PNEUMATIC PRESSURE TEST

PROCEDURE

TUNISIA
- SFAX: Road Mahdia Km 1, N84 Street Mohamed Ikbal, P.O. Box: 89A 3099 Sfax Tunisia, Tel: +216
74232032 / Fax: +216 74234717.
- TUNIS: 13 Street Michael Noaima 2080 Arian Tunisia, Tel: +216 71 820205, Fax: 71 820128.
- GABES: Street Environment Chenini Nahal 6041,Tel / Fax: +216 75229440.
LIBYA: BECA Libya For Inspection, Testing And Analysis, Street 16 off 11 June Road Nearby Ben Zahra
Mosque Souk Al Joumaa Tripoli Libya,Tel / Fax: +218 (0) 213501973.
ABU DHABI: BECA Abu Dhabi, Branch UAE, P.O. Box: 129865 Abu Dhabi UAE, Tel: +971(0) 25102400,
Fax: +971 (0) 25589961. TECHNICAL DEPARTEMENT
GABON: BECA Securale De Gabon, Boulevard Lon MBA Quartier Littoral face central SEEG B.P. N1701 BECA COMPANY
Port Gentil Gabon, Tel / Fax: +241 01569527.
CONGO : Luanda Pointe Noire Congo
Tel : +242069069213 Email:beca.congo@becacompany.com
 PNEUMATIC PRESSURE TEST PROCEDURE PCI-PR-29-02

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 PNEUMATIC PRESSURE TEST PROCEDURE PCI-PR-29-02

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. SCOPE .4
2. PURPOSE 4
3. REFERENCE CODES & STANDARDS ..4
4. EQUIPMENT ...4
5. PERSONNEL ...4
6. SURFACE PREPARATION ...4
7. PROCEDURE ...5
8. INDICATION OF LEAKAGE .....5
9. REPAIR/RETEST ......5
10. CLEANING ...5
11. INSPECTION REPORT .....5
12. SAFETY ....5
13. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA .....5

This document is the property of BECA; no part of it shall be reproduced or transmitted without prior written BECAs authorization.
PCI-PR-29-02 Page 3 of 5 Revision 2
 PNEUMATIC PRESSURE TEST PROCEDURE PCI-PR-29-02

1. SCOPE

The objective of the pneumatic pressure testing is to locate leaks in the welds of the reinforcement
plates to shell plates and pontoons of floating roof .This is accomplished by applying a soap
solution to a local area of the pressure boundary surface and creating a differential pressure across
that local area of the boundary causing the formation of bubbles as leakage gas passes through the
solution.

2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is provide a guide line to carry out the Pneumatic pressure test to
check soundness of welds of the reinforcement plates to shell plate and the welds of roof seam of
cone roof tank.
3. REFERENCES CODES & STANDARDS

API-650 (Latest edition) (7.3.4) Eleventh Edition

TABLE I-1021 of ASME Section V, July 1, 2008 Edition.

4. EQUIPMENTS

4.1. The test scheme shall have suitable connections, necessary valve and calibrated pressure
gauge. The gauge shall have a range of 0 psi to 15 psi or equivalent Pressure limits such as 0 in.Hg to
30 in.Hg.

4.2. An air pressure can be created by any convenient method, such as connection to a gasoline or
diesel motor intake manifold or to an air ejector or pump.

4.3. Gases: The test gas will normally be air; however inert gases may be used.

4.4. Bubble solution: As per ASME-V, I-1032.

5. PERSONAL

The personnel shall be competent and have thorough knowledge in performing this method.
6. SURFACE PREPARATION

The surface to be examined and all adjacent areas shall be cleaned thoroughly and free from
all dirt, grease, lint, scale, welding flux, weld spatters, paint, oil and other extraneous matter that
could obstruct surface openings or otherwise with the examination.
Prior to pneumatic pressure testing, joint shall be checked visually.

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 PNEUMATIC PRESSURE TEST PROCEDURE PCI-PR-29-02

7. PROCEDURE

SHELL APPURTENANCES-
REINFORCEMENT PLATES TO SHELL PLATES WELDS
The temperature of the surface of the part to be examined shall not be below 40F( 5C) nor above
125F( 50C)
Make 6mm diameter-screw threaded Tell tale hole in the reinforcement pads before its welding to
shell and shell appurtenances.
The reinforcements pads shall be tested by applying up to 2 psi in the pressure gauge between the
tank shell and reinforcement plates on each opening using tell tale hole
Use soap suds on welds between reinforcement plate to shell, reinforcement plate to
appurtenances to shell plate if any defect noticed. Repair the defective weld and repeat the test till
entire satisfaction.
Close the tell tale with a bolts or screw.

8. INDICATION OF LEAKAGE:

The presence of continuous bubble growth on the surface of the material indicates leakage
through an orifice passage(s) in the region under examination.

A minimum light intensity of 1000 lux is required for conducting the examination.

9. REPAIR/RETEST

Defects in welds shall be repaired by chipping, grinding or melting out the defects from one side or
both sides of the joints, as required and rewelding. Only the cutting out of defective joints that is
necessary to correct the defects is required.
After repairing retest of Pneumatic pressure test shall be carried out.

10. CLEANING
After test the area shall be thoroughly cleaned for the further activities.

11. INSPECTION REPORT

The test shall be carried out in presence of the Engineer In charge /HCPL Inspector.
Upon satisfactory inspection, a report shall be prepared as per HPCL
approved format.

12. SAFETY

Safety shall be followed as per HSE specification during test.

13. Acceptance Criteria:

The area under test is acceptable when no continuous bubble formation is observed.

This document is the property of BECA; no part of it shall be reproduced or transmitted without prior written BECAs authorization.
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