Technical Guide · Welding Certification · ASME Section IX · SAES-W-012 · Saudi Arabia

Welding Certification Saudi Arabia — ASME Section IX, SAES-W-012, and Saudi Aramco Piping Weld Requirements

Welding for Saudi Aramco piping systems requires procedure and welder qualification to ASME Section IX, compliance with SAES-W-012, full material traceability from EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates through to weld records, and post-weld non-destructive examination (NDE). This guide explains the key documents — WPS, PQR, and WQR — and how they connect to SAEP-347 material supply requirements. Gulf Union Ozone provides materials with complete EN 10204 3.1 documentation to support Saudi Aramco welding qualification submissions.

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ASME Section IX
The base standard for welding procedure (WPS/PQR) and welder (WQR) qualification for all Saudi Aramco pressure piping.
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SAES-W-012
Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard for on-plot piping welding. References ASME B31.3 and ASME IX.
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EN 10204 3.1 MTCs
Base metal MTCs link heat number to weld records — required for SAEP-347 material traceability chain.
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NDT / NDE Required
RT, UT, MT, PT post-weld examination per ASME B31.3 Table 341.3.2 and SAES-W-012 requirements.
ASME Section IX Qualification Documents

WPS, PQR, and WQR — The Three Welding Qualification Documents for Saudi Aramco

WPS
Welding Procedure Specification

The WPS is the instruction document that governs a specific weld. It specifies all welding parameters: base metal P-number and Group, filler metal F-number and A-number, welding process (SMAW, GTAW, FCAW, SAW), current type and polarity, position (1G/2G/5G/6G), preheat and interpass temperature, post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), shielding gas (for GTAW/FCAW), and joint geometry.

A separate WPS is required for each combination of process, base metal P-number, and essential variable group.
PQR
Procedure Qualification Record

The PQR is the record of the test weld that qualifies the WPS. It documents: the actual values used during the test weld (actual current, actual preheat, actual interpass temp), the base metal heat number from the EN 10204 3.1 MTC (establishing material traceability), and the results of the required mechanical tests — tensile specimens (two required per QW-150), side bend or root/face bend specimens, and impact tests if required by the code of construction.

Saudi Aramco requires the PQR to be reviewed and approved by a Saudi Aramco Welding Inspection Engineer before production welding begins.
WQR
Welder Qualification Record

The WQR records each individual welder's qualification — which processes (SMAW, GTAW, etc.), positions (F, V, H, OH), base metal P-numbers, and thickness ranges they are qualified to weld. Welder continuity: a welder's qualification lapses if they have not welded using the specific process for 6 months. Saudi Aramco requires welders to carry their current WQR on site and requires requalification after lapses.

6G position qualification (fixed pipe, inclined axis) is the most comprehensive — qualifies the welder for all positions on pipe.
ASME Section IX Key Concepts

ASME Section IX P-Numbers and Essential Variables — What Triggers Re-Qualification

Common P-Numbers for Saudi Aramco Piping Materials

P-Number Material Group Common ASTM Grades
P-1Carbon steelA106 Gr B/C, A234 WPB, A105, A516 Gr 70
P-41Cr-0.5Mo alloy steelA335 P11, A182 F11, A234 WP11
P-5A2.25Cr-1Mo alloy steelA335 P22, A182 F22, A234 WP22
P-5B9Cr-1Mo alloy steel (modified)A335 P91, A182 F91, A234 WP91
P-8Austenitic stainless steelA312 TP304L/316L, A403 WP304L/WP316L, A182 F304L/F316L
P-10HDuplex stainless steelA790 S31803/S32205, A182 F51

A WPS qualified on P-1 does not qualify welding of P-8 stainless steel — each P-number group requires its own PQR/WPS qualification.

Essential Variables — Re-Qualification Required

Changing any essential variable in ASME Section IX requires a new PQR test weld and a revised WPS. Key essential variables for piping include:

  • !Change in base metal P-number or Group
  • !Change in filler metal F-number or A-number
  • !Change in welding process (SMAW to GTAW, etc.)
  • !Addition or deletion of PWHT
  • !Reduction in preheat temperature below qualified minimum
PWHT — When Is It Mandatory?

Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) is mandatory for:

  • • ASTM A182 F11 / P11 piping welds above 12.7mm wall
  • • ASTM A182 F22 / P22 — all welds
  • • ASTM A182 F91 / P91 — all welds (strict cycle required)
  • • P-1 CS welds >19mm wall per ASME B31.3 (certain fluids)
A182 alloy flanges requiring PWHT →
NDT / NDE Requirements

Non-Destructive Examination for Saudi Aramco Pressure Piping Welds

ASME B31.3 and SAES-W-012 require post-weld non-destructive examination (NDE/NDT) of piping welds. The type and extent of examination depends on the fluid service category:

Service Category NDE Required Scope
Category DVisual (VT) onlyNon-flammable, non-toxic <120°C <10 bar
Normal FluidVT + 5% RT or UTGeneral process piping; random 5% spot checks
Category MVT + 20% RT or UT + MT/PTToxic or highly hazardous fluids
High Pressure / Sour100% RT or UT + MT or PTClass 600+ piping, H₂S sour service, fire class
NDE Method Selection
  • RT (Radiographic Testing): Detects volumetric defects (porosity, lack of fusion, inclusions). Standard for butt welds.
  • UT (Ultrasonic Testing): Detects planar defects; used where RT is impractical (thick wall, access constraints). TOFD and phased array increasingly specified.
  • MT (Magnetic Particle): Detects surface/near-surface defects in ferromagnetic materials (carbon and alloy steel). Not applicable to stainless steel.
  • PT (Liquid Penetrant): Detects surface-breaking defects; applicable to all materials including stainless steel. Mandatory for all stainless steel socket welds and branch connections.
Material Traceability from EN 10204 3.1 to Weld Record

