Para 5), 288
"Specification and approval of welding procedures for metallic material"
(Para. 3), 473 "General principles for qualification and certification of NDT
personnel", (Para. 9), 10025 "Hot rolled products of non-alloy structural
steels and their technical delivery conditions" production weld (Para. 5), 462
"Non-Desstructive testing - Image quality of radiograph -Image quality
indicators", 970 "Non-Destructive examination of fusion welds -Visual
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 6 di 89
Materials which shall be certified by Certifying Authority shall be in accordance with the
relevant codes of the Certifying Authority.
The following definitions are given for terms contained in this specification.
1.4 REPORTING
Reports required throughout this specification shall conform to the applicable Contractor
guarantee quality formats which shall contain, at least, the information listed in the relevant
paragraphs of this specification.
For the scope of this document the structural elements of the off-shore installations are
subdivided in classes.
The definition of the structural classes is reported in Appendix 1 with the definition of
structural element class for typical jackets, decks and modules structural elements.
Construction drawings may indicate specific informations about structural element class.
Ambiguous cases relevant to structural element class shall be cleared by Client.
This classification does not consider structural elements that are removed after platform
installation (platform for lifting lugs, temporary ladders, ecc), but includes those items,
although removed, they are fundamental (buoyancy tanks, lifting aids, sea fatening etc.).
1.6 MATERIALS
All building steel to be used shall comply with ENI Division AGIP 08832-STR-MME-SPC
rev.7 requirements.
Materials substitution and handling shall be in accordance with sections 3.4 and 6.5 of
standard EEMUA 158.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 8 di 89
2 WELDING
2.1 GENERAL
All structural welding shall be in accordance with the requirements of this specification.
Steel backing strips, out of closure welds, may be used upon Client's approval only, and in
accordance with paragraph 3.7.4.
2.2 DEFINITIONS
The welds to be executed are grouped in classes, corresponding to the structural element
classes, of which they maintain the same name.
In welded joints between elements of different structural classes the higher structural
element class shall govern.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 9 di 89
The approval is to be obtained prior the use of the process in production begins.
All welding fabrication of structures shall be accomplished with low hydrogen processes.
Welding processes for structural classes of components are listed in table 2.1.
a b c d e
SAW
Butt
SMAW
GS/SSFCAW (1)
st
1 run GS/SSFCAW GTAW SMAW SAW
(1)
SAW SAW
SMAW SMAW SMAW
T butt GSFCAW (1) GS/SSFCAW
(1)
st
1 run GTAW SMAW GS/SSFCAW
SAW SAW
Fillet
SMAW SMAW GMAW
GSFCAW GS/SSFCAW
GMAW
SMAW SMAW
Closure
GSFCAW GS/SSFCAW
st
1 run na GTAW SMAW
SMAW GS/SSFCAW GMAW
Seal
Note 1: not applicable for steels with minimum specify yield strength of 460MPa.
The use of GTAW shall be limited to the first passes where second side is not accessible.
GTAW shall be utilized only with direct current, straight polarity.
First run on principal tubulars longitudinal double side welds may be carried out by GMAW
process providing it is completed removed prior to back passes are executed.
The use of "narrow gap" welding processes are permitted only upon Client's approval. In
this case full details about the process, the consumables, the NDT techniques, the relevant
applications and the previous experience are to be documented.
GS/SSFCAW: all positions (except the vertical down for class "e" structures only), under
Client's approval only, after a documented experience is furnished to
Client's satisfaction.
SMAW: for heat input exceeding 3 kJ/mm; bead width exceeding 16mm or 4 times
the core wire diameter;
SAW: for heat input exceeding 5 kJ/mm;
GTAW: when adequate environmental shielding is not provided;
GSFCAW: for heat input exceeding 3 KJ/mm; when adequate environmental shielding
is not provided;
SSFCAW: for heat inputs exceeding 1.5 kJ/mm; with weave beads; vertical up; without
the voltage and wire-feed speed are set and locked;
ALL: welding on materials less than 30mm thickness with a heat input exceeding
3 kJ/mm; heat input greater than 3 kJ/mm for steels with minimum specify
yield strength of 460Mpa; square edge butt welds greater than 8mm
thickness; welding on second side of a joint without back gouging except for
SAW procedures using the punch-through technique; single-pass fillet
welds (other than by submerged arc) with a leg length greater than 7mm;
use of ceramic inserts.
2.5 CONSUMABLES
Consumables to be used shall have chemical composition similar to and have a yield
strength not lower than the base material.
Consumables to be used for welded joints between steels having different yield strength
shall be those applicable to the higher strength steel.
The use of filler metals giving a low diffusible hydrogen deposit (less than 5 cm³ per 100g of
weld deposit, carried out with mercury measurement method, or humidity equal to 0.2% of
the weld metal weight, according to AWS D1.1.) is compulsory when one of the following
conditions is fulfilled:
Specified Minimum Yield Strength of one of the parts to be joined equal to or greater
than 275MPa.
2.5.1 SMAW
Electrodes for SMAW shall conform to AWS specification A5.5 classification E7015-A1, or
E7016-A1, E7018-A1, E8016-C3, E8018-C3, E9018-M and AWS A5.1 classification E7015,
E7016, E7018 ed E7028 (the last one for fillet weld only).
2.5.2 SAW
Wires and fluxes for SAW shall conform to AWS specification A5.17 classification F6XX-
EXXX or F7XX-EXXX or F6XX-EXXX or AWS specification A5.23 classification F7XX-
EXXX-A1 or F8XX-EXXX-A1.
2.5.3 GTAW
Rods for GTAW shall conform to AWS specification A5.18 and electrodes shall conform to
AWS specification A5.12.
2.5.4 GMAW
2.5.6 Gases
CO2 is to have a purity grade not lower than 99.8% and a dew point not higher than 45°C
below zero.
Argon and Helium are to have a purity grade not lower than 99.99% and a dew point not
higher than 45°C below zero.
Gases are to be supplied in bottles where type is to be clearly indicated. Fixed distribution
networks are to be clearly identified in their content. Heaters for CO2 are to be used.
Unopened containers shall be stored in a dry location where the temperature shall not be
less than 20°C and the relative humidity shall not exceed 50%.
Electrodes, fluxes and wires that have been contaminated by water, oil, grease, or all other
deemed unsuitable, or unmarked consumables shall not be employed in the work and shall
be removed from the worksites.
Client may require an additional monthly test (or two months in shop) and whenever he
considers that the consumable baking and maintaining procedure are applied in wrong way.
On any electrode batch and on any flux lot, a moisture test in accordance with AWS
specification A5.5, may be carried out at Client's discretion. Samples shall be taken from
ovens where electrodes and fluxes are stored, ready for production use. The maximum
moisture content by weight for low hydrogen consumables shall be 0.2% for electrodes and
0.1% for fluxes.
Client reserves the right to verify the consumables chemical and mechanical characteristics
by destructive testing.
2.6.1 Electrodes
Low hydrogen electrodes shall be baked for 2 hours at 350/450°C, unless otherwise
recommended by the supplier. Thermocouple, which shall be previously calibrated shall be
placed at midheight owen. Initial drying may be omitted in case the electrodes are supplied
in fully sealed packs with a guaranteed hydrogen level content.
After withdrawing from ovens for use, electrodes shall be contained in heated portable
quivers at a temperature not lower than 70°C and shall be used within 4 hours.
Electrodes not used within above time limit may be rebaked, provided they are in good
conditions. Redrying is generally acceptable to a maximum of 2 times.
Electrodes that shall not immediatly applied may be stored in ovens at a temperature not
lower than 100°C after baking.
If these electrode types are used, those unemployed, at the day end, shall not be employed
again.
2.6.2 Fluxes
Low hydrogen fluxes storage, usage and rebaking requirements shall be as for electrodes.
The maximum amount of recycled flux used for welding shall not exceed 30% of the total
(70% minimum new flux). Fluxes may be recycled aspirating from welding and filtered to
eliminate impurity before mixing with new one.
The Contractor shall provide a handling and recycling procedure including details of baking,
use of heated hoppers, recovery system and circumstances in which flux is deemed
unsuitable and scrapped.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 13 di 89
2.6.3 Wires
Wires storage, usage and re baking shall be the same as for electrodes.
To avoid porosity, gas holes, hot cracking and low electrical contact, wires shall be free from
grease and moisture.
Current swing avoidance during welding shall be avoided through a regular coil speed.
At the workday end all the automatic welding coil winders shall be emptied as to avoid wire
moisture contamination.
Prior to begin fabrication and for all welding processes Contractor shall submit to Client's
approval:
For particular cases Contractor may require derogation for the points M, N, O, P above
listed
All the documents listed above shall be in accordance with the provisions given in following
sections.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 14 di 89
Before the beginning of the works, the Contractor shall prepare a welding book covering all
the welding operations to be performed. This book shall be permanently available to the
Client on the site where the welding is to be carried out.
It shall comprise:
destructive and non destructive testing, specifying the technique used for the latter.
WPQ and WPS that shall be carried out during fabrication shall be added to the welding
book.
the welding procedure qualification records, with the testing record certificates and
inspection, during fabrication, certificates of the base and filler metals;
the chemical composition and the carbon equivalent CEV / Pcm of the test pieces (for
steels with a minimum specified yield strength higher than or equal to 275MPa only).
base material grade (when the grade actually used is be different from that initially
foreseen on the drawings, this shall be indicated);
the joint configuration before and after welding (size and tolerance); passes number; if
a temporary or permanent backing is used; the grade of the backing material, the
precision of the backing fit, the method of removal (if foreseen);
if stress relieving treatment is foreseen: the procedure, the temperature, the hold time,
the heating and cooling rates, and the tolerances for each of these parameters.
welding parameters with tolerances (voltage, speed of travel, current, heat input, flow
rate and type of gas);
welding technique detailing polarity and nature of current; welding direction; type of
protection (gas); weave bead or stringer bead; whether or not back welding is carried
out after gouging and/or grinding.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 16 di 89
3 WELDING PROCEDURES
3.1 GENERAL
Welding of weld classes "a, b, c" shall be carried out in accordance with approved and
qualified welding procedures only.
All welding procedures applied shall be qualified unless Contractor procedures have already
been qualified or Contractor qualifications have been in use in the preceding 12 month.
Welding procedure qualified before this period may be applied providing a test coupon is
carried out as production welding begins.
Welding of weld class "d" may be executed with procedure previously qualified by
Contractor, without the need of new qualification.
Welding of weld class "e" may be carried out with pre-qualify processes without new
qualifications (see section 3.3).
Prior to beginning work, the Contractor shall qualify all the required welding procedures for
the various materials and welded seams of the structures to be fabricated.
The Approved Body committed to certify the welding procedures shall be accepted by the
Client.
The information indicated on each WPS shall be consistent and shall not leave the welder to
choose within different combinations of parameters.
