Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard - NDT

Engineering ProcedureSAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT PersonnelNon-Destructive Testing Standards Committee Members19 May 2009Qadeeb, Fathi Essa, ChairmanSubaii, Ghazzay Mohammed, Vice ChairmanGahtani, Moraya SaifWescott, Edward AnthonyPerez, Jaime PaunlaguiMotairy, Motlaq SaleemCarswell, Raymond J.Scales, Thomas EdwardSaudi Aramco DeskTop StandardsTable of Contents1234567Scope.Conflicts and on of Examinations.Certification.2223345Appendix I - Approved National CertificationPrograms. 6Appendix II - Individual Certification Techniques. 7Appendix III – Saudi Aramco Required PracticalVerification Examinations 8Previous Issue: 29 February 2004 Next Planned Update: 19 May 2014Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right marginPrimary contact: Fathi, Essa Al-Qadeeb on 966-3-8720262Copyright Saudi Aramco 2009. All rights reserved.Page 1 of 8

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards CommitteeIssue Date: 19 May 2009Next Planned Update: 19 May 20141SAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT PersonnelScopeThis Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP) establishes the minimum training,examination, qualification, and certification requirements of contractor, subcontractor,consultant, or other non-Saudi Aramco personnel performing, interpreting, or otherwiseaffecting the results of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) operations during purchase,construction, or maintenance of plant and equipment being purchased, constructed, oroperated for Saudi Aramco.23Conflicts and Deviations2.1Any conflicts between this procedure and other Saudi Aramco EngineeringProcedures (SAEP's), Engineering Standards (SAES’s), Materials SystemSpecifications (SAMSS's), Standard Drawings (SASD's), or industry standards,codes, and forms shall be resolved in writing by the Company or BuyerRepresentative through the Manager, Inspection Department of Saudi Aramco,Dhahran.2.2Direct all requests to deviate from this procedure in writing to the Company orBuyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302and forward such requests to the Manager, Inspection Department of SaudiAramco, Dhahran.References3.1Saudi Aramco ReferencesSaudi Aramco Engineering ProcedureSAEP-3023.2Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of aMandatory Saudi Aramco EngineeringRequirement.Industry Codes and StandardsAmerican National Standards Institute/The American Society ForNondestructive Testing, Inc.ANSI/ASNT CP-189Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel(Latest Revision)ASNT SNT-TC-1ARecommended Practice for PersonnelQualifications and CertificationPage 2 of 8

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards CommitteeIssue Date: 19 May 2009Next Planned Update: 19 May 2014SAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT PersonnelBritish Standards InstitutionBS EN 473Non-Destructive Testing – Qualification andCertification of NDT Personnel – GeneralPrinciplesInternational Organization for StandardizationISO 9712:2005 edition45Non-Destructive Testing – Qualification andCertification of NDT PersonnelGeneral4.1This procedure shall cover any and all NDT methods or operations and shallinclude, but not be limited to, those listed in ANSI/ASNT CP-189.4.2Any organization supplying, employing or delegating NDT personnel shall havea written practice or procedure covering NDT personnel training, experience,qualification and certification. This written practice shall meet or exceed theminimum requirements of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 (latest edition) plus theadditions and clarifications outlined in this SAEP. However, NDT personnelperforming NDT out of kingdom (OOK) as a result of procurement of materialsor equipment obtained from OOK vendors using Purchase Orders may becertified to a nationally recognized program as listed in Appendix I. An updatedlist of these programs is maintained by the Supervisor, NDT Unit, Saudi AramcoInspection Department, Dhahran. The organization's NDT personnelqualification and certification procedure shall be submitted to the Saudi AramcoInspection Department, Dhahran, for review and approval prior to thecommencement of any NDT operations.4.3All documentation shall be prepared in the English language.4.4Personnel responsible for interpretation of or affecting the results of NDToperations shall be certified to a minimum of Level II per the certifyingorganization's written practice.4.5The written practice shall include and specify the qualification/certificationrequirements for both conventional and advanced NDT methods.Training5.1Training programs for any NDT method shall include at least the body ofknowledge shown in Appendix B of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 for the applicablemethod and be of the minimum required hours shown in Appendix A ofANSI/ASNT CP-189 in the NDT method being certified.Page 3 of 8

