ASME B 31.

4
B31.4 - 2012 - Pipeline
Transportation Systems for
Liquid Hydrocarbons and
Other Liquids
Arun Sankar E M

Scope of ASME B31.4

Scope of ASME B31.4

Scope-Piping
Includes
Pipe
Flange
Bolting
Gasket
Valves
Relief devices
Fittings
Hangers and supports

Doesnt include
Frames of buildings
Stanchions
Foundations

Includes
Primary and associated auxiliary liquid petroleum and
anhydrous liquid ammonia piping at pipeline terminals
(marine,rail, truck), tank farms, pupm stations and
metering stations including scrper traps, strainers and
prover loops
Storage and working tanks including pipe type storages
fabricated from pipes and fittings and pipeng
interconnecting these facilities
Liqid petroleum and liquid anhydrous ammonia piping
located on property which has been reserved for piping
within the refinery,gas processing, natural gasoline,
ammonia and bulk plants

Doesnt apply to
Auxiliary pipings such as water, steam,fuel, air, lubicating oil, and gas
Pressure vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, meters and other such equipments
including onternal piping and connections for pipings except as limited by para
423.2.4 (b)
Piping designed for internal pressures < or = 15 psig
Piping designed for internal pressures > 15 psig and and design temperature <
-30 C or >120 C
Casting, tubing and pipes used in oil wells, wellhead assemblies oil and gas
separators, crude oil production tanks and other production facilities
Petroleum refinery, natural gasoline, gas processing, ammonia, and carbon
dioxide processing and bulk plant piping except as covered in 400.1.1 (c)
Gas transmission and distribution pipings
Design and fabrication of proprietary items of equipment, apparatus or
instruments,except as limited by para. 423.2.4(b)
Ammonia refrigeration piping
Carbon dioxide gathering and field distribution systems

Chapter II Design
Part-I: Conditions and criteria
Conditions
Pressure:
Internal design pressure- shall not be less than maximum stady state
operating pressure
maximum stady state operating pressure= static head+pressure required
to overcome frictional losses+any required back pressure
External design pressure- designed to withstand max possible differential
bet internal and external pressures

Temperature:
-30 C to 120 C

Ambient Influences,fluid expansion effects

Dynamic effects
Weight effects
Thermal expansion and contraction loads
Relative movement of connected components

Design criteria
Pressure temperature criteria-for piping components
having specific ratings, within the metal temperature
limits of -30C and 120 C the metal shall conform to
those stated for 40 C in table 423.1
Allowable stress, S= 0.72 x E x specified minimum
strength of the pipe(Mpa)
E= weld joint factor
Allowances for corrosion,threading and grooving, weld
joint factors and wall thickness and defect tolerences
Fracture propagation in Carbon dioxide lines

Pressure Design of piing components

Pressure design of components
tn= t+A
tn= nominal wall thickness
t= pressure design wall thickness
A= sum of allowances mm
Pi= design gauge pressure, bar
D=outside diameter of pipe, mm
S= applicable allowable stress value, Mpa

 For straight pipe under internal pressure,

t= Pi x D / 20S

Curved segment of pipes

Intersections
Attachments
Flanges
Reducers
Valves

 Part 4: Selection and limitation of

piping joints
Part 5: Expansion,
flexibility,structural attachments,
supports and restraints
Part 6: Auxiliary and other specific
piping

Chapter-3
Materials

Chapter 4- dimensional requirements

 Chapter 5: construction, welding and

assembly
Chapter 6: Inspection and testing
Chapter 7: Operation and
maintenance procedures
Chapter 8: Corrosion control
Chapter 9: offshore liquid pipeline
systems