Tacking and welding shall be carried out with preheating temperatures ranges stated in
table 3.1. Carbon Equivalent formula is (IIW):
CEV = C+Mn/6+(Mo+Cr+V)/5+(Ni+Cu)/15
Arc air gouging and oxicutting may be carried out without preheating.
Working interpass temperature shall not be lower than preheating one, nor higher than
250°C.
Preheating and interpass values differing from the above stated may be used provided
measured during the execution of welding procedure qualification.
Welding heat input shall be calculated with one of the following formulas:
HI = 0.006 VA / s
HI = 0.001 VAT / (ROL)
where:HI= heat input in KJ/mm; V = arc voltage in Volts; A = arc current in Ampere; s =
welding speed in cm/min; T = arc time in second; ROL = electrode run-out-length in mm.
Heat input value for filling passes and for any process on TM steel may be higher than
those considered in paragraph 2.4.2, provided adequate welding procedure qualification
demonstrates it is not detrimental to the mechanical characteristics of welded joint.
Welding procedure specifications (WPS) shall specify the EN 288 requirements in addition
to the following information (as recorded on relevant Procedure Qualification Record):
welding process, or processes when more than one is used in making a complete joint;
steel type, and whether it is normalised or TM, thickness, length, width and pipe
diameter (when applicable) used for procedure qualification;
the make, trade name, classification and size of welding consumable and fluxes. Any
pretreatment of electrode/consumable;
name, type and flow rate for gas shielding, and backing if applicable;
sketch showing number of beads, welding sequence and relevant consumables and
welding parameters for each joint zone;
for each run: the current type, polarity, arc current and voltage, welding speed, or
electrode run-out length and relevant burning time;
actual preheat and maximum interpass temperature used in the qualification test weld,
and those to be used in production; method of temperature measurement;
for semi-automatic processes: torch position, wire protrusion, frequency and waving
amplitude;
post weld heat treatments (for avoiding hydrogen cracking and for stress relieving) if
applicable;
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 18 di 89
Qualification of welding procedures shall comply with AWS D1.1 or EN 288 or RINA and as
specified in the following.
The welding procedures shall be certified by an Approved Body accepted by the Client.
Prequalified joints foreseen by AWS D1.1 apply only to weld class "e".
The qualification of the welding procedures performed may be used for any other workshop
or worksite within the same organization.
The execution of procedure qualifications for SAW shall be done using the maximum value
of the allowable recycled flux percentage (paragraph 2.6.2).
Where tack welds in production will remain in final joint and are done by a different process
to that used for weld body, the procedure test plate shall be similarly tack welded and one
macro section taken through a tack location.
Qualified principal positions shall be in accordance with table 4.1, page 109, AWS D1.1-
2000.
WPQ carried out on base material of quality not "Z" may be applied to other similar steels,
including quality "Z", or lower grade.
3.5.1 Material
Base Material: change of grade of steel, change of steel quality. Increase in product CEV
above 0.02% (for Re > 300MPa only), and Pcm above 0.01% of maximum nominal value of
steel in comparison with the value of WPS. Change in supply condition (as rolled,
normalised, TM, Q&T). The qualification obtained for a normalised materials is accepted
also for TM materials, and not viceversa. Change of microalloy elements or manufacturing
procedure for steels with minimum specify yield strength of 460MPa.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 19 di 89
Components angle : where acute angles in the stub to node can welds are below 45° weld
processes are to be qualified by the test of TKY joints. The bevel angle in this test is to be
the smallest used in fabrication.
Root face and root gap: changes of root face and root gap shall be in accordance with AWS
D1.1-2000, either for double side weldings and for single side weldings.
Groove design: change from double side welding to single side welding and vice versa;
change in groove weld preparation shape (V groove, U groove, etc. except that a single half
V bevel qualifies a single V, K qualifies X, and 2:1 and 1:1 preparations qualify each other
and all intermediate geometries).
Misalignment: values exceeding the lesser of 5mm or 10%t on double sided joints, 3mm or
10%t on single sided joints. Misalignment of 2mm is permitted, regardless of other
parameters.
Welding positions: outside the qualified range listed in table 4.1, page 109, AWS D1.1-2000.
Welding consumables: change of electrode trade name; electrode and wire type are
considered equivalent on condition that they belong to the same certification class and are
approved by a Certifying Authority, in that case they do not have to be requalified.
3.5.4 Procedures
Preheating/working temperature: for preheating the lower limit of approval is the nominal
preheat temperature applied at the start of the welding procedure test, with a tolerance of -
10°/+50°C. For interpass the upper limit of approval is the nominal interpass temperature
reached in the welding procedure test.
Post weld heat treatment: added or omitted; change beyond specified temperature range;
soaking time increased more than 25%; increasing or decreasing speed more than 20%.
Gas shielding: gas type change from active to inert and viceversa; change of 10% or
beyond in gas composition; change +27% or -10% in flow rate.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 20 di 89
Back-gouging: each reduction in depth of back-gouging in comparison with the qualified one
for automatic process; each increase higher than 10mm of qualified depth.
Speed: if wire feed speed setting for any pass is changed by more than 5%.
Heat input: change beyond 10% (tolerance applies to mean heats input values measured
during qualification in root, fill and weld cap passes) for weld class "a" and nodes of class
"b". Welding of all other elements of class "b" and of every other class is considered a
change beyond 15%. Where heat inputs in two positions are different, qualification in both
positions qualifies all intermediate heat inputs.
Measured current for any electrode diameter is changed by more than 20%.
Run out length for any electrode size is changed by more than 10%; where the runs out
lengths in two positions are different, qualification in both positions qualifies all intermediate
run out lengths.
Core diameter of an electrode used for capping passes is reduced. All passes in the cap of
the qualifying weld shall use the same electrode diameter.
If the mean voltage for any pass deposited by other automatic or semi-automatic process is
changed by more than 10%.
3.6 TESTING
If different welding consumables or welding processes are applied for the same joint, impact
tests required are to be carried out for the related regions of the weld. If SAW tandem
process is used and fills passes have width over 19mm one KCV set is required at depth of
8mm.
Size and shape of specimens and test execution for Charpy-V are to comply with EU10045.
The test plates used for procedure qualification (samples location) shall have the rolling
direction parallel to the test weld.
CEV shall be not less than 0,02% and Pcm than 0,01% in comparison with the maximum of
the specification of the steel to be welded.
For Z quality material beams, samples taken for WPQ shall have welding direction parallel
to the rolling direction; for materials of other quality the welding direction can be
perpendicular to the rolling direction. (fig. 3.1)
Test conditions shall be a realistic simulation of the actual conditions that will be
experienced.
The dimensions of the test plates (coupons) shall be in accordance with EN 288-3,
paragraph 6. Position and cut of test coupons shall be in accordance with EN 288-3 section
7.2.
When plate thickness to be tested is over 36mm or the power of tensile testing machine is
not sufficient, tensile specimens may be cut into a number of approximately equal strips not
exceeding 36mm (or the machine strength equivalent thickness whichever is the greater)
with a minimum overlap of 2 mm. Test shall be performed on each strip and the results
averaged.
The welding procedure is qualified when the soundness and mechanical properties comply
with the requirements hereafter indicated:
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 22 di 89
Non-destructive tests:
Welded joints soundness is to comply with the prescriptions of section 9.13. NDT shall be
carried out not prior than 48 hours from weld completion and in any case after PWHT when
applicable. Repairs are not allowed.
The locations of all imperfections exceeding 50% of the reference level shall be marked,
and the cutting of tests pieces shall be arranged to avoid these imperfect regions.
Destructive tests:
Transverse tensile tests: the tensile strength of the welded joint is to be in accordance with
EN 288-3 paragraph 7.4.1; in case of welding between steels of different grades the tensile
strength shall be equal to the lower steel grade.
All weld metal tensile test: specimens shall be taken out from full weld metal, and shall take
the form of the "reduced transverse test" piece to BS 709; the tensile strength of the welded
joint is to be at least equal to the minimum specified tensile strength.
Bend tests: test conditions and acceptability limits shall be in accordance with EN 288-3
paragraph 7.4.2; bending angle test shall be of 180°.
Toughness tests: the average and minimum Charpy V-notch energy absorption recorded at
each specified position in WM and HAZ shall comply with the requirements stated in tables
3.2, 3.3 and 3.4:
°Tp > -5 °C t < 12,5 mm 12,5 mm< t < 25,4 mm < t < 50,8 mm < t < 70 mm < t < 100 mm < t <
25,4 mm 50,8 mm 70 mm 100 mm 150mm
°Tp > +5 °C t < 15 mm 15 mm < t < 30 mm < t < 50,8 mm < t < 70 mm < t < 100 mm < t < 150
30 mm 50,8 mm 70 mm 100 mm mm
Structural Test temperature
element
class
a -20°C
b -20°C -40°C
c 0°C 0°C
(1)
D
Note: (1) Thickness range applicable only for plates to be used for piles fabrication
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 23 di 89
Minimum value obtained by a single specimen must be greater than 70% of the average
value required
Macro section: EN 288-3 paragraph 7.4.3, test condition and acceptability shall be applied.
Hardness: the maximum hardness in any part across the welded joint shall not exceed 325
HV10.
3.6.3 Retesting
Retesting shall be in accordance with EN 288-3, paragraph 7.5 with the following
amendements.
Tensile: when the failure, on one or both the specimen, occurs for a load value that is less
than 95% of the tensile strength, the procedure will be rejected. When the failure, on one or
both the specimen, occurs for a load value that is between 95% and 100% of the tensile
strength, two additional tests will be carried out for the interested specimen.
Bends: two other specimens of similar type (face, root or side), located as near as possible
to the failed specimen, shall meet specification.
Macro and hardness: the surveys on two more sections of the coupon have to meet
specification.
Toughness: in case one specimen tested gives an energy value below the specified
minimum single, or more than one value is lower than the minimum average, one further set
shall be tested from the same location. The new set shall meet the specified minimum
values and conditions, and in addition the mean value of all the two tested sets (the new
and the failed) shall attain the specified minimum average value. In case of any additional
failure the welding procedure shall be rejected.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 24 di 89
The joint qualification shall be carried out in accordance with EN 288-3 paragraph 6.2.4.
The can shall be positioned with vertical axis and brace acute angle downward (fig. 3.2).
Welding shall be carried out with a qualified T-butt procedure, or with a qualified butt weld
procedure. In this case the required mechanicals to qualify the T-butt procedure shall be
carried out.
Testing shall be 100% NDT, WM and HAZ thoughness at 12 and 3 o'clock positions, macro
and hardnesses at 12, 3 and 6 o'clock positions. Acceptability shall be in accordance with
applicable requirements of this specification.
Special qualification for repair of excavated welds is required in case the repair process
differs from the filling used.
The qualification shall be carried out in the worse position, through the utilisation of
parameteres which are worse than the expected ones.
