2019 Saes W 016

Engineering Standard
SAES-W-016 20 February 2019

Welding of Special Corrosion-resistant Materials
Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee
Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations ................................... 3
3 References........................................................ 3
4 General ............................................................. 5
5 High Temperature Applications ......................... 5
6 Corrosive Services ............................................ 6
7 Special Requirements for 22 Cr Duplex
and 25 Cr Duplex Stainless Steels .................. 11
8 Special Requirements
for Titanium and its Alloys ............................... 13
Revision Summary................................................. 16
Previous Issue: 1 January 2018 Next Planned Update: 20 February 2022

Page 1 of 18
Contact: Al-Ghamdi, Tariq Abdulwahed (ghamta0e) on phone +966-13-8809561
©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee SAES-W-016
Issue Date: 20 February 2019
Next Planned Update: 20 February 2022 Welding of Special Corrosion-resistant Materials
1 Scope
1.1 This standard specifies the requirements for welding and testing of special
corrosion-resistant materials of pipelines, on-plot pipes, pressure vessels and
heat exchangers. This is defined as stainless steel, nickel-based alloys and
titanium or titanium alloys in severe corrosion service and high temperature
service, as defined below.
1.1.1 Severe corrosion service is defined as:

a) Any service listed in SAES-L-132 which specifies the use of
austenitic stainless steel (excluding types 316/316L) or nickel-based
alloys or titanium or titanium alloys.
b) Any service that uses duplex stainless steels.
Commentary Note:
Use of stainless steel or nickel-based alloys for product cleanliness

(e.g., lube oil piping or aircraft refueling facilities) or mechanical properties
(e.g., low temperature service requiring impact toughness) are not
included.
1.1.2 High temperature service is defined as any application with a design

temperature above 427°C.
1.1.3 Additional requirements for duplex stainless steel and titanium/titanium

alloys for any service are included.
1.1.4 Strip lining and weld overlay applications are not included.
Commentary Note:
Refer to SAES-W-014 for welding requirements for overlays and

SAES-W-015 for strip lining requirements.
1.1.5 This standard is to be considered as a supplement to other Saudi Aramco

welding standards. Other applications (e.g., valves or pumps) may also
be subject to this standard if the application standard or job specification
makes reference to this standard.
1.1.6 These requirements are in addition to the requirements of ASME SEC IX.
1.2 This entire standard may be attached to and made part of purchase orders.
1.3 Additional requirements may be contained in Scopes of Work, Drawings, or

other Instructions or Specifications pertaining to specific items of work.
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

Page 2 of 18
2 Conflicts and Deviations
Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed to the EK&RD Coordinator.
Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302.
3 References
The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this standard shall comply with the latest
edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.
3.1 Saudi Aramco References
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement
Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-L-132 Material Selection for Piping Systems
SAES-W-010 Welding Requirements for Pressure Vessels
SAES-W-011 Welding Requirements for On-plot Piping
SAES-W-012 Welding Requirements for Pipelines
SAES-W-014 Weld Overlays and Welding of Clad Materials
SAES-W-015 Strip Lining Application
Saudi Aramco Standard Drawing

AB-036386 Hardness Testing for Welding Procedure
Qualifications
Saudi Aramco Best Practice

SABP-A-001 Polythionic Acid SCC Mitigation - Materials
Selection and Effective Protection of Austenitic
Stainless Steels and other Austenitic Alloys

Page 3 of 18
3.2 Industry Codes and Standards
American Petroleum Institute

API TR 938-C Use of Duplex Stainless Steels in the Oil Refining
Industry
American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME B31.3 Process Piping
ASME SEC IIC Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and
Filler Metals
ASME SEC V Nondestructive Examination
ASME SEC IX Specifications for Welding Rods Electrodes and
Filler Metals
ASTM International
ASTM A833 Indentation Hardness of Metallic Materials by
Comparison Hardness Testers
ASTM A923 Standard Test Methods for Detecting Detrimental
Intermetallic Phase in Duplex Austenitic /
Ferritic Stainless Steels
ASTM E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals
ASTM E562 Standard Test Method for Determining Volume
Fraction by Systematic Manual Point Count
American Welding Society

