15TL4 text Recommended Practice for Care and Use of Fiberglass Tubulars API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 15TL4 SECOND EDITION, MARCH 1999 REAFFIRMED, OCTOBER 2013 Recommended Practice for Care and Use of Fibe[.]
Recommended Practice for Care and Use of Fiberglass Tubulars API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 15TL4 SECOND EDITION, MARCH 1999 REAFFIRMED, OCTOBER 2013 Recommended Practice for Care and Use of Fiberglass Tubulars Upstream Segment API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 15TL4 SECOND EDITION, MARCH 1999 REAFFIRMED, OCTOBER 2013 SPECIAL NOTES API publications necessarily address problems of a general nature With respect to particular circumstances, local, state, and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed API is not undertaking to meet the duties of employers, manufacturers, or suppliers to warn and properly train and equip their employees, and others exposed, concerning health and safety risks and precautions, nor undertaking their obligations under local, state, or federal laws Information concerning safety and health risks and proper precautions with respect to particular materials and conditions should be obtained from the employer, the manufacturer or supplier of that material, or the material safety data sheet Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right, by implication or otherwise, for the manufacture, sale, or use of any method, apparatus, or product covered by letters patent Neither should anything contained in the publication be construed as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent Generally, API standards are reviewed and revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn at least every five years Sometimes a one-time extension of up to two years will be added to this review cycle This publication will no longer be in effect five years after its publication date as an operative API standard or, where an extension has been granted, upon republication Status of the publication can be ascertained from the API Upstream Segment [telephone (202) 6828000] A catalog of API publications and materials is published annually and updated quarterly by API, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropriate notification and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this standard or comments and questions concerning the procedures under which this standard was developed should be directed in writing to the General Manager of the Upstream Segment, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should also be addressed to the director API standards are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices These standards are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these standards should be utilized The formulation and publication of API standards is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard API does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that such products in fact conform to the applicable API standard All rights reserved No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher Contact the Publisher, API Publishing Services, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 Copyright © 1999 American Petroleum Institute FOREWORD This recommended practice is under the jurisdiction of the API Subcommittee on Fiberglass and Plastic Tubulars American Petroleum Institute(API) Recommended Practices are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices These Recommended Practices are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound judgment as to when and where these Recommended Practices should be utilized The formation and publication of API Recommended Practices is not intended to, in any way, inhibit anyone from using any other practices API publications may be used by anyone desiring to so Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the General Manager of the Upstream Segment, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20005 iii CONTENTS Page SCOPE REFERENCES UNITS OF MEASURE PACKAGING TRANSPORTATION, HANDLING AND STORAGE 5.1 General 5.2 Transportation 5.3 Handling 5.4 Storage 2 2 FIBERGLASS TUBING 6.1 Preparation and Inspection Before Running 6.2 Stabbing, Making Up and Lowering 6.3 Pulling Tubing 6.4 Completion Practices 6.5 Fishing 6.6 Milling and Drilling 6.7 Causes of Fiberglass Tubing Problems 2 4 5 LINE PIPE 7.1 Ditch Preparation 7.2 Assembly 7.3 Pressure Testing 7.4 Back Filling 7.5 Surface Lines 5 7 REPAIR 8.1 Tubing 8.2 Line Pipe OPERATING CONDITIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS APPENDIX A APPENDIX B APPENDIX C APPENDIX D APPENDIX E APPENDIX F GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF A WRITTEN ADHESIVE BONDING PROCEDURE GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF A WRITTEN PIPE BONDER QUALIFICATION PROCEDURE 11 SAMPLE JOINT INSPECTION CHECKLIST 13 GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF A WRITTEN REPAIR PROCEDURE 15 TUBING MANUFACTURER’S INSPECTION TECHNIQUES AND CRITERIA 17 METRIC CONVERSION 19 Tables Pin End Thread Removal E-1 Recommended Visual Standards 18 v Recommended Practice for Care and Use of Fiberglass Tubulars ASTM1 D1599 Scope The purpose of this publication is to provide information on the transporting, handling, installing, and reconditioning of fiberglass tubulars in oilfield usage D2105 Note: No provision of this Recommended Practice shall be cause for rejection of fiberglass tubulars provided the threads are in accordance with the requirements of the applicable product specification D2584 Trouble-free service and maximum safety should result if this Recommended Practice is followed Fiberglass tubulars differ in properties from metallic tubular goods and different installation techniques are required D3839 Note: These recommendations are applicable to normal situations Exceptional conditions may warrant different practices It is not intended that these practices conflict with any regulatory code AWWA2 C-950 It is suggested that the selection of thread compound be given careful