The Contractor shall issue standard WPQ repair that may be applied in various cases,
including the applied methodology, length and maximum excavation depth, cleaning and
NDT methods, preheat temperature and weld re shaping, if any. The previous methodology
shall be exactly applied.
3.7.3 Buttering
Buttering procedure carried out with the same process and parameters as for the filling weld
need not to be qualified.
In case buttering is done with a different welding process, or with same process but different
parameters, from main weld, the buttered area and HAZ shall be tested as for a different
process weld. Both HAZ on base material induced by buttering and HAZ on buttered area
induced by main weld shall be KCV tested. In case one KCV set position coincides with
another KCV set, one may be superseded.
Welding procedure shall be carried out with maximum allowed root gap conditions.
Buttering thickness shall be 4mm and at least 3mm width on each bevel; normally buttering
shall apply only to weldments having thickness 15mm and above. Buttering area shall be
MT inspected.
The requirements of section 5.5 shall apply in case of use of buttering in closure welds.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 25 di 89
Contractor may apply this technique providing a special WPQ including the insertion of steel
backing strip into the fit-up joint and its tightening against bevel root, first passes, filling
passes and relevant NDT execution.
The test is carried out by welding a joint, at scale 1:1, built up by two tubulars pieces with
diameter equal to the minus on which the process is intended to be applied (fig.3.3). A
macrographic examination shall be executed on the weld root.
Tacking shall be carried out inside the bevel all over the weld root: tacking shall never be
done outside bevel.
Air gap between the bevel root and backing strip shall be the minimum, before root welding
starts.
A special UT procedure shall be defined and applied to verify the bevel fusion, the absence
of tacking between base material and backing strip, and to recognize the root discontinuity
caused by backing strip. The actual bevel inclination shall be considered for choosing UT
probes. The procedure shall include the execution of an identification mark on base material
at 100mm from joint, to verify the root gap dimensions and the centre of backing strip in
every point before weld execution.
"Backing strip" welds shall be indicated on "as built" drawings. Maximum root gap variation
in backing strip welds shall not exceed 6mm the root gap used during qualification. Backing
strip weld is allowed with root gap values higher than 12mm but not exceeding 20mm.
Overall procedure produced by Contractor shall be approved by the Client before its
application.
The requirements of section 5.5 shall apply in case of use of permanent backing strip in
closure welds.
Mechanical tests required on grout weld beads shall be two macros, with hardness survey
on fusion line and HAZ under bead, one KCV set in HAZ and WM as shown in figure 3.4.
KCV temperature test shall be equal to the test temperature utilised for the parent material
and shall conform with the minimum energy requirements for this last one.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 26 di 89
4.1 GENERAL
All qualified welder shall have a certification that witnesses the qualification. The certification
shall be in accordance with EN 287 code or EN1418 code in case of weld operators.
The purpose of welder performance tests is to verify that the welders may produce welds in
accordance with this specification requirements using a qualified welding procedure.
All welders shall be qualified with at least one of the qualification tests indicated in table 7 of
EN 287-1 1997 "Approval testing of welders - Fusion welding - Part1: Steels"
All welds using SMAW process are to be conducted with low hydrogen electrodes. During
qualification at least one stop/start has to be produced in each run.
The welders are generally to be qualified for all positions butt welding. For welding occurring
only in one or limited number of positions, performance test may, after agreement with
Client, be performed only in this (these) position(s). Welders, to be qualified for
GSFCAW/SSFCAW or GMAW fillet, are to be qualified in all positions
The welder can be qualified for mixed welding process by only one test, or by two tests as
for EN 287-1 ch. 6.2.
Semi killed or fully killed C-Mn steels are normally to be used for welder qualification tests.
The certification validity shall be submitted to the Client approval when fabrication starts,
and it shall be in accordance with EN 287-1 with the following amendements.
Client may review existing welder qualification meeting the requirements of this
specification: existing qualifications may be accepted at his solely discretion.
The fundamental categories that the Client will recognise are listed in the following
paragraphs of this section.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 27 di 89
The coupons to be welded are indicated in the same paragraphs. The coupons shall be
checked in accordance with table 8 of EN 287-1. NDT acceptability shall be as per more
stringent requirements of this specification.
4.2 QUALIFICATIONS
All the qualifications listed in EN 287-1 page 11,paragraph 6.3, will be applied.
The extensions of the welders qualifications shall be in compliance with table 3 of EN 287-1
Welding operators using the submerged automatic arc welding (SAW) process shall be
qualified as per AWS D1.1/2000 Chapter 4 Part C (or EN1418) and shall mark their welds
for identification purposes.
Qualification with more than one wire qualifies one wire weld according to codes.
WPQ test welds shall be carried out in accordance with EN 287-1, table 7.
WPQ test welds shall be carried out in accordance with EN 287-1, table 7.
This qualification is required for all welders using the closure butt weld procedure.
The qualification requirements are the same as per manual single side welding, except that
the root gap value shall be as per relevant WPQ.
The strong-backs shall be sufficiently strong so that the gap between bevels does not
reduce significantly during welding.
Carbon arcair gougers, for structural class "a, b", shall demonstrate their ability to remove
metal to a uniform depth in a workmanlike manner.
4.2.7 Tackers
Tackers, for structural class "a, b", shall be qualified as per AWS D1.1/2000 section 4 part C
unless already qualified for manual welding.
4.3 RETESTS
Welders failing tests shall follow a congruous training period before retest. Such a training
must be proved by documents.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 29 di 89
5 PRODUCTION WELDS
5.1 GENERAL
5.1.1 Technique
The width of individual deposited weld beads in flat, horizontal and overhead position, with
GMAW and SMAW process, shall not exceed three times the electrode wire diameter or
16mm, whichever is the less. In vertical position the width shall not exceed 15mm. For SAW
tandem process only fill beads may be 24mm. Vertical down welding is an acceptable
technique only for GSFCAW and SSFCAW process, for weld class "e".
Run-out tabs for SAW are recommended to have a length greater than 150mm or 200mm,
depending if single wire or twin wire technique is used. Such tabs shall be positioned on
both sides of each longitudinal weld. The arc shall only be struck on the bevel faces only
and not on base material.
Each run of weld metal shall be thoroughly cleaned from flux, spatter and all slag removed,
by brush, prior to deposit the next run. For double side buttweld the second side shall be
cleaned to sound metal prior to deposit the second side runs.
Should carbon arc air gouging be used, carbon and other residual debris shall be
completely removed by grinding or other approved mechanical methods.
The welding procedure for a single side butt weld shall provide 100% fusion of the root and
be such that distortion or contraction of the weld metal is minimized.
Preheating temperature shall be raised by 50°C above that qualified, for fillet and T butt
welds with root gap exceeding 20mm.
Welding joints shall be fully protected by shelters from the effects of inclement weather
(wind, air draughts or chimney effects). Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) shall be permitted in
workshop only and special care shall be exercised to protect the weld arc from air draughts.
Two adjacent weld toes distance shall not be lower than 51mm, unless there are
geometrical problems. In this last case weld classes "a, b, c, d" shall be ground smooth
before NDT execution.
Surfaces to be joined by welding and extended adjacent areas shall be thoroughly cleaned
to remove all material or substance detrimental to welding.
Whenever practicable, clamps, magnets, holding devices or other setting-up fixtures shall
be used in assembling structural members in order to avoid tack welding.
Mechanical grinding and NDT of oxycut surfaces to be welded is required (see also Section
9.6).
Arc gouging to open tight grooves are permitted on double side welding only, provided is
followed by grinding to bright metal.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 30 di 89
Before welding the stub to node can, the relevant welding area on the can shall be 100%
UT to detect for laminations. When beam shall be welded on flange beam, the flange beam
area subjected to weld shall be UT tested to verify the laminations absence. A similar
control shall be performed on plates in the position of joint between pad-eyes and main
beams.
Otherwise spacers shall be employed prior to tack welding to ensure correct root gap
spacing.
Tacking shall be done within the bevels. Tack welding shall be performed by qualified tack
welders and an approved qualified welding procedure, including preheating requirements.
Steel bars tacked inside the bevel shall be permitted if their position is clearly marked on
base material and that Client may verify their removal. Steel bar material shall be similar to
base material type or lower grade.
All tack welds, on structural class "a, b, c", shall have a minimum length of 4 times the weld
thickness, with a minimum of 100mm; all other structural classes the minimum length is 2
times the weld thickness or 50mm whichever are the major. Tack welds may be
incorporated into double side main butt welds provided they are sound, have been executed
by qualified welders (not tack welders), and have their ends grounded and feathered.
Tack welds with a length of 50mm or greater that have shown cracks and when the crack is
believed to extend to the bevels, shall be MT on all the interested areas after removal of
defective points and before commence welding.
Welding shall be a continuous operation as far as practical. For components of class "a, b,
c" very constrained and for mud-mats, preheating shall never be discontinued before at
least 1/3 of the joint thickness has been welded. When the above limit is reached the weld
joint may be allowed to cool down to room temperature: the cooling rate shall be minimized
by wrapping the weld areas with dry insulating blankets. After any interruption and before
continuation of welding, the weld is to be inspected visually for defects and cracks and, if
necessary or required by the Client, tested by MT.
As a minimum, weld profiles and weld finish shall comply with A.W.S. D1.1/2000 Para 5.24
and 6.9; in the case of lack of fusion, incomplete penetration or for marginal indentation, the
values shown in section 9.13 of this specification shall not be exceeded.
The external and internal weld reinforcement must not exceed 3mm for welding thicknesses
up to 25mm, 4mm for thicknesses up to 50mm and 5mm for thicknesses over 50mm. The
excess penetration in root welding, with GTAW process, shall not exceed 2mm
Weld profiles shall not interfere with the NDT technique specified: reshaping shall be carried
out to this purpose, if necessary. Weld profiles shall not be re shaped by use of a gas torch,
or by other unapproved means to change their appearance.
When specified on the Project Drawings the weld toes shall satisfied API RP2A sect.11
requirements. If necessary, the weld toe can be grinded to obtain the required profile. In that
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 31 di 89
case a rotary burr grinder (no disc grinder) shall be used, as shown figure 5.1. Grinding
shall produce a smooth concave profile at the weld toe with the depth of depression
penetrating into the plate surface to at least 0.5mm below the bottom of any undercut, but
not deeper than 2mm or 5% of the thickness, whatever the bigger, below the surface.
Localized unacceptable undercuts at the weld toe region of any stub to node can welds
shall be removed by the technique mentioned above.
in longitudinal and circumferential joints of tubulars and node cans having diameter
800mm and greater. Limitations to this statement are permitted only in case of non
accessibility to back side of the weld;
in T butt welds of nodal joints when construction drawings show the presence of stub.
Contractor is to prepare his own standard weld joint groove preparation in accordance with
the indications given on the fabrication drawings and WPS qualified.
Where the joint is accessible from both sides, double side groove preparation, X or K type,
shall be used to join members with thickness greater than 25mm; one side groove
preparation, V or 1/2 K, may be used to join members with thickness 25mm or less.