AWS A4.2 Standard Procedures for Calibrating Magnetic
Instruments to Measure the Delta Ferrite Content
of Austenitic and Duplex Austenitic-Ferritic
Stainless Steel Weld Metal
AWS G2.4/G2.4M Standard Guide for the Fusion Welding of Titanium
and Titanium Alloys
National Association of Corrosion Engineers/International Organization for

Standardization
NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries-
Materials for use in H2S-Containing
Environments in Oil and Gas Production

Page 4 of 18
4 General
4.1 All welding procedures shall be qualified in accordance with ASME SEC IX
plus the additional requirements of SAES-W-010, SAES-W-011, SAES-W-012,
as applicable, and this standard.
4.2 Ferrite measurement for stainless steel welds shall be performed using point
count technique as per ASTM E562 for welding procedure qualification.
AWS A4.2 shall be used for verification in production welding.
4.3 Abrasive tooling and/or grinding disks shall not have been used on either carbon
steel or any other grade of stainless steel material. The selection of grinding and
cleaning tools shall be appropriate for the base material, e.g., carbon steel
brushes shall not be used on stainless steel material.
Commentary Note:
During welding or heat treatment of stainless steel and duplex stainless steel, if
zinc is present in the weld area, Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME) can lead to
cracking.
4.4 All filler materials shall be individually and clearly stamped, flagged or
stenciled to ensure traceability and correct usage on site. Precautions shall be
taken throughout storage, conditioning and fabrication to minimize
contamination of corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) consumables resulting from
direct contact with carbon and low alloy steels.
4.5 Handling & storage of base materials: All necessary precautions shall be taken
throughout fabrication to minimize contamination of CRA materials resulting
from direct contact with carbon steels, exposure to ferrous dust, swarf or other
debris and from residual deposits on or near fusion faces during welding.
Supports, rollers and other pipe handling equipment shall be of compatible
material or shall be suitably lined to prevent damage or contamination.
5 High Temperature Applications
5.1 The welding procedure qualification for austenitic stainless steels, except type
310 and 6% Mo super-austenitic stainless steel, shall include a determination of
the Ferrite Number in the as-welded condition. The Ferrite Number shall be
between 3 and 10 FN.
5.2 For production welds, the ferrite content shall be checked in the as-welded
condition. The Ferrite Number shall be between 3 and 10 FN.
5.3 Any welding on high carbon grades of austenitic stainless steel material

Page 5 of 18
(e.g., 304H or HK40) after service times exceeding 1 year shall require a
re-solution heat treatment prior to welding.
5.4 Welds for high temperature service above 400C with stabilized grades shall be
subject to thermal stabilizing post weld heat treatment. This shall also apply for
cold worked parts in such grades and applications.
Commentary Note:
Refer to SABP-A-001 for guidance. The above requirement applies for

manufacturing and shop fabrication. For field welds, the requirement shall apply
if mandated by licensor and if nitrogen purging or soda ash neutralization is not
applied during shut down and if the service environment contains S or H 2S.
Any such cases shall be submitted through the welding procedure specification
review process with detailed evaluation for CSD approval.
6 Corrosive Services
6.1 The GTAW process shall be used for the following applications:
1) The root pass of single-sided groove welds without backing.
2) For all passes for piping, tubes, and nozzles of 2 inch nominal diameter or
less.
3) For all passes for wall thickness less than 9.5 mm for duplex stainless steel
or for wall thickness less than 6.5 mm for other Corrosion Resistant Alloys
(CRA).
4) For all passes and wall thicknesses for Titanium and its alloys.
6.2 All manual GTAW shall use a high frequency start and post-purge gas flow for
the torch. A remote current control (pedal or torch mounted) is required. Pre-set
power source current start/rise and decay/stop controls triggered by a foot switch
or torch mounted control is an acceptable alternative for the remote control.
6.3 For all GTAW welding, filler metal shall be added. Autogenous welding of any
pass is not permitted.
The filler metal shall be of matching grade and composition as the base metal
with the exception of alloys listed Table 1. The approval of alternate
consumables shall be through the WPS review process.
6.4 Preheating, if used to remove moisture, shall be carried out with lamps,
resistance heaters, or induction heating equipment or dry air. The maximum
interpass temperature during welding of austenitic stainless steel and nickel
alloy materials shall not exceed 175°C.

