SPECIFICATION FOR BELOW GROUND PIPING

1 27.08.2020 Issue NV US SVK

Rev. Date Revision Description Issued By Checked By Approved By

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 SCOPE.......................................................................................................................................................2
 1.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................2
2.0 DEFINATION.............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 TECHNICAL...............................................................................................................................................3
2.2 CONTRACTUAL.........................................................................................................................................3
3 DESIGN........................................................................................................................................................4
3.1 CODES AND STANDARDS..........................................................................................................................4
3.2 INSTALLATION..........................................................................................................................................4
3.3 LAYOUT....................................................................................................................................................5
3.4 TRENCH EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL.......................................................................................................6

Change Log Summary

1.1 INTRODUCTIONS

1.1.1 This specification covers the minimum requirements for the design, fabrication, installation,
inspection and testing of underground piping for refineries, onshore oil and gas installations and
processing facilities, including piping items purchased either directly or as a part of a package.

1.1.2 This specification is limited to below ground process piping, process drains, including fire water
mains, foam lines (where specified) cooling water lines, mains water supply and plant potable water
supply.

inform the Owner in writing and receive written clarification before proceeding with the work.

1.1.8 This General Engineering Specification will form part of the Purchase Order/Contract.

1.0 DEFINATION

2.1 TECHNICAL
The technical terms used in this specification are defined as follows:

Design Drawings (Studies)

/ closed or when pumps are started / stopped.

2.2 CONTRACTUAL
The commercial terms used in this specification are defined as follows:

Owner

The oil or gas company, an associate or subsidiary, who is the end user of the equipment and facilities,

Contractor
The main contractor for a defined piece of work

Sub-Contractor

A company awarded a contract by a Contractor to do part of the work awarded to the Contractor.

Inspection Authority

The

3 DESIGN

3.1 CODES AND STANDARDS

The governing codes for buried piping are ASME B31.3 "Process Piping" for steel piping and
thermoplastic piping and AWWA C950 "Fiber Glass Pressure Pipe" for GRP piping. These codes
together and the following codes and standards shall be deemed to be part of this specification.
All recommendations shall apply, unless specifically modified herein.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA 11 Standards for Low Expansion Foam.

3.2 INSTALLATION

3.2.1 Depth of Cover (To Top of Pipe)

Depth of Cover in Feet (Meters)

Accessible to Traffic Inaccessible to Traffic

Steel Piping (Coated & Wrapped) 2'(0.6m) 1'(0.3m)

Fire Water Lines

Steel Piping (Plastic Lined) 2'(0.6m) 1'(0.3m)

Fire Water Lines

Steel Piping (Coated & Wrapped) 2'(0.6m) 1'(0.3m)

NPS 24 and Below

Steel Piping (Plastic Lined) 2'(0.6m) 1'(0.3m)

NPS 24 and Below

Steel Piping (Coated & Wrapped) 3'(0.9m) 2' (0.6m)

 Above NPS 24

Steel Piping (Plastic Lined) 3'(0.9m) 2' (0.6m)

Above NPS 24

Glass-Reinforced Plastic Pipe (GRP) 4'(1.2m) 3'(0.9m)

Steel Piping (Cement Lined) 4'(1.2m) 3'(0.9m)

3.3 LAYOUT
3.3.1 Cooling Water Lines in Process Areas

Buried cooling water piping in Process Areas shall be laid out with consideration to other underground
services in the same vicinity, e.g. sewers and cable trenches. In general, where there is interference in
elevation between underground services, sewers, which are limited by gravity fall, and cable trenches,
which are normally near or at the grade level, shall take priority in elevation.

Underground lines shall be grouped together, in a common trench where feasible, with a common bottom
of pipe elevation.

Where two or more lines are running parallel, they shall have a minimum distance of 1.0 ft (0.3m) between
the outside diameters of the lines. This dimension may be reduced for short distances in congested areas.

The minimum clear distance between buried lines, where lines cross, shall be 0.5 ft (0.15m).

The minimum clear distance between buried piping operating at ambient temperatures and electrical and
instrument cables shall be 1.0 ft (0.3m). The minimum clear distance between buried piping operating
above ambient temperatures to a maximum of 140°F (60°C) and electrical and instrument cables shall be
2.0 ft (0.6m).

Valves in buried lines shall be accessible from installed valve boxes, so that the valve may be operated
either by extension key from grade, or from the floor of the valve box. The valve box shall be provided with
ladder access to the floor and shall be designed to provide sufficient space at one side of the valve for
access and maintenance. Where a valve is remotely operated, adequate space shall be provided for the
actuator. The concrete valve box shall be designed.

Instruments, e.g. flow meters, in buried lines shall be located in installed instrument boxes, which shall be
designed to provide sufficient space for maintenance of the instrument. Provision shall be made so that
the instrument maybe read locally from grade level, in addition to any remote reading requirements.

3.3.2 Fire water mains

Fire water ring mains, particularly when constructed of GRP material, shall generally be buried when
located around process areas and tank age areas for protection from a hydrocarbon fire and located just
off the hard shoulder of access roads, for protection from accidental damage from vehicles. Valves in
buried fire mains shall be installed in accordance with fire water system, paragraph 3.3.
3.3.3 Foam Lines

Foam lines within a dyked area containing storage tanks for flammable liquids or within 50 ft (15m) of a
tank that is not dyked, shall be buried with a minimum cover of 1 ft (0.3m), in accordance with NFPA 11.

3.4 TRENCH EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL

Trenches for buried lines, lined or unlined, shall be excavated to the required widths as listed in Table I
below.

TABLE I
MINIMUM TRENCH WIDTHS

Pipe Size (NPS) Minimum Trench Widths Inches (m)

4” 18” (0.45m)
6” 20” (0.50m)
8” 22” (0.55m)
10” 24” (0.60m)
12” 26” (0.65m)
14” 28” (0.70m)
16” 30” (0.75m)
18” 32” (0.80m)
20” 36” (0.90m)
24” 40” (1.00m)
30” 46” (1.20m)
36” 52” (1.30m)
42” 58” (1.50m)
48” 64” (1.60m)

The above table covers individual lines. When two or more lines are routed together in a common trench,
then half the above values shall be taken for each outside line in a bank, plus the minimum spacing
between lines, shall be taken when calculating the minimum trench width.

Excavation and backfill for buried lines, lined or unlined, the minimum soil cover for GRP buried piping
shall be not less than 2.5 ft (0.76m).

Backfilling shall not take place, until field hydrostatic testing is completed, and the pipe has been examined
for leaks.