1.

PIPELINE TIE-INS

1.1 TIE-IN SPOOL & PIPELINE

A tie-in weld shall be a weld which connects one restrained string of pipeline to another restrained
string, or to the pipeline spool under construction.

Field cuts shall be true, square and accurate with no 'springing' required to make up the joints.

A tie-in weld shall not commence without prior approval from the COMPANY.

A string shall be considered restrained if sufficient accumulative forces are provided by 'tail'.

1.2 METHOD FOR TIE-IN OF PIPELINES

When the tie-in is made with the expansion spool/ tie-in spool, other end of pipeline shall be lifted
from the seabed to alongside the tie-in barge. If required tug has to maintain tension while the
end of the pipe string (which has already been laid) is picked up by the tie-in barge.

The CONTRACTOR shall ensure the lifted pipe has an S configuration. Clamps on the tie-in barge
then grip the pipe and the anchor system of the barge (or thrusters, if available) is activated to
take over the tension from the tug. The end of the expansion/ tie-in spool is brought alongside the
tie-in barge and aligned with the pipe and that is being held under tension. While welders connect
the two ends, the tug at the free end takes over the full tension, the tie-in barge releases the pipe
and manoeuvres out of the way and the pipelaying can continue. This tie-in procedure requires
thorough preparation and training of the operating personnel and good communication between
all parties involved. Requirements for special barge equipment are a clamp to be able to hold the
pipe under tension and tension gauges on this clamp.

The pipe ends are supported by the davit wires and floats (if necessary) until the pipe reaches
the seabed. Then divers release the davit wires from the pipe which is laying with a curve on the
seabed. The divers then also remove any floats that are still attached to the pipe.

1.3 Lifting Stress Analysis

CONTRACTOR/ SUB-CONTRACTOR shall carry out all tie-in operations in accordance with the
COMPANY / International specifications referenced herein.

CONTRACTOR/ SUB-CONTRACTOR shall carryout stress analysis of davit lifted pipelines in

either S or J lifts can be carried out using the computer program approved by the COMPANY.

1.4 PIPE PUPS

In general welding of the pup-pieces shall be avoided unless required for other reasons.

When pipe pups are required for the tie-in, the minimum length that may be used shall be 1.5m.
Under no circumstances shall two or more such pups be welded together. If pipe pups are used
by the CONTRACTOR/ SUB-CONTRACTOR, shall get approval from the COMPANY.
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1.5 FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT

When welding special items such as fittings and equipment, with different wall thicknesses,
CONTRACTOR/ SUB-CONTRACTOR shall transition the pipe in accordance with the relevant
Codes, Standards and Specifications listed in Section 3 and applicable welding procedure.

1.6 PRESSURE TESTED SECTIONS

For Tie-in of a section of Pipeline that has already been pressure tested, CONTRACTOR/ SUB-
CONTRACTOR shall ensure adjacent section overlap so that only one tie-in weld is required. The
tie-in of pressure tested pipeline sections, where an overlap is not available, shall be carried out
using a single length of pre-tested pipe. CONTRACTOR/ SUB-CONTRACTOR shall ensure that
during construction sufficient quantities of pre-tested pipe are readily available.

1.7 TIE-IN TO EXISTING FLOW LINES

Work on the tie-in to existing flowlines shall not commence until a procedure for the execution of
the tie-ins has been approved by COMPANY and a permit to commence tie-ins has been issued
by the COMPANY.

All existing pipelines will not necessarily be free of hydrocarbons when handed over to the
CONTRACTOR. The procedure for tie-ins shall therefore address:

 Safety

 Venting and depressurising

 Lifting and lowering

 Containment of hydrocarbons during swabbing

 Cold cutting (if required)

 Isolation of weld area (by bladders or plugs) in preparation for hot works.

 Alignment

 Weld preparations

 Weld procedures and qualification test

 NDE and testing

 Re-commissioning

 Site clean up