Page 6 of 18
6.5 Purging for welding of stainless steels and Ni-based alloys shall be done as
follows:
6.5.1 An inert backing gas shall be used for GTAW or GMAW on single-sided
groove welds.
6.5.2 During pre-weld purging, the joint area shall be adequately sealed at all
openings to maintain the purge and prevent any air ingress.
6.5.3 The purge times for the backing gas shall be calculated to give a theoretical
volume change of 6 times the enclosed pipe volume. Table 2 is shown
for information and can be used for the standard conditions as listed in
the table. Extra purging time is necessary if the purge gas inlet and
outlet (vent) cannot be placed at opposite ends of the enclosed volume in
order to insure complete displacement of the original air.
Commentary Note:
During welding, the purging flow rate shall be appropriate to ensure that
there is no positive pressure on the root and hence absence of any root
suck back.
6.5.4 Purging shall be maintained for at least three passes or 10 mm weld

metal thickness, whichever is higher. Welding of external attachments
(including reinforcement pad or sleeve) and seal welding, with wall
thickness less than 10mm shall not be conducted without back-purging.
6.5.5 The purge shall achieve actual oxygen levels inside or exiting the joint
(via the vent) no greater than 0.05% prior to and during welding, as
measured using an oxygen analyzer. The actual oxygen levels achieved
in production shall be measured periodically (i.e., on a random basis for
the number of joints to be performed). Analyzers shall be used for all
joints if excessive internal oxidation is observed on any joints based on
the visual appearance of the oxide tint. Analyzers shall be calibrated as
per manufacturer recommendations and copy of calibration certificate
shall be available for reference/verification by inspector, if required.
6.5.6 During pre-weld purging, the joint area shall be adequately sealed at all
openings to maintain the purge and prevent any air ingress.
6.5.7 If purge dams are to be used but cannot be retrieved after welding, then
proprietary dissolvable (water soluble) dams shall be used.
Commentary Note:
The contractor shall ensure that in that case, on dissolution, the purge
dams do not increase chloride content in water to or beyond the
Page 7 of 18
maximum limit specified for hydrotest. The contractor shall also ensure
that any residue left behind does not cause fouling of any valves in the
piping system during or after hydrotest.
6.5.8 Shop fabrication of stainless steel piping shall be maximized.

Shop fabrication welds shall be subject to internal visual inspection to
the extent specified in paragraph 6.9.1.
6.5.9 Purging shall be carried out for partial thickness repairs in stainless steel,
when the remaining ligament after the removal of the defect is less than
10 mm. Root or through-thickness repairs of stainless steel groove welds
in the field are not permitted, unless purging is carried out.
6.5.10 The entire piping spool/circuit shall be purged with backing gas for root
or through-thickness repairs of stainless steel groove welds in the field.
Commentary Note:
Alternatively, insertion of a pup-piece with purging using water soluble

dams may be considered.
6.6 Joint Design
For GTAW, the root gaps must be specified and maintained during welding at
equal to or larger than the root pass filler wire diameter.
Maximum internal misalignment between pipe or tube sections shall not exceed
1.6 mm.
6.7 Tacking
A minimum of 4 equi-spaced tacks around a pipe circumference shall be used.
Either root tacks or bridge tacks are permitted. Root tacks shall be welded in
accordance with the approved WPS for welding the joint using qualified
welders. Root tacks must be either feathered or ground out prior to making the
root pass. The requirements for purging in paragraph 6.5 shall also apply for
any tacks that are incorporated in the weld root (root tacks).
6.8 Technique
Either high frequency (HF) or high voltage (HV) arc initiation shall be used.
The continuous feed technique shall be used for the root pass (i.e., the filler wire
is positioned between the root faces and fed continuously into the weld pool).
Commentary Note:

