Application of ASME B31 in the construction of oilfield surface engineering abroad

ASME B31 is generally adopted in the oilfield surface engineering construction projects abroad. ASME B31.3, ASME B31.4 and ASME B31.8 have been used frequently. Similarly, China has the corresponding inland standards include GB 50316, GB 50350, GB 50253 and GB 50251. A Comparison is carried out between ASME B31 serial codes and relevant China Standards in the field of internal pressure design for metal straight pipe, nondestructive testing and pressure testing to analyze their main differences. For choosing the thickness of pipeline, the minus deviation and corrosion allowance of pipe steel are mainly discussed. In aspects of nondestructive testing and pressure testing, inland standards are found stricter than ASME B31. Combined with project cases, the paper mainly interprets the technical problems solved in the oilfield surface engineering abroad in order to understand and adopt ASME B31 in a proper way. Comparative results show that American standards are updated more frequently than of China, so the designers are reminded to follow up to the latest edition of ASME B31 in time.