Contractor may choose a desired welding groove provided all full penetration requirements
are fulfilled.
5.1.8 Mismatch
The butt joint mismatch of welded plate, pipe, or structural shape edges shall not exceed
the table 5.1 values:
When members of unequal size are joined, the larger member shall be prepared with a 1/4
tapered transition. The requirements apply both to thickness and width (e.g. beams flanges)
dimensions. Worked taper in double sided joints are not required when thickness difference
is 1.15t or less.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 32 di 89
When tubular members are fabricated from two or more welded barrels, the longitudinal
seams axes of adjacent sections shall be staggered at least 300mm.
Longitudinal and circumferential chord welds shall be separated from stub to chord welds as
indicated in construction drawings, typical node. Otherwise the following requirements are to
be fulfilled.
flush grinding of the outside area of chord welds intersecting the stub, extended for
150mm at least on both stub sides;
The distance between longitudinal stub seam and any node can seam type measured
between weld toe and weld toe shall be in any case not less than 51mm.
The distance between ring stiffeners welds toe and circumferential chord weld toe is to be at
least the chord thickness or 75mm, whichever is greater.
5.1.9.4 Cones
Circumferential welds within cone are not allowed, unless approved by Client or specified on
the construction drawings. All cones shall be right conic frustum.
The minimum distance between two circumferential welds shall be 1m or one diameter,
whichever is greater.
Nodes can with length minor or equal than 3m shall be supply in one piece only.
Nodes can with length greater than 3m may be supply made in two pieces. In this case the
minimum length of the single piece shall be not less than 1m and the circumferential weld
between the two pieces shall comply with the following:
To be not located between two stubs;
Satisfy the requirements reported in the project drawings for the circumferential welds
of the nodes
In any case the location of the circumferential weld in the node can shall be submitted to
Client for approval.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 33 di 89
In cantilever beams no splice shall be located closer to the point of support than 1/2 of the
cantilever length.
In beams with two or more supports there shall not be splices in following positions (fig.5.2):
Contractor shall develop welding sequences to control tolerances within specification and
prevent the build-up of excessive residual internal stresses in the structure. No welding shall
be carried out between pretensioned parts.
Postheating of 300°C for 2 to 4 hours may be applied to reduce the risk of hydrogen
induced cracking in welds of complex items, according to the thickness, if it need or it is
required by the Client.
Welding sequences are to be defined, to the Client's approval, for complex items (e.g.
nodes with four or more stubs, pile clusters, etc.) including:
WPS to apply;
5.3 TEMPERATURE
Welding is not allowed if weldment temperature is lower than 5°C. In these cases
preheating is mandatory to the required minimum temperature prior to begin welding.
Preheating shall be applied to an area of 100mm minimum from bevel borders.
Definite methods and procedures shall be established for all operations involving preheat
and interpass temperature control. Thermic crayons shall be used only outside the weld
bevel. Temperature check or measurements shall be done at 50mm minimum from bevel
borders and on back side where accessible; temperature reading on weld bead is for
interpass temperature measurement only.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 34 di 89
5.4 REPAIRS
Contractor shall prepare a written repair weld procedure, for each repair, including details of
removal methods, weld area preparation, etc. Repair shall be carried out as per qualified
procedures only.
Defects removal for repair shall be carried out by any method foreseen by this specification
and shall produce a clean uncontaminated surface for the repair weld execution.
Defects in weld metal may be repaired without Client's approval provided the repair
procedure is qualified.
A register shall be kept by Contractor that details the location of all repairs, the defects, the
names of the original welders, dates and repair procedures.
Contractor shall have a relevant NDT documentation to identify the exact defect position.
Minimum excavation length shall be 100mm. Excavations closer than 100mm shall be
linked into a single excavation.
Serious failures, like cracks, will be treated in a proper way. When detected, they will be
examined in order to establish the originating reasons; then they will be repaired.
The crack shall be removed by either grinding or arcair gouging plus grinding to sound
metal; grinding shall be carried out in a 50mm area from both ends of the crack, which is
determinated by MT or PT. The MT shall be extended to base material surface to detect
possible propagation. UT shall be used to assure defect removal. All NDT shall be carried
out in optimum conditions of accessibility.
Preheating temperature for repairs shall be 50°C higher than the relevant WPS temperature
requirement.
Re inspection shall be as per the original inspection technique and shall include all weld
metal within 100mm of the repair. The areas interested to the cracks, after the repair, shall
be UT detected.
All weld repairs shall be executed prior to any stress relieving heat treatment, when
required.
In case that, after repair completion, NDT shows the presence of new unacceptable defects,
the reasons are to be cleared up and reported to the Client prior to proceed with the new
repair. In any case the excavation for the new repair is to be widened in order to reduce
residual stress concentrations. Client reserves the right to ask for PWHT on multiple
repaired joints.
Cosmetics grinding for eliminating shape defects on cap layers are permitted only if
necessary, but are not considered repairs.
Local grinding may be used to remove notches up to 5mm deep in order to give an even
profile. Notches deeper than 5mm shall be ground out and the face buttered according to
the applicable requirements of this specification.
5.4.3 Buttering
Buttering shall be applied as a corrective action only. Buttering shall be done using qualified
welding procedure.
Buttering on stub to can node welds may be applied to the node can side instead of stub
side.
The exact root opening shall allow the closure with a single pass by the qualified procedure.
All boundaries of cavities resulting from removal of detrimental defects shall be faired to a
slope of at least 4 to 1.
The repair of failures by grinding shall follows the procedures set in EN10163 rules with the
following limitations:
the residual thickness after grinding shall be not less than 93% of the nominal
thickness;
the maximum depth of the grinded area shall not be greater than 3 mm;
the maximum extension of the grinded area shall not be greater than 5% for each m² of
surface.
To verify the complete removal of discontinuities, the grinded areas shall be MTI tested.
The repair by welding is allowed only if previously authorised by the Client and if executed
in conformity with EN10163, with the following limitations:
the repair by welding is carried out by qualified welders and in accordance with
qualified procedures. Reference is made to Cap. 3. and 4. for what concerns the
qualification of procedures and welders;
the weld is MTI and UT tested. The acceptance criteria of the UT test are as described
in paragraph 9.13.3.
Qualified root gap values, including qualified tolerance, may be difficult to be reached during
assembly phase. In this case only class "a, b" closure welds shall be carried out in
accordance with the following requirements. WPS to apply shall be chosen by the
Contractor considering actual situations and bevel mismatch and Client shall be informed on
the choice. Special and limit situations shall be approved by Client. Weld process used for
class "a, b" closure welds can be used for welds in other structural classes in case of high
root gap.
Considered welds are single side only. These welds shall be carried out with a special WPQ
considering a greater root gap, or with a different WPQ.
When the root gap exceeds qualified value the following possibilities apply:
3mm buttering on each bevel with root gap values between 4mm and 12mm as
maximum (see paragraph 3.7.3.); otherwise GTAW process may be used both for
buttering and air closure. In this case only Charpy-V test, in root region, 1mm under
surface is required;
permanent backing strip with root gap values higher than 12mm up to 20mm
(paragraph3.7.4.)
with root gap higher than 20mm an insert is required, following the tolerance values
indicated in paragraph 5.1.9.5 and 5.1.9.6.
The above described conditions are reported in the following table 5.2 in function of the
element thickness:
Welders qualification for first pass shall be carried out accordingly, following the relevant
requirements of this specification.
Contractor shall identify all closure welds on fabrication drawings, indicating the applied
procedures.
The requirements are relevant to joints with root gap between 4mm and 12mm. SMAW and
GTAW process may be used to carry out the first two passes.
GTAW root process used both for buttering and filling, follows mixed process requirements
including KCV test in WM and HAZ, two macro sections, hardness and bends.
Buttering carried out by SMAW process does not require qualification with thickness up to
6mm.
First pass with root gap exceeding 4mm, with SMAW process is not allowed.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 37 di 89
In this case the following requirements shall be fulfilled (see fig. 3.3):
backing strip shall not be tack welded to member outside of bevel, otherwise joint shall
be cut, even if completed;
backing strip dimension should not be greater than 4mm thickness and 40mm wide.
Strip interruptions shall not be wider than 1mm. For a girth weld a maximum of three
continuous strips may be used.
For every application procedure shall include a drawing of the items, supporting method and
location of all thermocouples. Support positioning shall be defined assuming a yield strength
of 35MPa at soaking temperature. Additional temporary stiffeners shall be used to avoid any
final distortion of the items free ends when D/t ratio is above 40.
No welds, or part thereof, shall be heat treated more than once. If it is necessary to repeat
the heat treatment Contractor shall demonstrate, with additional qualification tests, that weld
joint mechanical properties satisfy the requirements of this specification also after repeated
heat treatment.
All temperature charts shall be signed, dated at both start and finish points, marked with a
clear identification, and filed
The stress relieving post weld heat treatment is required in the following cases:
Welds in tubular nodal joints of classes "a" and "b":
The whole fabricated node if chord wall thickness is greater than 60mm, or if any of the
stubs has wall thickness greater than 40mm
Welds in regions other than the above
Any welds on structural element of any class having wall thickness greater than 65mm
Additional areas requiring PWHT and areas where PWHT may be omitted shall be indicated
on construction drawings. In the latter case additional requirements may be required
For TM steels Contractor shall seek the advice of steel-maker before starting PWHT.
Contractor can propose, to Client for approval, a detail procedure for the use of failure
mechanical assessment (FMA) in alternative to PWHT.
Soaking temperature is to be within the range 590°C ±10°C: therefore temperature all over
the points of the item to be treated shall be within this range.
Soaking time is to be 2.5 minutes for each millimetre of thickness of the thickest member in
item, with a minimum of 1.5 hours.
Soaking time begins when the lowest measured temperature value is within soaking
temperature range.
The heat treatment may be done introducing the item in the furnace, or in local manner; this
choice depends by the item dimension only.
The item may be introduced in the furnace if this has not a temperature over 300°C. The
same may not be taken out from furnace if its temperature is over 300°C. Cooling down
below 300°C shall be in air.
Item temperature shall be recorded from introduction in the furnace until taking out. Rate of
increasing and decreasing temperature is to be 55°C per hour maximum for temperatures
above 300°C. The temperature difference on the item, during heating and cooling phases,
measured along symmetry lines and planes shall not exceed 50°C; between the outside and
the inside surface is not to exceed 50°C; between any point of the item far not less than
4500mm shall not exceed 150°C.
During the stress relieving heat treatment the furnace atmosphere shall be controlled so as
to avoid excessive oxidation of the surface of the item. There shall be no direct impingement
of flame on the item. No parts of the item shall be closer than 200mm from furnace sole
plate, or closer than 300mm from inside walls.