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The welder must avoid narrow root gaps and improper travel speeds in order to
achieve the proper root bead deposit chemistry.
Stringer beads shall be used. Minor arc oscillation to ensure sidewall fusion is
permitted.
Whenever the welder stops welding, the welding current shall be gradually
decreased by use of the remote current control. The torch shall be held in position
close to the weld pool until the gas shielding post-purge flow is completed.
Grinding of all start/stops is required.

Commentary Note:
The maximum interpass temperature needs to be monitored regularly by the welder.
6.9 Inspection
6.9.1 Visual Inspection
6.9.1.1 All weld surfaces and heat affected zones must be free of dark
colored and heavy 'sugary' oxidization, pinholes, cracks,
crevices, undercut, lack of penetration, and incomplete fusion.
6.9.1.2 If the root ID surface can be visually inspected, the stop/starts

shall be examined. No crater defects, such as cracks, “suck-
back,” or shrinkage, are permitted. The general criteria listed
above shall also be met.
6.9.1.3 Where inaccessible for direct visual inspection of root area,

10% of butt welds in stainless steel material, shall be examined
using suitable remote visual inspection (RVI) equipment –
e.g., borescope, videoscope, etc. Examination shall include
weld and discoloration levels in HAZ. Sugaring of weld root is
not acceptable.
6.9.1.4 10% visual examination of internal surface shall be carried out

for external attachment welds on stainless steel piping with
wall thickness less than 10 mm.
Commentary Note:
Target discoloration level for RVI as per paragraphs 6.9.1.3 and

6.9.1.4 is No.6, AWS D18.2 or better.

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6.9.2 Penetrant Testing
Dye penetrant testing is to be carried out after repair excavations and

completion of all root passes on both production and repair welds.
Dye penetrant testing must also be carried out on any surface where
attachment welds have been removed.
6.9.3 Radiographic Examination
Radiography is required on all production and repair welds. The acceptance

criterion shall be in accordance with the ASME B31.3 'Normal Fluid
Service' category with the additional requirements of:
a) Zero lack of root penetration.
b) Zero lack of root fusion
6.9.3.1 ASME SEC V, Article 2 shall be used to determine the

minimum number and required locations of radiographs for
circumferential joints.
6.9.3.2 Fluorescent intensifying screens shall not be used.

Fluoro-metallic screens shall be approved by Saudi Aramco
Inspection prior to use.
6.9.3.3 All field radiographic exposures (vendor, shop, and yard

radiography are exempt) shall be performed using at least two
people, a SAEP-1140 or SAEP-1142 qualified Level II
radiographer and an assistant who is qualified to operate all of
the equipment.
6.9.3.4 If the joint is required to be radiographed and radiography is

not feasible; then, computerized advanced ultrasonic methods
that produce a permanent record can be used in lieu of
radiography. The application of ultrasonic testing shall be
approved by the Inspection Department.
6.9.4 Ultrasonic Testing
When ultrasonic testing is utilized for examination of welds in lieu of

radiography the following criteria apply:
6.9.4.1 Ultrasonic testing shall be performed in accordance with

ASME SEC V Article 4 using computerized advanced ultrasonic
methods that produce a permanent record.

