Chinese company builds 197-kilometer high-pressure pipeline in Saudi Arabia with a test pressure of 63.95 MPa

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At 8:57 on July 24 local time, with the final 28-inch high-pressure pipeline segment of the Saudi MIP PKG16 project successfully passing its pressure testing and approval in one go, all 9 pipelines constructed by Sinopec Petroleum Engineering Construction Company’s Zhongyuan Oilfield Construction unit, with a total length of 197 kilometers, completed their pressure testing successfully. All parameters met the design requirements, and they passed the quality inspection by the project owner, Saudi Aramco, earning high praise and recognition from them. Piping pressure testing, as a key phase in project construction, not only serves as a rigorous assessment of the quality and safety of the pipelines but also represents a thorough test of the project team’s technical expertise and collaborative skills. It is understood that the maximum test pressure for the pipelines in this project is 63.95 MPa; this is the highest test pressure ever recorded for any oil and gas pipeline tested by the company. The high-pressure pipeline flanges used in the construction comply with the international standard ISO 27509; thus, extremely stringent requirements apply to their machining and assembly. As the first of several projects launched during the same period to complete the pipeline pressure testing, the Zhongyuan Oilfield Construction project team conducted in-depth research on the processing of high-pressure testing blind flanges and the assembly of high-pressure flanges. They formulated detailed operating procedures in accordance with relevant standards and specifications, and implemented them strictly on site while carrying out thorough inspections. During the pressure testing phase, the personnel involved strictly followed Saudi Aramco’s standards and procedures. They coordinated in advance with other contractors regarding interface issues, conducted thorough inspections of each pipeline, and repeatedly calibrated every pressure testing device. They remained on site 24/7, monitoring pressure levels, temperature changes, and the condition of the pipelines to ensure that every detail of the testing process was under control.