In circumferential seams the width of the heated band shall be not less than 5√
(Dt/2), with weld in the centre. Sufficient insulation shall be fitted to ensure that the
temperature at the edge of the heated band is not less than half the peak temperature. The
adjacent portion of the item outside the heated zone shall be thermally insulated such that
the temperature gradient is in accordance with above paragraph. A minimum total insulated
band width of 10√(Dt/2) is recommended for this purpose.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 39 di 89
The requirements and acceptable limits foreseen for the procedure qualification apply.
Production testing coupon welding shall be carried out by the same equipment and steel
used in production at that time, and samples shall be representative of different base
material casts and different welding consumables batches throughout production.
If production testing coupon presents defects not acceptable to this specification the WPS
becomes suspect: causes are to be determined and submitted to Client. All production joints
represented by this production testing coupon shall be 100% UT to demonstrate are free
from the same unacceptable defects. Otherwise all represented production welds shall be
subjected to the Client's approval.
The production testing coupon shall be taken in accordance with a proper plan submitted by
the Contractor for the Client's approval This plan will take into account any similar condition
for any type of joint, thickness or process. The following frequency shall be used:
class "a, b" welds: a production testing coupon for every 100 m welds, with a maximum
of 25 circumferential or longitudinal welds.
class "c" welds: a production testing coupon for every 150 m welds, with a maximum of
25 circumferential or longitudinal welds.
class "d" welds: a production testing coupon for every 200 m welds.
For stress relieved joints, the production testing coupon shall be tested after the same heat
treatment, performed in furnace together with relevant joint.
The first production testing coupon shall be taken at the start of production, if no recent
qualification of the procedure is available (see section 3.1).
Production weld test coupons for butt welds shall not be considered representative for fillet
and T butt welds, even if carried out with the same WPS.
The coupon size shall be sufficient to obtain the required type and number of specimens. In
any case the coupon length shall be not less than 150mm for thickness up to 20mm, and
200mm for greater thicknesses. All coupons shall be 100% UT and 100% MT as per this
specification; RT shall be performed in addition in questionable interpretation.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 40 di 89
location of test;
For longitudinal seams the coupon shall be prepared from a test coupon attached to the end
of the longitudinal seam being fabricated and welded to form a continuous seam.
For circumferential welds with horizontal fixed axis, coupons shall be carried out in vertical
position.
For thickness > 45 mm impact test shall be carry out also on root region (as foreseen at
section 3.6.2 for the test of the welding procedure)
The coupon shall be prepared from a test coupon cut from an excess length of a piece, or a
test coupon attached to the end of the piece and welded to form a continuous seam.
The coupon shall consist of three T butt joints with edge preparation and dihedral angle
corresponding to the values applied during welding procedure qualification.
5.7.4 Retest
In case of failure of one test the provisions indicated in section 3.6.3 apply.
If the retest fail production test coupon shall be rejected all the welded joints represented by
the coupon shall be rejected.
Welding parameter check may be applied after to have verified the first production coupon
weld soundness.
Before starting fabrication Contractor shall submit to Client's approval the procedure and
checking methods that he intends to use to this purpose. Welding parameters checks shall
be continuous all over the production. Client anyway may require a production test coupon
whenever he considers necessary.
6 FABRICATION
6.1 GENERAL
All fabrication and erection shall be in accordance with these specification requirements.
Work shall not be performed when weather does not permit satisfactory workmanship or
when particular conditions prevent adequate inspection.
Fabrication shall proceed on a flat and level surface and frequent checks shall be made on
the supports and blocking, and any movement out of the level shall be immediately rectified
by appropriate shimming to re establish a level plane.
The Contractor shall survey and control dimensions before fit-up for welding of additional
components and sections. Dimensions shall be checked at each stage in accordance with
the fabrication procedure, tolerances (if given) and the final survey shall meet the defined
tolerances. The Contractor shall submit his dimensional control procedures indicating
proposed methods of monitoring dimensions, their tolerances compatibility and construction
method philosophy to the Client before commencing fabrication.
6.2 FORMING
Tubular may be formed with calendar rolls axis both parallel or orthogonal to the longitudinal
axis of the plate (plate rolling direction).
Tubular may be re rolled after welding in order to reduce deformations. In this case WPQ
mechanical testing shall be performed in the same final condition, in order to demonstrate
that the joint is not impaired by the re rolling process. Re rolling carried out with an
equipment type different from that used for forming shall be subject to Client's approval.
6.2.2 General
Contractor is to qualify each complete forming process, including final re forming calibration
process, when forseen.
Qualification shall be carried out within the terms and as specified in paragraph 6.2.7.
The forming shall be not carried out in the temperature range from 200 to 450°C or above
800°C. TM steel shall not be hot formed, i.e. above 600°C.
For TM steels Contractor shall seek the advice of the steel-maker before start any warm
forming activity.
Plates having surface condition that may impair the forming operation or which may have
scale incorporated into its surface shall be restored by blasting, SA 2 level, before forming.
All defects that may appear after forming shall not exceed 3mm in depth.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 43 di 89
When the cold forming is executed on plates which have already pass successfully through
the ageing test foreseen in the specification 08832 STR-MME-SPC " OFFSHORE
PLATFORMS - Steel for structure" Rev.7 and the true deformation is higher, the plate shall
be submitted to a new ageing test with a strain value not less than the real one, or to a
thermal relieving treatment. For assembled elements, the relieving treatment can be
executed just before the start of operations.
When the cold forming is executed on a plate which has not been submitted to any ageing
test, and the actual diameter/thickness ratio is less than 30, one plate for eache heat / steel
quality and thickness shall be submitted to an ageing test with a deformation value not less
than the real value; as an alternative, the item shall be submitted to a thermal relieving
treatment before the start of operations.
In all the other cases, cold forming can be carried out on plates without any additional test.
Forming processes carried out from 450°C up to 600°C shall be considered as "warm
forming".
All forming processes, heat treatment included, shall be carried out according to a
procedure previously approved by the Client.
6.2.7 Qualification of the forming procedure
Each forming process, including cold re rolling for tube calibration after welding, shall be
qualified with the tube in its final condition.
For this purpose, an element of welded tube shall be carried out for every grade and quality
of steel according to the proposed procedure, subsequent welded according to that
foreseen by the fabrication specification and cold sizing, including re rolling where used.
The local deformation at weld level shall be measured by a straight gouge 300mm long,
measuring the gap between the weld and gouge itself. Deformations greater than qualified
value shall require new qualification.
The length of the sample shall be equal to the diameter of the tube used and can not be
less than 1m.
From the sample coupon shall be obtained in order to carried out the tests indicated in table
6.1.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 44 di 89
The tests and requisite conditions shall be the same as those described in paragraph 3.6 for
the grade and quality steel on test.
same fabricator;
cold expansion rate or deformation after welding restored by the re-rolling not beyond
the tested value;
gas torch may be used, but heated areas shall not be larger than 60mm;
maximum temperature shall not be greater than 550°C and shall be kept under full
control at least by means of portable contact thermocouple;
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 45 di 89
steels with 500MPa tensile strength, or higher, shall not be fast cooled, by water or
other means.
The heating should be rapid, in order to introduce as little heat as possible, and to limit
the amount of heat that is conducted away from the zone to be heated;
The depth of the visible HAZ in a transverse macrosection should not exceed 2.5 mm;
Welded attachments to the structure not shown on the construction drawings shall not be
permitted except for temporary and non-structural attachments. In this last case too they
must be maintained at a minimum number.
In these cases welding shall be allowed, provided that the attachment thickness is not
greater than 20mm and the welds location are not closer than 51mm from any weld.
All attachments shall be welded to the structure according to this specification requirements
and approved procedures.
After the structure completion, all welded attachments shall be removed by flame cutting
5mm from the base material, followed by smoothing corners.
Flush grinding is required for structural elements of classes "a", "b" and "c" and where paint
is foreseen. The interested areas shall be carefully examined by MPI and the results shall
be reported.
Attachments shall not be removed by hammering or any other method that may cause
mechanical damage to the surface.
Contractor shall consider, during site assembly, all temporary erection loads imposed on the
structure from supports, jacking and slinging at each stage of the structure assembly.
Contractor shall consider, during site assembly, the local or overall stability from self weight
and environmental loads. These include scaffolding, staging, temporary cranes, welding
shelters and temporary works, at each stage of the structure assembly.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 46 di 89
Contractor shall provide during the assembly phase storage for all items, to prevent their
damage from environmental.
Contractor shall make provision for alignment correction at each stage of the structure
assembly provided he demonstrates to Client satisfaction that the induced stresses in the
items are lower than the admissible value (ref. API RP 2A).
The welding of forced members shall not be allowed unless Contractor shows that the
induced stresses are lower than those of design.
Bar grating shall be cut to dimension and installed as shown on the construction drawings.
Unless otherwise restricted by construction drawings, bar grating may be attached by either
tack welding or bolting.
If tack welded, each bar shall be pressed in firm contact with the underlying structure and
secured with a minimum 50mm line tack weld. The tack weld, the surrounding heated area
of zinc galvanised bar grating and the bar grating cuts shall be touched-up according with
the relevant painting specification or as per procedure.
All butt type joints shall be double welded to produce an 85% fused joint minimum. All floor
plate under-side shall be 100% seal welded to deck stringers and other supporting, to seal
all facing surfaces from corrosion. Seal fillet welds shall have a minimum leg length of 4mm.
Steel floor plate shall not present subsidence higher than 3mm measured with a 1200mm
length gouge.
As fabrication of various items or portions of the structure is completed, the Contractor shall
remove all welds, burrs, tack welds and other marks made by scaffolds or temporary
bracing used in the fabrication procedure.
All arc-strikes and burn marks shall be ground smooth, visual and PT inspected.
The areas of components "a, b and c" interested shall be carefully examined visual and MPI
and the results shall be reported.
Rat holes are required when shown on construction drawings and whatever they are
necessary to full penetration weld execution (e.g. when a stiffener weld crosses a full
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 47 di 89
penetration weld joint). In this case only Contractor shall define the relevant solution, with
Client's approval.
When not otherwise indicated on the design drawings, dimensions of rat holes shall be the
follows (+/- 3mm):
Stiffener thickness (t) in mm Rat hole radius (R ) in mm
t < 20mm R = t + 15 mm
t < 35mm R = t + 10 mm
t > 35mm R = t + 5 mm
The surfaces of the holes shall be smooth and without any indentation. No rat holes are
permitted on tubular members.
Full penetration welded stiffeners shall blend onto parent material inside rat hole.
When weld joint crossed is fillet welded, a 45° clip of sufficient width may be provided on
stiffener corner in order to shape it onto weldment and facilitate complete stiffener fillet
welding.
Rat holes in structural elements to be painted but which are not accessible to back side
(e.g. box beam, boxed support, etc.) shall be seal closed before paint is applied. Sealing
shall be made with a thin steel plate, about 5mm thickness, fillet welded; otherwise iron
mastic approved by Client may be applied. In these cases the use of rat holes shall be
minimized.