consideration by the user bearing in mind that a satisfactory compound should possess certain properties, the major of which are (1) to lubricate the thread surfaces to facilitate joint make up and break out without galling and (2) to seal voids between mating thread surfaces and effectively prevent leakage Thread compounds have a significant impact on the performance of tubulars, especially under combined loading conditions The manufacturer’s recommended thread compound, which has been qualified in accord with the API product specification, should be used A decimal/inch system is the standard for the dimensions shown in this document Nominal sizes will continue to be shown as fractions For the purposes of this recommended practice, the fractions and their decimal equivalents are equal and interchangeable Metric conversions are described in Appendix F Packaging Fiberglass tubulars shall be packaged so that the body and connections are protected during shipping, unloading, storing, and handling The manufacturer shall apply external and internal protectors of such design, material and mechanical strength to protect the threads, and/or ends, of the tubular and coupling from damage under normal handling and transportation External protectors shall cover the full length of the thread, or bonding area, on the pin and the internal protectors shall cover the equivalent total thread length of the internal thread, and/or bonding surface Protectors shall exclude foreign matter such as dirt from the threads and from the interior of the tubular The protectors shall contain no compounds capable of damaging the threads or promoting adherence of the protectors to the threads or bonding surfaces Refer to the appropriate product specification References This recommended practice includes, by reference, either in total, or part, the latest edition of other API, industry and government standards as listed: RP 5B1 Spec 15LR Spec 15HR AWWA Standard for Fiberglass Pressure Pipe Units of Measure CAUTION: The material safety data sheets for thread compounds should be read and observed Store and dispose of containers and unused compound in accord with appropriate regulations API Spec 5B A Test Method for Short-Time, Hydraulic Failure Pressure of Plastic Pipe, Tubing and Fittings A Test Method for Longitudinal Tensile Properties of Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Pipe and Tube A Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins A Standard Practice for Underground Installation of Flexible Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Pipe and Reinforced Plastic Mortar Pipe A Specification for Threading, Gauging and Thread Inspection of Casing, Tubing and Line Pipe Threads Gauging and Inspection of Casing, Tubing and Line Pipe Threads A Specification for Low Pressure Fiberglass Line Pipe A Specification for High Pressure Fiberglass Line Pipe 1American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428-2959 2American Water Works Association, 6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80235 API 15TL4 Transportation, Handling and Storage 5.1 GENERAL Fiberglass tubulars in general, and threads in particular are made with precision and require careful handling Whether new, used or reconditioned, they should always be handled with protectors in place 5.2 TRANSPORTATION 5.2.1 Observation of the following practices will assure that damage to the product does not occur The following precautions should be taken for truck transportation: a Trucks that haul tubulars should be the flatbed type and not pole trailers Bed length of the trailer should be sufficient so that no overhang occurs b The use of stripping under the bottom layer and between each layer is recommended to prevent damage to the tubulars, as well as to keep them from shifting For nominal 30 foot lengths, a minimum of four (4) stripping material supports are recommended Stripping material should not be placed on the transition or upset areas of the tubing Stripping material on the truck bed should be no more than six (6) feet apart, oriented perpendicular to the tubular body and aligned vertically, of uniform thickness within each layer and free of protruding nails It should be a material softer than the tubular Stripping must be placed as near to the end of the tubular as possible and still maintain vertical alignment c Load tubulars with all couplings (box ends) on the same end of the truck d Care should be taken to prevent chafing of joint shoulders on adjacent joints e Suitable tie-downs, such as woven cloth straps, should be used to secure the load Caution should be used to prevent damaging the tubulars when securing the load The manufacturer shall endeavor to locate the tie-downs such that bending of the tubulars is minimized For shipments other than by truck, packaging, loading and protection procedures shall be agreed upon between the purchaser and the manufacturer 5.3 HANDLING The following precautions should be observed in handling fiberglass tubulars: a Prior to unloading, make sure that the protectors are tightly in place Inspect the body for delaminations (bruises), crazing, indentations, contaminations, imbedments, or tears Upon request, the manufacturer shall furnish descriptive criteria pertaining to visual inspection b Avoid rough handling which might damage the body of tubulars of threads When tubulars are being loaded or unloaded, each length of bundle should be handled individu- ally Never unload fiberglass tubulars by pulling out the side stakes or sideboards and allowing the tubulars to roll off the trailer Do not use hooks for lifting as the ends of the tubular can be damaged Woven cloth slings with spreader bars are acceptable for unloading Note: Caution should be exercised that fiberglass tubulars are not unduly flexed during any handling operation Undue flexing occurs when the bend radius is smaller than the manufacturer’s recommended minimum bend radius 5.4 STORAGE The following precautions are recommended for storage of fiberglass tubulars: a Do not pile the tubulars directly on the