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6.9.4.2 Ultrasonic examination of welds in material less than 1”

(25.4 mm) in thickness shall be conducted in accordance with
ASME B31.3 and ASME SEC V Article 4 Mandatory
Appendix IX.
6.9.4.3 Ultrasonic examination of welds in material equal or greater

than 1” (25.4 mm) in thickness shall be conducted in accordance
with ASME B31.3 or using Code Case 181 alternate acceptance
criteria.
6.9.4.4 Ultrasonic equipment, techniques, technicians, and procedures

shall be approved by the Inspection Department.
7 Special Requirements for 22 Cr Duplex and 25 Cr Duplex Stainless Steels
The following requirements are in addition to all requirements previously specified in

this standard.
7.1 Qualification of welding procedures for duplex stainless steel material shall
include the following supplementary essential variables and testing requirements:
7.1.1 The base metal UNS number shall be considered an essential variable.
7.1.2 The size of the filler wire used in welding the root pass of the test
coupon is considered an essential variable.
7.1.3 GTAW process must be used for the root and cold passes if the wall
thickness is equal to or greater than 9.5 mm. Heat input for second pass
or cold pass should be approximately 75% to that of root pass to prevent
secondary austenite formation.
7.1.4 Repair of defective welds requires separate repair welding procedure

qualifications if duplex stainless steel was used for corrosion resistance.
7.1.5 Ferrite content of the weld metal shall be measured, unless the weld metal
is nickel-based. The ferrite range must be within 35 to 60% as measured
by metallographic methods using a point count technique in accordance
with ASTM E562. Minimum ferrite content shall be 50% for services that
have potential for chloride stress cracking. The fabricator shall establish a
correlation between the percent ferrite as measured by metallographic
methods and the Ferrite Number (FN) as measured using AWS A4.2.
Ferrite measurements using both methods shall be recorded on the PQR.

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7.1.6 Corrosion testing to ASTM A923 Method C (Intermetallic Phase in

Duplex Stainless Steels) shall be performed.
7.1.7 Charpy impact testing shall be conducted on the weld metal and
HAZ at a test temperature of -20°C, or the minimum design temperature,
whichever is less. The minimum absorbed energy shall be 34/27 J
(25/20 ft-lb) for full size (10 x 10 mm) specimens. All of the
ASME SEC IX supplementary essential variables for impact tested
applications shall apply plus the special tolerances and restrictions on the
heat input as listed below.
The heat input shall be restricted to a minimum and maximum value. If a

single PQR is used, the WPS heat input shall be limited to plus or minus
10% of the actual PQR value. Otherwise, two PQR coupons are required
to establish both the minimum and maximum allowable heat inputs.
Portable Arc monitor (PAM) shall be used to record the actual welding
parameters & heat input while doing procedure qualification test.
7.1.8 Maximum interpass temperature as recorded on the PQR shall be

considered an essential variable. In no case shall the interpass temperature
be greater than 150°C for 22Cr duplex stainless steels and 100°C for 25Cr
super duplex stainless steels. The interpass temperature shall be checked
or monitored with the use of temperature indicating crayons suitable for
these materials, pyrometers or any other suitable methods.
7.1.9 Electrode brand and type shall be considered an essential variable.
7.1.10 Hardness testing in accordance with Standard Drawing AB-036386 shall

be conducted. Hardness shall not exceed 310 HV average, with no
single value above 320 HV for standard 22 Cr duplex stainless steel
grades. For all other grades, the limit shall be 340 HV average, with no
single value above 350 HV.
7.1.11 The requirements for purging in paragraph 6.5 shall be applicable, unless
specifically modified below.
7.2 Production Welding
7.2.1 The ferrite content of completed welds shall be checked in accordance

with AWS A4.2. It shall be within the range of 30 to 60% ferrite using
the appropriate Ferrite Number (FN) based on the correlation established
by the PQR measurements.
7.2.2 The welding parameters shall be monitored in order to confirm