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards CommitteeIssue Date: 19 May 2009Next Planned Update: 19 May 20146SAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT Personnel5.2If the current employer has not administered the training being claimed forqualification, or the experience being claimed for qualification was not gainedwith the current employer, the current employer shall verify the claimed trainingand/or experience in writing from the previous employer(s) and retain theverification on file. Any claimed training or experience that cannot be verifiedand documented shall be considered invalid.5.3Wet ink originals are the only acceptable documentation of previous training.Photocopies may be made and kept on file. The responsible NDT Level III shallverify the documentation and attest in writing to its validity.5.4Saudi Aramco shall have the right to request submission of, or be granted accessto, any and all training, experience, qualification, and certification recordspertaining to NDT personnel. This applies to any organization covered underthe scope of this document.Qualification of Examinations6.16.2Access to qualification materials shall be limited and the qualificationexaminations shall be maintained in secure files. Training course materials andexaminations shall be available for review or assessment by Saudi AramcoInspection Department.6.1.1Written qualification examinations shall contain questions covering atleast the body of knowledge listed in Appendix B of ANSI/ASNT CP189 in the method being examined.6.1.2Questions used in general examinations for Level I and Level IIpersonnel shall be similar in type and difficulty to those published byASNT. Questions shall not be used verbatim from the ASNT publishedlists. Examinations shall be established from a database of questions thatensures that no two candidates receive more that 25% of identicalquestions during any individual examination session.6.1.3Specific examinations shall be tailored to NDT techniques listed inAppendix II. The specific examination shall also cover experience andknowledge of recognized standards and codes for the technique beingused.Practical Examinations6.2.1In addition to the employer's practical examination requirements as perANSI/ASNT CP-189, Saudi Aramco may, at it's sole discretion, requireall NDT personnel, as well as any individuals interpreting or influencingPage 4 of 8

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards CommitteeIssue Date: 19 May 2009Next Planned Update: 19 May 2014SAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT Personnelthe interpretation of NDT results to take and pass a verificationexamination administered by Saudi Aramco.6.2.26.3Verification examinations for personnel performing advanced NDTmethods as shown in Appendix III and personnel affecting theinterpretation thereof shall be administered by Saudi Aramco or anapproved independent test authority.Visual Acuity ExaminationsVision examinations shall be performed annually. The examinations shall bedocumented and retained in the individual files.7Certification7.1Individual NDT methods may be subdivided into specialized techniques as listedin Appendix I; performance qualification may be required in each of theapplicable specialized techniques at the discretion of the Inspection DepartmentNDT Unit, Dhahran as listed in Appendix III. Limited certifications in NDTmethods are acceptable providing the training and education requirements arereduced to not less than half for that particular method. For example: Level IIUT personnel are required to possess 1) a total of 80 hours training; 2) total of800 hours experience in UT; and 3) a total of 1600 hours total NDT experience.A level II UT Thickness Gauging certification would require at least half ofthose same hours of training (40) and experience (400) with the bulk of thetraining in thickness gauging operations.7.2Personnel performing or evaluating NDT results shall be certified in the NDTmethod or specialized technique being used.7.3Recertification7.3.1Level I and II personnel shall be recertified by the employer.Recertification by demonstration of experience is not permitted.7.3.2Level III personnel shall be recertified by verification of the individual'sASNT Level III certificate in each method for which recertification issought. A practical examination may be required as well for level IIIrecertification as per 6.2.1 at the discretion of the Saudi Aramco HeadLevel III.Revision Summary19 May 2009Minor revision.Page 5 of 8

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards CommitteeIssue Date: 19 May 2009Next Planned Update: 19 May 2014SAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT PersonnelAppendix I - Approved National Certification ProgramsThe following Certification Programs for NDT personnel are acceptable:PCN SchemeAWSCSWIPJapanese Society of Nondestructive Testing (JSNDT)Other National schemes meeting requirements of EN 473For out of kingdom NDT performed as a result of purchase orders, ASNT SNT-TC-1A(latest edition or that specified by governing code) is acceptable.An updated list is held by:SupervisorNDT UnitOperations Inspection DivisionInspection DepartmentSaudi AramcoDhahranTel: 966-3-874-6605Fax966-3-873-7903Page 6 of 8

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards CommitteeIssue Date: 19 May 2009Next Planned Update: 19 May 2014SAEP-1142Qualification of Non-SaudiAramco NDT PersonnelAppendix II - Individual Certification TechniquesTraining and Certification shall be required in the following methods and sub methods.This list shall be subject to revision at any time and reference should be made to theNDT Standards Committee for the latest revision:Visual TestingMagnetic Particle TestingLiquid Penetrant TestingRadiographic Testing (Manual & Automated)Radiographic Film InterpretationUltrasonic Testing (Automated Corrosion Mapping)Ultrasonic Testing (Automated Pipeline Girth Weld Inspection)Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (Plate & Pipe - Manual)Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (Branch Connection - Manual)Ultrasonic Testing (Manual & Automated Phased Array)Ultrasonic Testing (Time of Flight Diffraction (ToFD) examination)Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT)Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT)Eddy Current TestingRemote Field Eddy Current TestingMFL Tubing TestingMFL Tank Floor TestingInfrared TestingAcoustic Emission Testing (Tank Floors)Acoustic Emission Testing (Pressure Retaining Systems)Guided Wave InspectionLeak Testing:BTPCTHDLTMSLTBubble TestPressure Change TestHalogen Diode Leak TestMass Spectrometer Leak TestPage 7 of 8