ENGINEERING FIRM TRANSLATES FORMER SOVIET UNION'S PIPELINE CODES

A Houston-based pipeline engineering company has translated the most important pipeline transmission codes of the former Soviet Union (FSU) for use in its projects in the region. Gulf Interstate Engineering says the translations will assist Western companies considering pipeline joint ventures to understand FSU pipeline design approach and philosophy.

June 14, 1993

2 min read

A Houston-based pipeline engineering company has translated the most important pipeline transmission codes of the former Soviet Union (FSU) for use in its projects in the region.

Gulf Interstate Engineering says the translations will assist Western companies considering pipeline joint ventures to understand FSU pipeline design approach and philosophy.

TWO IMPORTANT CODES

Gulf's translations, presented in terminology familiar to Western pipeline engineers, it says, include the two most important FSU codes: SNIP 2.05.06-85, "Design of Transmission Pipelines," and SNIP 111-42-80, "Work Execution and its Approval for Transmission Pipelines."

SNIP 2.05.06-85 addresses design considerations such as categories of pipelines and their locations, locations of facilities, pipeline stress analysis, and materials requirements.

SNIP III-42-80 covers the construction phase of pipe-line engineering, including excavation rules, qualification of welders, pipeline coatings and electrochemical protection, and hydrotesting lines after construction.

The majority of projects undertaken in the FSU are joint ventures in which a Western firm usually prepares the feasibility studies and design; then its FSU partners, through their various technical institutes, review and approve the studies and design.

"With a thorough understanding of the design philosophy of the engineers at these institutes, Western engineers can prepare their feasibility studies and designs in such a manner that they may avoid long delays and negotiating sessions that commonly characterize current development projects," said J. T. Powers, Gulf's vice-president of quality control and special studies.

FURTHER WORK

Powers says Gulf spent approximately, 3 1/2 man-years on the translation project.

Performing the translations were nine FSU engineers who have been on Gulf's staff for an average of more than 4 years. Their involvement was to ensure the accuracy of the terminology and content.

These U.S.-experienced engineers, says Gulf, have had experience in areas ranging from the southern regions of the FSU to the Arctic permafrost.

One of them authored the stress analysis section of SNIP 2.05.06-85.

The others used the codes extensively while working at various institutes dealing with the FSU's ministries of oil, gas, and oil and gas construction.

In fulfilling Gulf's goal fully to understand the FSU pipeline code system, the company's FSU engineers are currently comparing the translated codes with their American counterparts, most notably ANSI/ASME B31.4 and B31.8, the U.S. standards for oil and gas pipelines, respectively.