Bolt holes shall be drilled at right angles to the metal surface and shall have at least a
diameter 1.5mm larger than the bolt diameter.
Bolts shall be freely insertable into the holes without damage to the thread. Bolt heads and
nuts shall rest squarely against the metal surface.
All bolts shall be of a length such that they will extend entirely through but no more than
6mm beyond the nut and locknut.
After final tightening, nuts shall be locked by tab washer, cotter pin or locknut.
Equipments, bolt material and tightening torque shall meet the requirements specified on
construction drawings.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 48 di 89
The Contractor shall provide personnel with qualified surveyors, equipment and
instruments, with current valid calibration certificates, necessary for monitoring and
controlling dimensions and tolerances.
The following sections give the admitted tolerances for every measurable dimension and
shape of structural elements.
7.1.1 Circumference
Circumference measured with tape shall not differ from theoretical value more than ±1% of
nominal circumference or 10mm, whichever is less.
The measurement shall be carried out at 600mm from any tubular splice and at tubular
ends. Intermediate measured values shall not differ more than 1.5 times the above.
The circumferential tolerance shall not be reason for increasing the mismatch tolerated by
this specification.
For each ring stiffener shall be checked the difference between the actual radius and the
average radius, in different points.
This difference shall not be greater than 0.25% of the external ring stiffener diameter.
The average radius defined by optimum centre and the radius measurements, in various
position, relevant to the optimum centre shall be calculated in accordance with a procedure,
approved by Client, based on EEMUA 158 optimum centre out of circularity.
Ovality is intended as the difference between the maximum and the minimum diameters,
measured either internally or externally, at the same section.
Ovality shall be checked at each item end, at each 3m interval, at each circumferential
seam, and at midway between two ring stiffeners.
Two diameter measurements may not be at 90° between them, but carried out in the
position with maximum and minimum value.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 49 di 89
Measuring method, with more than two diameters, may be equally spaced instead of
maximum and minimum position.
Local out of roundness shall be measured by means of a 20° gauge having a theoretical
tubular form, and the measurement is verified all over the circumference (360°).
Local out of roundness shall not be greater than 0,4% of the diameter. This control shall be
carried out on tubular elements with diameter greater or equal than 1000mm.
Local out of straightness is the deviation of the shell plate from its axis.
Local out of straightness shall be checked on tubes with nominal outside diameter greater
than 2000mm or with nominal outside diameter/wall thickness ratio greater than 65. The
check shall be either on the inside or outside, and the positions shall be those indicated in
table 7.2 along all tubular element.
Structural classes "a, b, c" members out of straightness tolerance is the greater of 0.1%L or
3mm, but not greater than 12mm.
Ends perpendicularity shall be held within 3mm. This tolerance shall not be cumulated with
weld root gap tolerance
Length tolerance of node cans, stubs and cones shall be within - 0 + 100mm from length
shown on fabrication drawings.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 50 di 89
Actual stub centre line is intended as the intersection of two orthogonal diameters at both
ends of the stub; one of the diameters is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the node chord.
Each actual stub centre line shall be kept within 10mm cylinder from its theoretical position
shown on the fabrication drawings (fig 7.1).
Rings stiffeners in node cans and cones shall be fitted, with respect to their theoretical
location shown on fabrication drawings to an accuracy of ±1/3 stiffener thickness but not
more than 6mm. Stiffeners in tubulars shall be fitted with an accuracy of 12mm.
The internal or external ring stiffeners inclination shall be within 1% of the nominal web
depth but not more than 6mm. For ring stiffeners in nodes and in node cones the same
tolerance is 0.5%h with maximum value of 3mm.
The maximum bow in the web of an internal or external ring stiffener shall be within 1% of
the nominal web depth, but not more than 3mm.
The deviation of the flange edge, of an internal or external ring stiffener, from the diameter
measured at the flange centreline shall be within 5% of the nominal flange width.
If ring stiffener is fabricated in two or more pieces and if flange is required the buttwelds
mismatch shall not exceed 0.1 stiffener web or flange thickness nor 3mm.
Fabricated structural steel section tolerances shall comply with section 5.23 from paragraph
5.23.1 to paragraph 5.23.9 of AWS D1.1 / 2000 Code.
For permissible variations from flatness of web see AWS D1.1 / 2000 paragraph 5.23.6.
All other tolerances not considered here shall be in accordance with EEMUA 158, section
6.2.2.1.
Structural class "a, b" members, no hollow sections, out of straightness and verticality is the
greater of 0.1%L or 3mm, but not greater than 12mm.
The out of straightness and verticality tolerance for girder and beam with hollow section is
the greater of 0.2%L or 5mm but not greater than 25mm.
Flange eccentricity shall be equal to 0.02b, with maximum value equal to 6mm. Tilt and roof
shape shall be equal to (1+0.01b)mm but not greater than 6mm, with b is the flange width
and t the thickness. (fig. 7.3)
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 51 di 89
Web girder twisting shall be equal to (1+0.01h)mm, but not greater than 10mm, where h is
the web height in millimetre. Web bow shall be equal to 0.01h with maximum value equal to
0.5t, where t is the web thickness.
Web stiffeners location between girders flanges shall be within tolerances values.
Web stiffeners shall be fitted with respect to their theoretical location to an accuracy of half
stiffener thickness, but not greater than 6mm. Web stiffener out of straightness shall be
within 0.15% L, but not more than 3mm (fig. 7.4). The outstand of web stiffener under load
bearing surfaces shall be within 0.5% of the maximum web height but not more than 3mm of
a perpendicular set out from two girders flanges3mm (fig. 7.4).
Weld passes shall be continuous to prevent any risk of crevice corrosion. Welds shall be
returned through the rat hole, when present.
Where a combination of stiffeners (ring, diaphragm, web) from a cruciform arrangement with
other member or stiffener the mismatch of the alignment through the joint shall be according
to table 7.5.
Thickness Mismatch
t3 > t1 and > t2 t3 / 2; max 10mm
t2 > t3 and > t1 t2 / 2; max 6mm
for t1 , t2 and t3 identification see fig. 7.6.
As built dimensions shall be used to align members. UT check shall be performed where
external measurement can not guarantee the alignment.
Weld beads position and size shall be in accordance with the construction drawings. The
weld beads pitch is to be constant throughout the zone where weld beads are required and
are to be kept equal between sleeves and piles.
Tolerance on position of each weld bead is ±5mm with respect to what required on
fabrication drawings.
Weld beads distance from circumferential barrels butt welds shall not be less than 51mm,
measured at weld toes. The barrels length shall therefore be defined also taking into
account the above requirements. However not more than one weld bead per sleeve may be
out of pitch.
The centreline point of any opening and penetration shall be within a tolerance of ±10mm of
the theoretical central point.
The actual size of any opening shall be within a tolerance of ±2mm of the theoretical
dimensions.
Final fabrication tolerances shall be within the tolerance values specified here below.
The node working point (intersection point among items axis measured on structure) (fig.
8.1) shall be positioned within the error sphere whose radius is indicated in table 8.1,
relevant to the theoretical position shown on fabrication drawings.
Table 8.2 shows the tolerance values of some structural dimensions, as an example of said
above.
Measures ±)
Tolerance (±
Length between first and last node working points on jacket legs 16mm
Distance between working point not involving one 30mm
leg nodes
placed on the same plane involving one leg 25mm
nodes
Distance between abutting jacket and deck node working point 12mm
Overall out of straightness of final structure axis, checked in at least two perpendicular
planes shall not exceed 1/1000 of measured length with maximum value of 10mm.
Conductor support centre, measured on the structure shall be within a circle with 6mm
radius centred in the drawing position.
The actual centre shall not be far more than 12mm from best fit line, obtained as per fig.8.1.
Completed pile sleeves out of roundness shall be measured at shims location and mid-way
of these positions. The out of roundness measurements shall be as per paragraph 7.1.4
only at top and bottom shim location. At mid shim location six diameters shall be taken in
correspondence to the shims: the design value is to be respected as a minimum. At shims
mid-way positions the measurement method and the tolerance values shall be as per
paragraph 7.1.4.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 54 di 89
The completed pile sleeves centrelines taken at shim location shall be within 6mm from their
best fit line.
Centreline of each sleeve shall be located within ±12mm of the relevant column best fit line.
The measurements shall be undertaken at the intersections of the sleeve with the horizontal
connecting plates to the legs.
Position of shear plate joints onto leg and sleeve shall be within 6mm from the theoretical
vertical plane containing leg axis and sleeve axis.
Shear plate details out of plane shall be in accordance with table 8.3.
Position ± mm)
Value (±
Bow of straight free borders 3
Horizontal stiffener between leg and sleeve 4
Vertical stiffener straightness 2
Planarity of sub-panel 5
Planarity of full panel 10
The columns intersections centre (item axes intersection centre) measured on the structure
shall be within the error sphere, whose radius is indicated in table 8.4, relevant to theoretical
fabrication drawings position.
As said above, table 8.5 gives, as an example, the overall distances and elevations
tolerances measured on structure.
Measurements Tolerances ± mm
Column distance 12mm
Header distance 12mm
Header elevation difference 12mm
Indicated tolerance shall not be higher than bevel mismatch. Tolerance among same level
column shall not be higher than planarity and bevels mismatch limit.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 55 di 89
Plates on deck beams shall not have sags higher than ±3mm relevant to theoretical
bearings level.
Deck and modules working plane position shall have a vertical outstand lower than R/500,
with 9mm as maximum, relevant to the theoretical plane; R is the distance from reference
point.
The maximum number of water collectors shall be defined on construction drawing and
Client shall define their position after welding of steel floor plates.
8.6 PILES
Overall piles length tolerance shall be ±300mm relevant to the fabrication drawing value.
Different wall thickness and/or diameter pile section positions shall be within ±75mm
relevant to the theoretical distance, from head, indicated on fabrication drawings.
The checking straightness method by a taut wire along the pipe length is considered
acceptable. Measurement shall be repeated at a minimum of three radial points.
The ovality shall not exceed the greater of 10mm and 0.5% of diameter.
The driving head face shall be worked (machined or grinded) to present a square surface
perpendicular to pile centreline with maximum tolerance value of 0.01 gon.
Inserts or barrels of every pile shall never have length lower than 2m
The butt joint mismatch shall not exceed 0.1t nor 3mm whichever is the less (t= weld
thickness).
The minimum distance between two circumferential seams shall be 0.4 buoyancy tanks
outside diameter at least.
Out of roundness shall be checked at each ring stiffener and in between two adjacent ring
stiffeners and shall not exceed the 0.5% of the nominal external radius.
Local out of roundness shall not be greater than 0.2% of the outside diameter or 25% of the
wall thickness, whichever is the less. Local deviation from straight generator is:
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 56 di 89
∆g= Lg/120
Lg= 4(Rt)
The length tolerance shall be within ±50mm of theoretical length shown on fabrication
drawings.
Conical head section length shall be within ±10mm of their theoretical length.