Saudi Aramco SAEP-347 requires material traceability from the original mill certificate through to the as-built weld map. The chain for piping material supplied by Gulf Union Ozone:

  1. Mill produces material with heat number marked on pipe/fitting/flange
  2. Mill issues EN 10204 3.1 MTC with heat number, actual chemistry, mechanical values, hardness
  3. Gulf Union Ozone Goods Receipt verifies heat number matches 3.1 MTC
  4. Material is issued to site with 3.1 MTC — heat number is recorded on the weld data sheet / traveller
  5. Completed weld records (weld number, heat numbers of both pieces, welder ID, WPS reference, NDE result, hydrotest data) are compiled in as-built documentation package
Material traceability guide →
Inspector Certifications — Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco accepts welding inspectors with the following certifications for witness and inspection:

  • • CSWIP 3.1 / 3.2 (The Welding Institute, TWI) — widely accepted
  • • AWS CWI (American Welding Society) — accepted for ASME coded work
  • • BGAS Grade 2 — pipeline inspection
  • • Saudi Aramco Welding Inspection Engineer — in-house approval authority
FAQ

Welding Certification Saudi Arabia — Questions Answered

What welding standard does Saudi Aramco require for pressure piping?

Saudi Aramco's SAES-W-012 (Welding Requirements for On-Plot Piping) references ASME B31.3 (Process Piping) and ASME Section IX (Welding and Brazing Qualifications) as the base standards. All welders and procedures must be qualified per ASME Section IX before commencing welding on Saudi Aramco piping systems. SAES-W-011 covers pressure vessels; SAES-W-014 covers offshore and pipeline welding. SAEP-347 documentation guide →

What is the difference between WPS, PQR, and WQR in ASME Section IX?

The WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) is the instruction for a weld — parameters, P-numbers, process, position, PWHT. The PQR (Procedure Qualification Record) is the test weld record that qualifies the WPS — including actual values and mechanical test results. The WQR (Welder Qualification Record) records each individual welder's current qualifications — process, position, P-number, thickness range. Saudi Aramco requires all three to be reviewed and approved before production welding begins.

Does the base metal EN 10204 3.1 MTC affect the welding qualification?

Yes. The EN 10204 3.1 MTC identifies the material's P-number (e.g., A106 Gr B is P-1; A312 TP316L is P-8) and provides the heat number for material traceability. The WPS must be qualified for the P-number of the base metal. During production, the heat number from the 3.1 MTC is recorded on the weld data sheet to establish the traceability chain required by SAEP-347. Gulf Union Ozone supplies all piping materials with EN 10204 3.1 MTCs including the heat number and actual chemistry values. Material traceability guide →

When is post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) mandatory for Saudi Aramco piping?

PWHT is mandatory under ASME B31.3 and Saudi Aramco engineering standards for: all P-4 (1.25Cr-0.5Mo, e.g., A182 F11) welds above 12.7mm wall; all P-5A (2.25Cr-1Mo, A182 F22) welds; all P-5B (9Cr-1Mo-V, A182 F91) welds; and carbon steel P-1 welds in certain services above 19mm wall thickness. P91 PWHT is particularly critical — the heat treatment cycle must be strictly controlled; incorrect temperature cycles can result in Type IV cracking at elevated temperature. A182 alloy flanges guide →
Related Technical Guides
All Technical Guides → EN 10204 3.1 MTC Guide → Material Traceability → SAEP-347 Explained → ASTM A182 Alloy Flanges → NACE MR0175 Sour Service → ASTM vs EN Standards →
ASME Section IX · SAES-W-012 · EN 10204 3.1 Material Traceability · SAEP-347 · ISO 9001:2015

Material Supply with Full EN 10204 3.1 Traceability — Gulf Union Ozone Jeddah

Pipe, fittings, and flanges with EN 10204 3.1 MTCs for ASME IX qualification submissions · ISO 9001:2015 · CR 4030570569 ·

Submit Material RFQ Material Traceability System →
In Summary

Gulf Union Ozone Trading Co. supplies welding consumables and materials to industrial customers across Saudi Arabia in support of welding certification requirements — all products ship with original certificates and compliance documentation for Aramco, SABIC, and government projects.

In Summary

Welding certification requirements in Saudi Arabia — including ASME Section IX, SAES-W-012, and Saudi Aramco piping weld requirements — apply to Saudi Aramco operations, SABIC, SADARA, SEC utilities, NEOM mega-projects, and major industrial facilities across the Kingdom.

In Summary

Gulf Union Ozone supports Saudi Arabia welding certification procurement needs — contact us for immediate availability confirmation and a competitive quotation with full compliance documentation for ASME and Aramco-qualified welding materials.

In Summary

For urgent welding certification materials procurement in Saudi Arabia, WhatsApp +966 55 098 8062 — our team confirms stock availability within the hour and provides competitive quotations for Aramco, SABIC, SEC, and government projects.