ground, rails, steel or concrete floors Racks normally used for steel pipe and tubing are not suitable for fiberglass tubulars b The use of stripping under the bottom layer and between each layer is recommended to prevent damage to the tubulars, as well as to keep them from shifting For nominal 30 foot lengths, a minimum of four (4) stripping material supports are recommended Stripping material should not be placed on the transition or upset areas of the tubing Stripping material should be no more than six (6) feet apart, oriented perpendicular to the tubular body and aligned vertically, of uniform thickness within each layer, and free of protruding nails It should be a material with a surface that is softer than the fiberglass tubulars Stripping must be placed as near to the end of the product as possible and still maintain vertical alignment c Stagger adjoining lengths of tubulars in the tiers an amount approximating the length of the coupling d Block tubulars by nailing x (in.) or x (in.) wooden blocks at both ends of spacing strips e Tubulars should not be stacked higher than is convenient for safety, ease of inspections, loading and unloading Fiberglass Tubing 6.1 PREPARATION AND INSPECTION BEFORE RUNNING 6.1.1 Inspection criteria for fiberglass tubing differs from the criteria used for steel tubulars It is suggested that in preparation for visual examination of fiberglass tubing, the individual user familiarize himself with the inspection practices employed by the manufacturers, and summarized in Appendix E, along with the definition of defects contained in Table E-1 6.1.2 All fiberglass tubing, whether new, used or reconditioned should always be handled with thread protectors in place Tubing should be stored at all times on racks or on wooden or metal surfaces free of rocks, sand, or dirt If lengths of tubing are dragged in the dirt, the threads should be cleaned, inspected and serviced again as outlined in 6.1.9 10 API 15TL4 A.3.6 JOINT ASSEMBLY Detailed instructions should be provided for the application of the adhesive and alignment/mating of the joints This portion of the procedure will depend on the type of joints being bonded and should consider bonding to flanges and fittings A.3.6.1 Alignment Joints must be axially aligned Visually detectable misalignment is normally unacceptable A.3.6.2 Warming Bonding surfaces should be heated or cooled to bring to the appropriate bonding temperature Bonding surfaces should never be touched by fingers or tools after cleaning A.3.6.3 Adhesive application Specific instructions relative to application of the mixed adhesive is required Instructions normally require brush application of a thin uniform coat (3 to 10 mils) on both surfaces Excess adhesive may interfere with obtaining a locked position on tapered joints Apply adhesive to the bell first to reduce potential for contamination A.3.6.4 Alignment and locking of the joint Instruction on how the bell and spigot are to be engaged The instructions will vary depending on the type of joint being used For a tapered bell and spigot joint, the instructions will normally include the use of rubber mallets on small diameter pipe (< in.) and hydraulic come-alongs on larger diameter pipe (> in.) If a hydraulic come-along is used, the pressure required to obtain lock-up is specified along with a maximum pressure loss if the joint is vibrated or tapped with the mallet (to indicate proper lock-up) A.3.7 HEAT ASSISTED CURING Requirements for, and acceptable methods of, assisting the joint cure through addition of external heat should be considered A.3.7.1 The requirement A statement is needed to define when heat assistance is required A.3.7.2 The method A statement describing the method to be used to provide the external heat is required Specific equipment identification is normally provided A.4 Examination/Documentation Each bonded joint should be visually examined and documented if required A suggested inspection sheet is provided as Appendix C A.5 Procedure/Personnel Qualification Written procedures, and bonding personnel, should be qualified prior to field use Appendix B provides an outline for personnel qualification APPENDIX B—GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF A WRITTEN PIPE BONDER QUALIFICATION PROCEDURE B.1 Scope B.3.3.1 Qualification sample The specimen on which qualification testing is to be performed should be identified in terms of size, pressure rating and joint type Normally, the bonder works with his crew, and the largest pipe covered by the procedure is bonded The applicability of the qualification tests should be stated in terms of pipe size, pressure class, and joints B.2 References B.3.3.2 Grading of sample joint The qualifying agency representative will observe the fabrication of the bonded joint and grade the bonder on his knowledge and application of the procedure Applicable reference practices, standards, and commercial literature should be clearly identified B.3 Instruction B.4 Sample Evaluation All personnel on installation crews should be provided with instruction on the bonding procedure and joints to be bonded The method of testing the sample should be clearly defined Normally, a short-term pressure-to-failure test in accordance with ASTM D1599 is specified Loading should be in both the axial and circumferential directions Acceptance criteria should be specified B.3.1 INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS Instruction requirements should be stated in terms of who is to instruct and what information is to be covered B.5 Qualification B.3.2 EXAMINATION Only persons who pass the written examination, who demonstrate a practical knowledge of the procedure and method and whose test sample passes the criteria of B.4 should be qualified to bond in accordance with the written procedure Pipe bonders are required to pass a written examination prior to proceeding with qualification B.3.3 QUALIFICATION TEST BOND Each bonder to be qualified should be required to bond a sample connection using the written procedure, and have passed the written examination 11