The measured distance between the actual centrelines of the lower and upper supports
shall be within ±10mm of their theoretical dimensions.
8.7.1 Same buoyancy tanks reutilization for more than one launching
Whenever buoyancy tanks have already been applied in several launchs, Contractor shall
perform the following inspections:
100% UT on padeyes, comparing the new inspection certificate with the previous one
relevant to construction phase.
8.8 CONDUCTORS
Conductors shall be fabricated to a total tolerance of ±300mm from the length indicated on
fabrication drawings.
A minimum of 900mm over length shall be provided at top extremity, unless otherwise
shown on fabrication drawings.
8.9 J TUBES
J tubes bends may be obtained either by hot forming or by cold forming processes. J tube
tolerance shall be in accordance with API 5L specification.
Bend radius tolerance shall be within ±2% of nominal radius, but not more than ±50mm;
bend angle shall be within ±0.5° of theoretical value.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 57 di 89
Completed J tubes are to be pigged on site to ensure they are clear with no internal weld
protrusions that may damage umbilicals and risers, prior the messenger wire installation.
8.11 ANODES
Anodes positioning shall be done according to relevant fabrication drawings with respect to
a uniform distribution throughout the jacket. In case of interferences experienced with other
welded items, longitudinal or circumferential welds of tubulars, or similar, the following may
be applied:
anode translation from the defined position plus or minus one anode length;
anode rotation of 90° each side relevant to the position shown on the fabrication
drawings, provided the angle between two successive anodes is not changed more
than 45° from that shown on fabrication drawings.
Distance among structural weld toes is not less than 150mm both on longitudinal and
circumferential joint.
Location of anodes shall be as close as possible to the lesser local dihedral angle of each
stub-chord intersection.
All cases of impracticable solution as per above requirement shall be decided on a case by
case basis, by Client.
Welds onto nodes (stubs or chords) are not allowed in any case.
8.12 HANDRAILS
Fabrication and erection shall be performed to a degree of accuracy that the top rail shall be
level to the eye, and the handrail shall be plumb.
Walkways, landing and stairway shall be located within the following tolerances, relevant to
the fabrication drawings.
Elevation ± 12mm
Planarity ± 6mm each 3m length
Planimetric position ± 12mm
Distance among steps shall not be more than 3mm from theoretical position.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 58 di 89
Template docking piles centring system shall be rected after having verified the actual
engagement distances and verticality of the erected template docking piles
The location of each pile centring cone measuring centre shall be within 12mm of the
theoretical location shown on construction drawings.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 59 di 89
9 INSPECTION OF WELDMENTS
9.1 GENERAL
All welds are to be subjected to non destructive examination (NDT)as fabrication and
construction proceed, as per a proper schedule and relevant drawings supplied by the
Contractor.
NDT on weld class "a, b, c" shall be carried out only 48 hours after completion of welding.
The same requirement for weld class "d" with thickness higher than 20mm. For offshore
welds Contractor shall supply for approval a detail NDT procedure that shall include wait
time, after welding, before NDT and possible accelerated cooling procedures of the welds.
NDT on weld class "e" and on all other classes not considered above may be carried out 24
hours after welding completion.
Inspection and NDT prior to PWHT shall be at the Contractor discretion and shall not avoid
further tests.
All NDT reports are to include all data that allows to repeat the examination in the same
conditions.
Contractor shall formulate a quality control plan that shall contain mandatory NDT
inspection and the time when they shall be done. This plan shall be submitted to Client's
approval.
9.2 DEFINITIONS
The standards and codes of practice called up by this specification are considered at the
latest edition at time of contract award. They are:
API RP 2X
EN 462
EN 970
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 60 di 89
BS 6072
EN 473
Contractor shall equip themselves with copies of all the standards and codes referred to in
this specification and shall make them readily available to all inspection personnel involved
on work.
Accepted NDT methods are RT, UT, MT and PT. Their applicability shall conform to the
following table.
Weld Classes a, b, c, d e
Joint t ≤12mm 12<t≤38mm t >38mm all thicknesses
Butt RT RT UT + 10%RT
MT MT MT
MT
T-butt MT UT PT
MT
Fillet MT
RT
For thickness greater than 38mm, in addition to UT control, 10% of welds (one each ten
examined) chosen at Client discretion shall be 100% RT. Obtained results, other than to be
in compliance with the requirements of this specification, shall be compared with the results
of UT control.
UT shall be carried out for deck and modules beams, when the joint geometry issuch that
RT is unappropriate.
RT in shop are to be preferably executed by X ray equipment. Gamma rays may be applied
on yard only or on large prefabricated items. Following isotopes do not require Client's
approval: Yt up to t=12mm; Ir for thickness from 10mm to 19mm with qualification of the
procedure test; Ir and Yt up to t=38mm; X rays for thickness above 38mm. The use of Co 60
is generally not acceptable.
UT
UT shall be applied also for chevron cracks checks on SAW welds with thickness above
25mm.
UT shall be applied when RT inspection is not possible (i.e. T joints) or for offshore welds.
In any case UT can not substitute RT for thicknesses lower than 10mm.
New UT procedures that permit both to correlate echoes with position on piece through
scanner use and to record on magnetic support, may be submitted to Client's approval.
Change of NDT procedure based on these new techniques is solely at Client acceptance.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 61 di 89
MT
MT is the reference surface NDT methods for all welds of classes "a, b, c, d". The
substitution with PT for parent materials with minimum yield strength not greater than
275MPa requires Client's approval. For weld class "e" and all classes bevel inspection, PT
may substitute MT without approval.
a b, c d e
VI 100% 100% 100% 100%
UT/RT 100% 100% 20% -
MT 100% 20%(1) 20% -
PT - 100% - 20%
Note 1: The MT test for joints and closure welds adjacent to nodes shall be 100%.
SAW
All longitudinal SAW welds class "b, c", except nodes and buoyancy tanks, may be RT/UT
inspected as follows:
100% inspection on the first three welded elements from every welding machine;
20% inspection for the following elements from the same welding machine, with
minimum inspection length of 1m, and 100% inspection on one element every 10
welded elements, selected by the Contractor.
Welds class "a, b, c" cruciform joints and start/stop points shall be RT inspected for a
300mm all around area.
UT inspection to check chevron cracks shall be carried out even if RT inspection is standard
method. The percentage extension shall be the same for main inspection.
Other requirements
For weld class "d" joints RT/UT percentage inspection shall be 20% on yard and 10% on
shop.
Fillet welds class "a, b, c" mainly submitted to tensile stress, shall be UT inspected against
lamellar tears and to verify the weld discontinuity; test percentage shall be 100%.
The NDT control of sea fastening shall comply in any case with the code and the
requirements of the Certifying Society in charge of the transport certification
The percentages indicated on table 9.2 refer to the total length of each weld. For welds with
a length less than 1m, the required indicated percentages may refer to the percentage of
the completed joints of the same type to be inspected (i.e. 20% means 1 weld over 5 to be
100% examined).
Where unacceptable flaws are detected in partially inspected seams the NDT percentage
shall be doubled and extended to both adjacent sides of the defective area. In case other
unacceptable flaws are found in the new area the extension shall become 100%.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 62 di 89
If severe flaws (i.e. cracks and other planar flaw, excessive slag lines and cluster porosities)
occur repeatedly to Client opinion, all welds made with the same welding procedure during
the period in question, may be additionally tested up to 100%, after Client's request.
In case the defective weld length, in joints with NDT percentage less than 100%, is greater
than 1% of the inspected length the Client reserves the right to increase NDT percentage up
to 100%.
Welds of all classes except "e" that become inaccessible during item fabrication shall be
100% NDT.
Prior to assembly for welding, all edges shall be inspected to find any eventual defects.
The inspection of the bevel edges shall be carried out with VI integrated with MT or PT
when necessary to show defect.
The extension of flaw behind the bevel shall be checked by appropriate UT examination
using compression probes, or by grinding to verify the laminated area depth.
The requirements of section 5.1.2 shall apply for laminations defects check before the stub
to node can and beam to flange welding.
The Contractor shall prepare procedures for each of the NDT techniques he proposes to
use, and submit these to the Client's approval prior to commence any testing.
Client may require the qualification of some or all of the procedures, by demonstration of
their capability to detect known flaws.
The procedure specification for the radiographic testing is to include at least the following
information:
geometric relationships (film focus distance, object film distance, radiation angle with
respect to weld and film, focal spot);
processing (developing time and temperature, stopbath, fixation, washing, drying, etc.);
image Quality Indicator sensitivities in percent of the wall weld metal thickness based
on sources and film side indicators respectively;
density (the radiographs density measured on the sound weld metal image);
film coverage.
In order to check the sensitivity, the above requirements apply also for double walls
images.
type of instrument;
type of transducer;
frequencies;
calibration details;
surface requirements;
type of couplants;
scanning techniques;
recording details;
check of calibration,
temperature range
The qualification test is to be performed under normal working conditions and at Client
presence.
The test pieces are to be available as reference all over the inspection work.
type of equipment;
magnetizing current (for prod magnetizing: the prod type and spacing are to be stated).
temperature range
EN 473 or equivalent level III, as supervisor, is required within the project and within yard or
shop organization.
If the qualification of the personnel is in doubt, the Client may require their interdiction to
production activities until their ability has been satisfactorily demonstrated.
UT operators shall have up to date certification in accordance with ASNT-TC-1A and are to
be capable of:
RT operators are to be fully capable of performing an operational test using the qualified
radiographic procedure.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 65 di 89
Visual Inspection shall be carried out in accordance with EN 970. The stub to node weld
inspection shall be carried out with the aid of clipped disk.
9.10.1 General
Contractor shall prepare a document in which he indicates the radiation source (X and
isotopes) he intends to use in function of thickness ranges, worksite locations (yard, shops)
and relevant to the whole job conditions.
The execution procedures for the radiographic control must be qualified when the source is
not accessible during the production control.
9.10.2 Examination
Image quality indicators shall be of the wire type as recommended by IIW/IIS 62-60 or ISO
Standard and are to be placed on the source side. In case that the source side is
inaccessible during production radiography, only film side penetameters are required, but
shall be marked with an "F" and the procedure shall be qualified.
The image quality indicators are to be clearly identified, and the sensitivity of the source
side indicator is to be equal to or better than the requirements given in for "single wall
technique". For "double wall technique" the IQI sensitivity shall be calculated putting the
total weld thickness penetrated, i.e. two times the plate thickness plus the two weld
reinforcements, at the denominator of the formula. In this case the permissible IQI values
shall be double of those indicated (ref. EN 462). Radiographs are to have a density at the
weld metal image in the range 2.6 to 3.8 for the double images with a minimum of 1.3. For
single images the density shall be in the range 2.0 to 3.0 .
The maximum acceptable film lengths are defined by the film references.
