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A general term concerning the application of a piping system, considering the combination of fluid
properties, operating conditions, and other factors which establish the basis for design of the piping system.
Fluid is not flammable, not toxic or otherwise harmful to human tissues. Harmful means exposure that can
harm skin, eyes or mucous membranes that irreversible damage may result unless immediate action is
taken.
Design Gauge pressure is below 150 psi (1,035 kPa)
Design Temperature is between -20F to 366F (-29C to 186C)
An example of Category D fluid might be utility water in a plant or low pressure steam condensate.
Sour gas
Sour gas is natural gas or any other gas containing significant amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Natural gas
is usually considered sour if there are more than 5.7 milligrams of H2S per cubic meter of natural gas, which is
equivalent to approximately 4 ppm by volume under standard temperature and pressure. However, this
threshold varies by country, state, or even agency or application. For instance, the Texas Railroad
Commission considers a sour gas pipeline one that carries gas over 100 ppm by volume of H2S. However,
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has historically defined sour gas for upstream operations
which requires permitting, reporting, and possibly additional emission controls as gas that contains more than
24 ppm by volume. Natural gas that does not contain significant amounts of hydrogen sulphide is called "sweet
gas."
Although the terms acid gas and sour gas are sometimes used interchangeably, strictly speaking, a sour gas is
any gas that specifically contains hydrogen sulphide in significant amounts, whereas an acid gas is any gas that
contains significant amounts of acidic gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or hydrogen sulphide. Thus, carbon
dioxide by itself is an acid gas, not a sour gas. In addition to being toxic, hydrogen sulphide in the presence of
water also damages piping and other equipment handling sour gas by sulphide stress cracking. Natural gas
typically contains several ppm of volatile sulphur compounds, but gas from one well in Canada is known to
contain 90% hydrogen sulphide and others may have H2S contents in the tens of percent range.
A flexibility analysis is required if the Stress Engineer is in any doubt as to the ability of the system to satisfy
the above requirements. Typically a comprehensive analysis is not required if:
The following guidelines may be used for defining stress critical lines:
Process lines to and from strain sensitive equipments such as pumps, compressors and blowers.
Lines with operating temperature differences from base temperatures >= 180C for pipe sizes 6" and
larger and >= 330C for pipe sizes 4" and smaller.
Two phase flow piping such as blow down, and flare piping.
Lines connected to wellheads (applies to onshore and offshore oil and gas installations)
Lines subject to excessive deflection resulting from differential settlement (e.g. lines connected to
storage tanks), structural and/or equipment displacement.
Typically, engineering analysis, by visual inspection and quick manual calculations, are performed on the
following systems:
Lines with operating temperature differences from base temperatures >=80C for piping sizes 6" and
larger.