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compliance with the minimum and maximum heat input restrictions.
7.2.3 For GTAW welding of duplex stainless steel, hydrogen free shielding
and purging gas (e.g., argon) shall be used to avoid possible cracking and
embrittlement of the weld. The purge shall achieve actual oxygen levels
inside or exiting the joint (via the vent) no greater than 0.05% prior to
and during welding, as measured using an oxygen analyzer. The actual
oxygen levels achieved in production shall be measured periodically
(i.e., on a random basis for the number of joints to be performed).
Analyzers shall be used for all joints if excessive internal oxidation is
observed on any joints based on the visual appearance of the oxide tint.
7.2.4 The interpass temperature shall be monitored to confirm compliance

with the maximum limit established by the PQR.
7.2.5 Hardness testing shall be conducted on a 20% random sampling of all

production welds. Both the weld metal and HAZ shall be tested.
Testing shall be conducted with portable hardness testers (TeleBrinell or
approved equivalent) that comply with ASTM A833. The hardness of
the reference bar shall be within ±10% of the maximum specified
hardness. The maximum hardness shall be 310 HV average, with no
single value above 320 HV for standard 22 Cr duplex stainless steel
grades. For all other grades, the limit shall be 340 HV average, with no
single value above 350 HV. Conversion charts in API TR 938 C shall be
used for determining acceptance of hardness measured and reported in
other scales.
8 Special Requirements for Titanium and its Alloys
Care to prevent contamination of the titanium by air must be exercised at all stages of
welding. Auxiliary gas or trailing gas shield shall be used to protect the weld.
Commentary Note:
Molten titanium weld metal must be totally protected from contamination by air. Also, hot
heat-affected zones and root side of titanium welds must be shielded until temperatures
drop below 800°F (427°C).
Similarly, hot titanium reacts with and is embrittled by most materials, including
organic and inorganic compounds and some metals. And in the case of welding
titanium to other refractory/reactive metals, detrimental alloy compositions or
compounds may form. Hence, the parts to be welded must be meticulously cleaned of
mill scale, oil and grease from machining operations, dust, dirt, moisture, and other
potential contaminants.

Page 13 of 18
The following requirements are in addition to all requirements previously specified in

this standard:
8.1 Qualification of welding procedures for titanium and its alloys shall include the
following supplementary essential variables and testing requirements:
8.1.1 The base metal UNS number shall be considered an essential variable.
8.1.2 The size of the filler wire used in welding of the test coupon is
considered an essential variable.
8.1.3 The trailing shield used for the qualification shall be the same as that
proposed to be used for the production.
8.1.4 Maximum interpass temperature as recorded on the PQR shall be

considered an essential variable. Interpass temperature shall be checked
with pyrometers or other suitable methods.
8.1.5 Filler wire brand and type shall be considered an essential variable.
8.2 Production Welding
8.2.1 All titanium materials, including consumables, shall be handled and

stored in such a manner that they are protected from contact with non-
titanium materials, such as iron- or nickel containing materials (storage
racks can be lined with wood or plastic; wood blocks shall be placed
under titanium before it is set on a concrete surface; fork protectors or
wood shall be used between forks and titanium.
8.2.2 The welding area shall be kept clean and protected from dirt, smoke, and
other airborne contaminants from welding, cutting, and grinding
operations. The working area shall be protected from wind and drafts
that can interfere with inert gas shielding. The humidity in the welding
area shall be monitored and all equipment, fixtures, etc., shall be free
from moisture.
8.2.3 When tack welds are used, the same cleaning and shielding requirements
used for all titanium welds shall be employed, including the use of
trailing shielding and purging.
8.2.4 Before starting welding, the torch, trailing shield, and purging gas hoses
and devices shall be pre-purged to minimize potential contamination at
the start of welding. Welding equipment and the GTA torch shall be
equipped with upslope, downslope control for current, pre-purge and
post-purge controls for shielding gas.
Page 14 of 18
8.2.5 Preheating, if used to remove moisture shall be carried out with lamps,
resistance heaters, or induction heating equipment; wiping with a volatile
solvent like acetone may also be used to dry material.
8.2.6 The welding parameters shall be monitored in order to confirm