9.11.1 Equipment
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 66 di 89
be applicable for the pulse echo technique and for the double probe technique;
have a flat screen accessible from the front for direction plotting of reference curves;
include straight beam transducers, and angle beam transducers of 45°; 60° and 70°;
9.11.2 Calibration
For echo amplitude evaluation, a DAC reference curve is to be established and plotted on
the instrument screen. The reference block for gain calibration and construction of DAC is to
be manufactured from the actual production material and be in accordance with the
requirements of API RP2X for Level A.
DAC curve construction shall be in accordance with the indications of API RP2X.
Equipment horizontal and vertical linearity shall be always calibrated before the any
examination beginning. Calibration of the ultrasonic equipment is to be carried out whenever
it has been out of function for any reason, and whenever there is any doubt concerning
proper functioning of the equipment.
9.11.3 Examination
Ultrasonic testing of production welds, shall be carried out in accordance with API RP 2X
and with the following requirements.
The weld is to be examined from at least two sides. T-butt welds are to be examined also
from through member opposite face.
SAW welds shall be examined for transverse (chevron) cracking by weld cap scanning,
using a 45° 4 MHz probe. The weld shall be ground as necessary to facilitate this
inspection.
For SMAW welds the separate probes for transmitter and receiver method shall be applied
when surface conditions are detrimental to correct inspection. Tandem technique keeping
constant the inclination angle relevant to the weld seam axis may be applied.
Flaw width shall be evaluated with the 6dB technique, flaw length shall be evaluated with
the "half-value-drop" method.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 67 di 89
The use of beam path lengths longer than 200mm is not allowed.
Inspection for acceptance of butt welds over 60mm thick, to which access is limited to one
side only, shall include unrestricted scanning from the surface of the weld. Surface shall be
grind to an appropriate standard for the inspection purpose.
For butt welds with bevel angle between 0° and 10°, and with thickness above 40mm the
tandem technique shall be used.
9.12.1 Equipment
Only AC equipment or DC equipment with current obtained through half wave rectifier) may
be used for testing. Other DC equipment, permanent magnets or equipment which introduce
current directly in the item shall not be used.
The equipment used for magnetic particle testing is to establish a field strength among 2400
A/m (30 Oersted) and 4000 A/m (50 Oersted). The magnetic field adjustment shall be
verified by a relevant instrument. This need not be proven by measurement in case of coil or
prod magnetizing, provided the following requirements are met:
the coil magnetising current is to be chosen depending on the number of turns of the
coil. The ratio between the ampere turns and the diameter of the pipe work piece to be
tested is to be 8 to 16 ampere turns per each mm;
AC electromagnetic yoke is to have a lifting power at least 4.5kg with 300mm prode
spacing, for surface defects only.
for sections with thickness 20mm or more, the prod spacing is within the range 75-
200mm with a current of 5-6A for each millimeter;
for sections with thickness less than 20mm, the current is to be 3.5 to 4.5 A per each
mm prod spacing, with prode spacing within the range 75-200mm.
Equipment and calibration blocks applied to verify the above requirements shall be available
to NDT personnel and to the Client.
9.12.2 Examination
The surface of the parts subjected to test is to be clean and dry, free from any dirt that may
interfere with the examination.
Non-fluorescent wet or dry particles are to provide adequate contrast with the background of
the surface being examined. Surface painting shall be used to improve the detection of
flaws: white background paint is preferred.
This control type shall be done in a darkened room using an ultraviolet radiation light with
wavelength within the range 3200/3800 Angstrom.
Before starting the testing the operator shall remain for 5 minutes to accustom his eyes to
low luminosity. Glasses and contact lens shall not be photosensitive. Before light intensity
measurement, it is necessary to wait 5 minutes for a correct heating and for a correct
operation. Ultraviolet radiation light shall be measured by a particular instrument.
There shall be 800 microwatt/cm² on the examined surface. Ultraviolet radiation light
intensity shall be measured each 8 hour or whatever the working position is changed.
Any weld imperfection that prevents the sizing of, or may prevent the detection of, a weld
flaw is itself a flaw and shall be repaired.
Cracks and lamellar tears found by any of the NDT methods are not admitted in any case
and for any weld classes. All this type of discontinuities shall be inspected to find out the
originating cause.
All detected defects that are higher than the following acceptability limits shall be repaired,
the weld restored and a new NDT inspection carried out all over the interested area.
All the outside and inside welds whenever accessible shall be visually inspected.
Weld Classes a b, c d e
Depth mm 0.25 0.5 0.5 1
Length mm Intermittent 10 20 40
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 69 di 89
Flaws on films appearing to meet the acceptance standards limits, but having darkness
density giving a doubt on their depth shall be re examined with UT technique.
Defect type a, b c d
Gas Cavities t/3 or 6mm t/3 or 6mm t/3 or 6mm
Linear Porosity
individual 0.75t 1.5t 3t
cumulative 12t or 150mm
Slag Inclusions
individual 1.5t or 6mm 1.5t or 6mm 6mm
cumulative t or 20mm 2t or 30mm 2.5t or 60mm
Lack of fusion
individual not admitted not admitted 10mm
cumulative 1.5t over 12t
Incom. root penetr.
individual not admitted not admitted 10mm
cumulative 1.5t over 12t
Two gas cavities are treated like a linear porosity when the distance between them is less
than 6 times the diameter of the biggest porosity.
The lack of fusion and incomplete penetration acceptance standard for weld class "d" may
be applied to longitudinal double welds class "b, c" as diagonals, deck beams and bracings.
All other elements as nodes, padeyes, buoyancy tanks and their supports are excluded.
Any flaw from which echo height exceeds the DAC by 6db shall be repaired and re-
examined, regardless of size.
All flaws classified as planar, like cracks or lamellar tears, shall be repaired whichever is
their echo height.
All echoes that exceed 50% DAC shall be classified and evaluated in size, in accordance
with table 9.5.
All transverse defects are to be regarded as defects requiring repair. This requirement does
not apply, where indication can be unequivocally correlated to longitudinal defects.
The lengths of acceptable volumetric flaws are as follows:
Planar defects, clearly detected as lack of fusion and incomplete root penetration may be
accepted for weld class "d" as per table 9.6.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 70 di 89
TABLE 9.6: FLAW ACCEPTABILITY FOR WELD CLASS "b, c,d "
Flaw type Depth Length Max length
(mm) (mm) Individual cumulative
Lack of fusion 1.5 t/2 10mm 1.5t over 12t
Incomplete root 1.5 1.5t 10mm 1.5t over 12t
penetration
The lack of fusion and incomplete penetration acceptance standard for weld class "d" may
be applied to longitudinal double welds class "b, c" in diagonals, deck beams and bracings.
All other elements as nodes, padeyes, buoyancy tanks and their supports are excluded.
Two gas cavities are treated like a linear porosity when the distance between them is less
than 6 times the diameter of the biggest porosity.
Detected rounded indications shall be classified as elliptical shape if the length is equal to or
less than three times the width, or as circular shape in other cases. Linear indications are
the remainders.
All surfaces to be examined shall be free from linear and rounded indications caused by
weld defect, not weld geometry, having the limits indicated below:
acceptable rounded indications shall not be greater than 4mm, and there shall not be
more than three indications in line, separated by 1.5mm or less from edge to edge.
9.14 REPORTS
Operator shall formalise, in the following 24 hours after test completion, the testing results.
The report is to indicate if the weld quality meets the acceptance standard limits of this
specification, and indicate the flaws to be repaired.
repair flaws;
any remark.
The report shall clearly show the type of flaw detected (i.e. lack of fusion, incomplete
penetration, porosity and slag) including a repairing flaws location sketch from a particular
point choosen as reference.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 71 di 89
9.14.1 RT reports
film location.
9.14.2 UT reports
9.14.3 MT reports
When large and complex assembly items shall be joined offshore, Contractor shall carry out
a yard assembly test in order to verify the correct fit.
Handrail sections or other similar items shall be stamped or metal tagged so that it is
possible easily to restore their exact position during offshore assembly.
Items such as bolt or pin shall be assembled, fitted and welded so that the connection can
be easily installed or removed.
Pressure test of risers shall be carry out in accordance with the requirements of the
applicable project specifications.
Members that are designated to provide buoyancy shall be pneumatically tested prior to
load-out. The air pressure shall be set to 0.2-0.3 bars and the variations measured over a
period of 2 hours with a well-type manometer. During testing flanged manways shall be
tested with soap solution technique.
All equipment, components and piping of jacket ballasting and grouting system shall be
tested both by pressure test and in working conditions, before the load-out. Testing shall be
done according to relevant line service conditions (1.5 times the design pressure).
Flooding values shall be hydrotested to detect leaks either from body or trim, and to verify
for their smooth and free operability.
The leak test shall be done by hydrotest at the maximum working pressure. Reach-rods and
flooding valves, when present, operability shall be tested while flooding lines are under
pressure.
Flooding valves are to be lubrificated and checked before load out to ensure that they are in
the closed position, and that protective caps or other obstructions are not present that would
prevent proper valve operation.
All air lines shall be isolated from the grout packers, to prevent damage to grout packers,
before this testing to be done prior to load out.
Test pressure shall be 1.5 times the design pressure and shall be held for one hour. There
shall be no pressure drop and no leaks. After testing of all lines, they shall be completely
drained, dried and re-connected to the grout packers.
When packers are already inside the barrels, the purchaser shall give a certification relevant
to the acceptance test. Contractor shall apply purchaser requirements for acceptance test
when previous certification is not available.
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 74 di 89
12 APPENDIX 2: FIGURES
Weld bead
Beam web
Beam web
Weld bead
CAN VERTICAL
AXIS
BRACE ACUTE
ANGLE DOWNWARD
300mm
min
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 78 di 89
< 60°
YES
TACK
4 mm
NO 40 mm
TACK
1mm
MAX
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 79 di 89
=
=
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 80 di 89
STUB
WELD
R 8 min
* CAN
6
min
* 0.5mm UNDER ANY VISIBLE UNDERCUT BUT NOT GREATER THAN 2mm OR 0.05T
ZONES IN WHICH
SPLICES ARE ALLOWED
L/2 L/2
L
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 82 di 89
RADIUS OF ERROR
SPHERE
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 83 di 89
DESIGN
POSITION
OUT OF OUTSTAND
LOCATION
0.01 h
6mm MAX
b
0.05 b
WEB BOW
FLANGE
0.01 h
3mm MAX DEVIATION
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 84 di 89
6mm max
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 85 di 89
h
0.5% h
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 86 di 89
TRANSVERSE
STIFFENERS
LENGTH BETWEEN L
GIRDERS
LONGITUDINAL
STIFFENERS
sy
py
L1
ay
LENGTH BETWEEN
STIFFENER
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 87 di 89
t3
t1
t2
Eni S.p.A. 08833.STR.MET.SPC
Divisione Agip Rev. 5 December 2001
Pag. 88 di 89
MEASURED CENTRE
ai
=
90°
= =
= MEASURED CENTRE