AppendixB—IN-SERVICEWELDING.docVIP

 PAGE 16 API Standard 1104 Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities  PAGE 17 Appendix B—IN-SERVICE WELDING General This appendix covers recommended welding practices for making repairs to or installing appurtenances on pipelines and piping systems that are in service. For the purposes of this appendix, in-service pipelines and piping systems are defined as those that contain crude petroleum, petroleum products, or fuel gases that may be pressurized and/or flowing. This appendix does not cover pipelines and piping systems that have been fully isolated and decommissioned, or have not been commissioned. There are two primary concerns with welding onto in-service pipelines. The first concern is to avoid “burning through,” where the welding arc causes the pipe wall to be breached. The second concern is for hydrogen cracking, since welds made in-service cool at an accelerated rate as the result of the flowing contents’ ability to remove heat from the pipe wall. Burning through is unlikely when installing an appurtenance if the wall thickness is 0.250 in. (6.4 mm) or greater, provided that low-hydrogen electrodes (EXX18 type) and normal welding practices are used. Welding onto thinner-wall in-service pipelines is possible and considered routine by many companies; however, special precautions, such as the use of a procedure that limits heat input, are often specified. Burning through becomes more likely when welding directly onto the pipe, which may occur when depositing the buttering layers of a temper bead deposition sequence or when performing weld deposition repair.Existing text pertains only to appurtenance (e.g., branch and sleeve) welds. Additional text is necessary to clarify the difference in burnthrough risk when installing an appurtenance compared to welding directly onto the pipe wall (e.g., buttering layers and weld deposition repairs). When installing an appurtenance, a portion of the heat is directed to the appurtenance. For buttering layers or