compliance with the minimum and maximum heat input restrictions.
8.2.7 For GTA welding of Titanium and its alloys, only argon and helium or a
mixture of helium and argon is permitted for shielding, trailing and
purging. The purity of the gas shall be at least 99.995% and the dew
point of the gas shall be at least -60°F [-50°C].
8.2.8 The purge shall achieve actual oxygen levels inside or exiting the joint
(via the vent) no greater than 0.05% prior to and during welding, as
measured using an oxygen analyzer. Analyzers shall be used for all
joints if excessive internal oxidation is observed on any joints based on
the visual appearance of the oxide tint.
Commentary Note:
Light and dark straw colors indicate light contamination that is normally
acceptable. Dark blue indicates heavier contamination that may be
acceptable depending on the service conditions. Light blue, grey and
white indicate such a high level of contamination that they are regarded
as unacceptable.
8.2.9 The interpass temperature shall be monitored to confirm compliance

with the maximum limit established by the PQR.
8.2.10 Hardness testing shall be conducted on a 20% random sampling of all

production welds. Both the weld metal and HAZ shall be tested.
Testing shall be conducted with portable hardness testers (TeleBrinell or
approved equivalent) that comply with ASTM A833. The hardness of
the reference bar shall be within ±10% of the maximum specified
hardness. The maximum hardness shall be BHN 285 for non-sour
services. The maximum hardness shall be BHN 270 for sour service
unless NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 specifies a lower value, as determined
by using the hardness conversion between HRC and BHN in accordance
with ASTM E140.
8.2.11 Repairs are not permitted, weld shall be cut out and rewelded in the case
of any defects.

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Revision Summary
10 November 2014 Major revision to revising requirements for duplex stainless steel welding and added
requirements for qualification. Added requirements for Titanium welding qualifications and
production welding.
1 January 2018 Editorial revision to modify and/or delete paragraph 6.1 (4).
20 February 2019 Major revision. Clarify the welding purging requirements for stainless steel materials to
prevent the recurrence of MIC filature in SA capital projects in line with SAER-8166.
Clarity the RT and UT procedure and acceptance criteria similar to the mother welding
standards SAES-W-011 and in line with ASME requirements. Maintain the welding
standards up to date aligned with the international requirements/ practices and easily
interpreted.

Page 16 of 18
Summary of Changes
Paragraph Change Type

No. Technical Change
No. (New, Modification)
1 1.1 Formatting None
Added 6% Mo super austenitic stainless steels in
2 5.1 Modification
exclusion for ferrite measurement.
Modified Clarified that the requirement applies for
3 5.4
Commentary Note manufacturing and shop welds.
Added requirements for purging based on
4 6.5 Modified, New
SAER-8166 recommendations.
Added requirements for RVI based on SAER-8166
5 6.9.1 Modified, New
recommendations.
7.1.10, Revised acceptance criteria for hardness tests based
6 Modified
7.2.5 on industrial experience and published reports.
Added commentary note on clarification for
7 8.2.8 New
acceptable heat tints.
8 8.2.11 New Added restriction on repairs.
Removed references to trademarks and brands, such
9 Table 1 Modified as 254 SMO and replaced with generic names such as
6% Mo super austenitic stainless steel.

Page 17 of 18
Table 1 - Filler Metal and Electrode Selection (1)

