8/12/2019 API 5L PRUEBAS HIDROSTATICAS.docx

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9.4 HYDROSTATIC TESTS

9.4.1 Hydrostatic Test Requirements

Each length of pipe shall withstand, without leakage, an inspection hydrostatic test to at least

the pressure specified in 9.4.3. Test pressures for all sizes of seamless pipe and for welded pipein sizes 18 and smaller, shall be held for not less than 5 seconds. Test pressures for weldedpipe in sizes 20 and larger shall be held for not less than 10 seconds. For threaded-and-coupledpipe, the test shall be applied with the couplings made up power-tight if power-tight makeup isspecified on the purchase order, except that pipe sizes larger than 123/4 may be tested in theplain-end condition. For threaded pipe furnished with couplings made up handling-tight, thehydrostatic test shall be made on the pipe in the plain-end or threads-only condition or withcouplings applied, unless otherwise agreed by the purchaser and the manufacturer.

9.4.2 Verification of Hydrostatic Test

In order to ensure that every length of pipe is tested to the required test pressure, each tester(except those on which continuous welded pipe is tested) shall be equipped with a recordinggage that will record the test pressure and duration of time the pressure is applied to eachlength of pipe, or shall be equipped with some positive and automatic or interlocking device toprevent pipe from being classified as tested until the test requirements (pressure and time)have been complied with. Such records or charts shall be available for examination at themanufacturer's facility by the purchaser's inspectors.

The test pressure measuring device shall be calibrated by means of a dead weight tester, orequivalent, within the 4 months prior to each use. Retention of calibration records shall be asspecified in J 2.2.

9.4.3 Test Pressures

The minimum test pressure shall be the standard test pressure given in Tables 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C,E-6A, E-6B, or E-6C; the alternative test pressure given in Tables 6A, 6B, 6C, E-6A, E-6B, or E-6Cif so specified in the purchase order; a pressure higher than standard, at the discretion of themanufacturer unless specifically limited by the purchaser; or a pressure higher than standard,as agreed between the purchaser and the manufacturer (see Note I). The minimum testpressures for grades, outside diameters, and specified wall thicknesses not listed shall be

computed by the equation given in Note 2 below. For all sizes of Grade A25 pipe smaller than59/16 and all sizes of Grade A and B pipe smaller than 23/x, the test pressure has beenarbitrarily assigned. Where the unlisted wall thickness is intermediate to wall thicknesseswhose test pressures have been arbitrarily assigned, the test pressure for the intermediatewall thickness shall be equal to the test pressure specified for the next heavier wall thickness.When computed pressures are not an exact multiple of 10 psi (100 kPa), they shall be roundedto the nearest 10 psi (100 kPa).

When the purchase order specifies a hydrostatic test pressure that will produce a hoop stressgreater than 90% of the specified minimum yield strength, by agreement between the

purchaser and the manufacturer, the hydrostatic test pressure shall be determined inaccordance with Appendix K.

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Note 1: The hydrostatic test pressures given herein are inspection test pressures, are notintended as a basis for design, and do not necessarily have any direct relationship to workingpressures.

Note 2: The test pressures given in Tables 4, S, 6A, 68, 6C, E-6A, E- 68, and E-6C were

computed by the following equations (see Footnotes a through d) and rounded to the nearest10 psi (100 kPa):

9.4.4 Supplementary Hydrostatic Tests

By agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer, for Grade X42 and higher, themanufacturer shall make additional internal pressure tests, which may involve one or more ofthe following methods. In all supplementary hydrostatic tests, the formula shown in 9.4.3 shallbe used for stress calculations.

The conditions of testing shall be as agreed upon.

a. Hydrostatic destructive tests in which the minimum length of the specimen is ten times theoutside diameter of the pipe, but need not exceed 40 ft. (12.2 m).

b. Full-length destructive tests made by the hydrostatic pressure water column method.

c. Hydrostatic transverse yield strength tests using accurate strain gages (see note).

Note: Acceptable gages are the roller-chain ring-expansion gage, the metallic bondedresistance strain gage, or other suitable gages of similar accuracy.