API-11

API Standard 1104: Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities

• The standard specifies the equipment requirements for welding, including gas and arc welding, to ensure acceptable welds, continuity of operation, and safety of personnel
• It applies to the welding of pipe and piping components that conform to material and product specifications from various organizations such as API, ASME International, ASTM International, MSS, and ANSI
• All filler metals and fluxes used in welding must conform to specific AWS specifications, and their welding procedure specifications must be qualified
• Filler metals and fluxes should be stored and handled to avoid damage, and damaged or deteriorated ones should not be used
• The standard outlines the types of shielding gases that can be used for welding and emphasizes the importance of their purity and dryness for the welding process
• Shielding gases must be stored in their original containers and away from extremes of temperature, and those of questionable purity or in damaged containers should not be used
• The standard specifies the qualification process for welding procedures using manual welding, semi-automatic welding with filler metal additions, mechanized welding with filler metal additions, and automatic welding without filler metal additions
• A detailed welding procedure specification must be established and qualified before production welding is started to demonstrate suitable mechanical properties and soundness of the welds
• The details of each qualified procedure must be recorded and maintained as long as the procedure is in use
• The welding procedure specification must include information about the specific process or method of application used
• The standard emphasizes the importance of adhering to the welding procedure specifications, except where a change is specifically authorized by the company
• The standard provides a sample form to record the details of each qualified procedure, but it does not exclude adding other details

Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities - Key Terminology

• Internal concavity (IC) is a concave bead fused to the pipe wall, with its center below the inside surface.
• Mechanized welding is a process with controlled parameters and torch guidance, which may be manually varied.
• Multiple repairs refer to more than one individual repair location in a completed weld.
• A partial thickness repair extends into the weld but does not completely penetrate through its thickness.
• Position welding is welding in which the pipe or assembly is not rotating during the weld deposition.
• A qualified welder has demonstrated the ability to produce welds meeting specific requirements.
• A qualified welding procedure specification is a tested and proven detailed method for producing sound welds.
• A radiographer is a person who performs radiographic operations.
• A repair is any grinding or welding on a completed weld to correct defects rejected by testing.
• A repair procedure is a tested and proven detailed method for producing sound repairs.
• Rework is the removal of imperfections prior to visual or nondestructive testing of a completed weld.
• Roll welding involves rotating the pipe or assembly while depositing the weld metal.