Base Metal (4) GTAW Filler Metal SMAW Electrode
6%Mo super-austenitic stainless steel ERNiCrMo-3 (2) ENiCrMo-3 (2)
Alloy 400 ERNiCu-7 ENiCu-7
Alloy 20 ERNiCrMo-3 (2) ENiCrMo-3 (2)
Alloy C22/C276 ERNiCrMo-4 ENiCrMo-4
Alloy B2 ERNiMo-1 ENiMo-1
Alloy 600 ERNiCr-3 (3) ENiCrFe-3 (3)
Titanium and its alloys See note (6) Not Applicable
Notes:
1) Contact CSD for base metals not listed or for approval of alternative consumables. Ni-Fe-Cr alloys shall
not be welded with ENiCu-7 or ERNiCu-7 type consumables, to avoid hot cracking (liquid metal
embrittlement). For welding austenitic stainless steels in corrosive services, either low-carbon (C< 0.03%)
or stabilized filler materials shall be used. Weld metal containing Nb should not be avoided for service with
temperatures below -105°C.
2) Acceptable substitutes are ERNiCrMo-4 and ENiCrMo-4, respectively, for GTAW and SMAW.
3) Acceptable substitutes are ERNiCrMo-3 and ENiCrMo-3, respectively, for GTAW and SMAW.
4) (See SAES-L-132)
5) Common trade names are:
ERNiCrMo-3 (GTAW) Inconel 625
ENiCrMo-3 (SMAW) Inconel 112
ERNiCr-3 (GTAW) Inconel 82
ENiCrFe-3 (SMAW) Inconel 182
ERNiCu-7 (GTAW) Monel 60
ENiCu-7 (SMAW) Monel 190
6) Selection of filler metals for Titanium and its alloys shall be in accordance with AWS G2.4/G2.4M:2007.
The filler materials shall conform to the requirements of ASME SEC IIC, SFA 5.16.
Table 2 - Backing Gas Purge Times for Stainless Steel and Nickel alloy Pipe
Nominal Pipe Size Purge Time (minimum)
2 inch NS 0.5 minutes
4 2 minutes
6 4 minutes
8 7 minutes
10 10 minutes
12 15 minutes
16 25 minutes
Assumes use of argon gas at a flow rate of 20 CFH (9 lpm).
Listed times are for each 300 mm of pipe length to be purged (multiply
by actual length). Use the values for 300 mm for any shorter length.
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Engineering Standard

SAES-W-016 20 February 2019

Previous Issue: 1 January 2018 Next Planned Update: 20 February 2022

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved.

1.1.1 Severe corrosion service is defined as:

Use of stainless steel or nickel-based alloys for product cleanliness

1.1.2 High temperature service is defined as any application with a design

1.1.3 Additional requirements for duplex stainless steel and titanium/titanium

Refer to SAES-W-014 for welding requirements for overlays and

1.1.5 This standard is to be considered as a supplement to other Saudi Aramco

1.3 Additional requirements may be contained in Scopes of Work, Drawings, or

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

2 Conflicts and Deviations

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

Saudi Aramco Standard Drawing

Saudi Aramco Best Practice

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

American Welding Society

National Association of Corrosion Engineers/International Organization for

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

5 High Temperature Applications

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

Refer to SABP-A-001 for guidance. The above requirement applies for

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

6.5.4 Purging shall be maintained for at least three passes or 10 mm weld

6.5.8 Shop fabrication of stainless steel piping shall be maximized.

Alternatively, insertion of a pup-piece with purging using water soluble

6.6 Joint Design

A minimum of 4 equi-spaced tacks around a pipe circumference shall be used.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

Grinding of all start/stops is required.

The maximum interpass temperature needs to be monitored regularly by the welder.

6.9.1 Visual Inspection

6.9.1.2 If the root ID surface can be visually inspected, the stop/starts

6.9.1.3 Where inaccessible for direct visual inspection of root area,

6.9.1.4 10% visual examination of internal surface shall be carried out

Target discoloration level for RVI as per paragraphs 6.9.1.3 and

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

6.9.2 Penetrant Testing

Dye penetrant testing is to be carried out after repair excavations and

6.9.3 Radiographic Examination

Radiography is required on all production and repair welds. The acceptance

6.9.3.1 ASME SEC V, Article 2 shall be used to determine the

6.9.3.2 Fluorescent intensifying screens shall not be used.

6.9.3.3 All field radiographic exposures (vendor, shop, and yard

6.9.3.4 If the joint is required to be radiographed and radiography is

6.9.4 Ultrasonic Testing

When ultrasonic testing is utilized for examination of welds in lieu of

6.9.4.1 Ultrasonic testing shall be performed in accordance with

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

6.9.4.2 Ultrasonic examination of welds in material less than 1”

6.9.4.3 Ultrasonic examination of welds in material equal or greater

6.9.4.4 Ultrasonic equipment, techniques, technicians, and procedures

7 Special Requirements for 22 Cr Duplex and 25 Cr Duplex Stainless Steels