Saep 323

Engineering Procedure
SAEP-323 9 October 2019

Contract Welders and Brazers -
Performance Qualification Testing and Tracking Requirements
Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee
Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations ................................... 2
3 Referencess ...................................................... 2
4 Terminology ...................................................... 3
5 Responsibilities ................................................. 4
6 Instructions........................................................ 7
Revision History ..................................................... 11
Appendix A - Sample of Job Clearance Card ........ 12
Previous Issue: 15 May 2014 Next Revision: 9 October 2024

Contact: lodhizf Page 1 of 12
©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved.
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

Document Responsibility: Inspection Engineering Standards Committee SAEP-323
Publication Date: 9 October 2019 Contract Welders and Brazers -
Next Revision: 9 October 2024 Performance Qualification Testing and Tracking Requirements
1 Scope
1.1 This engineering procedure specifies the minimum requirements for the testing,
certification and registration of contract welders and brazers working for Saudi
Aramco Maintenance.
1.2 This SAEP applies to all proponent Maintenance organizations performing

fabrication and maintenance welding activities such as Operations Field Services,
Pump Shops, Drilling & Workover, etc.
1.3 The term welder in this SAEP shall also mean welding operator or brazer unless
specifically noted otherwise.
2 Conflicts and Deviations
Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed in writing to the EK&RD
Coordinator.
Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302, Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement.
3 References
Unless stated otherwise, all codes and standards referenced shall be the latest issue
(including revisions and addenda). Sections of industry codes and standards referenced
herein shall be considered as part of this procedure.
3.1 Saudi Aramco Documents
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-302, Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement
SAEP-321, Performance Qualification Testing and Certification of Saudi
Aramco Welders
SAEP-1101, Test Supplements for Welder Performance Qualification
Saudi Aramco Forms

SA-2318, Welder Qualification Record
SA-4758, Job Clearance Card
©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 12

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards
American Society of Mechanical Engineers/Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code

ASME SEC IIC, Welding Rods, Electrodes, and Filler Metals
ASME SEC V, Nondestructive Examination
ASME SEC IX, Qualification Standard for Welding and Brazing Procedures,
Welders, Brazers, and Welding and Brazing Operators
American Welding Society

AWS D3.6, Specification for Underwater Welding
4 Terminology
4.1 Acronyms
ARD: Anniversary Recertification Date
ART: Anniversary Recertification Test
CNDT & PSU: Convention NDT & Project Support Unit under ITSD/ID
responsible to conduct welder/brazer qualification testing through WTC.
ID: Inspection Department
ITSD: Inspection Technical Support Division
JCC: Job Clearance Card
OIU: Operations Inspection Unit
PIEU: Project Inspection Engineering Unit under ITSD of Inspection Department
WTA: Welder Testing Agency
WTC: Welder Testing Center
WTS: Welder Tracking System
4.2 Definitions
Approved Welders List: This is an active welders list maintained by WTS.
Contract Welder: A welder working directly for and under the supervision of
Saudi Aramco Maintenance, hired to perform welding activities for a period not
less than six months on a contract basis.
Contractor Welder: A welder working directly for and under the supervision
of a maintenance contractor during Saudi Aramco T&I and one-off jobs.

Job Clearance Card (JCC): A temporary identification card issued by OIU to

contract & contractor welders. The JCC lists certifications held, description of
the job, and the welders name and symbol.
Inactive Welders List: List containing welders who do not appear for
Anniversary Recertification Test within ninety (90) days.
Qualification Cards: A welder’s qualification card issued by WTC.
Registered Welder: A welder whose certification has been reviewed, found

acceptable, and is entered in WTS by OIU.
Registration: The act of registering a welder certification in WTS.
Separated Welders List: List containing welders who did not appear for
Anniversary Exam after the lapse of ninety (90) days.
Valid Test Certificate: A valid certificate of welder performance test issued by

WTA.
Welder Certification: Certification in writing that a welder has produced a test

weld meeting a defined standard.
Welder Performance Qualification: The demonstration of a welders ability to

produce a test weld meeting a defined standard.
Welder Testing Agency (WTA): A Saudi Aramco approved 3rd party agency
for qualifying welders/welding operators. PIEU/ITSD/ID is responsible is
responsible to approve and maintain the list of welder testing agencies.
Welder Testing Center (WTC): Saudi Aramco testing facility administered by

CNDT & PSU to qualify welders/brazers intended to support operating facilities.
Welder Tracking System (WTS): A Saudi Aramco SAP based utility

administered by CNDT & PSU to register and maintain qualified welders and
brazers.
Wet Welding: Welding at ambient pressure with the welder/diver in the water
without any mechanical barrier between the water and the welding arc.
5 Responsibilities
5.1 Welder Test Center (WTC) shall:

a) Conduct performance qualification testing of contract welders in
accordance with approved Test Supplements.

b) Conduct recertification testing of contract welders with revoked certifications.

c) Prepare certifications (Form SA-2318) for welders that pass performance
qualification or recertification tests.
d) Enter certification results (Form SA-2318) in the WTS for welders that take
performance qualification or recertification.
e) Obtain welder symbols (assigned automatically) from WTS for all contract
welders who take the performance qualification tests.
f) Conduct Anniversary Recertification Testing of welders every three (3) years.
5.2 WTC Welding Inspector shall:

a) Witness and evaluate welder performance qualification tests.
b) Witness and evaluate recertification tests of welders with revoked
certifications.
5.3 WTS Administrator shall:

a) Maintain the WTS database by inputting performance qualification and
recertification test information (Form SA-2318) into the WTS database.
b) Assign WTS access to new users and update their access information
c) Create/update proponent Maintenance Organization or Operations
Inspection Unit in WTS.
5.4 WTS Coordinator shall:

a) Ensure all welder performance certifications are current and up to date
through WTS and documentation of welder activity.
b) Enter welding inspection NDT results in WTS within one (1) week from
receiving the NDT results.
c) Notify Welding Shop Foremen about the welders ARD, two (2) months in
advance.
d) Notify WTS Administrator about welders’ movement.
e) Participate in annual audit of the welding shops and welders.
f) Issue bi-monthly welders’ performance report.
g) Ensure all welders working for the Maintenance Organization are available
and tracked by WTS.
h) Request WTS Administrator to update a welder information when there is
an internal transfer.

5.5 Maintenance Foreman shall:

a) Select contract welders that have undergone and passed a third party
administered welder performance qualification test.
b) Ensure all welders are properly certified prior to the start of work.
c) Ensure all welders maintain valid certifications for every process certified
through continuous welding.
d) Ensure all welders undergo the additional training prior to taking a retest.
e) Maintain a log of welders working in the Organization.
f) Ensure all welders take the Anniversary Recertification Test thirty (30)
days prior to the ARD.
g) Ensure all welders working in the Maintenance Organization are available
and tracked by WTS.
h) Notify the OIU/WTS coordinator, in advance, through a written
correspondence about their welders availability and movement/transfer
status.
5.6 Operations Inspection Unit (OIU) Supervisor or his delegate shall:

a) Assign a WTS Coordinator(s) for areas covered.
b) Assign an experienced Welding Inspector to conduct an annual audit on the
welding shops.
c) Ensure timely completion, documentation and follow up on corrective
actions for the annual audit.
5.7 Operations Inspection Unit (OIU) Welding Inspector shall:

a) Ensure all welder performance certifications are current and up to date
through WTS and documentation of welder activities.
b) Ensure all newly certified welders are capable of making sound welds by
inspecting initial production welds.
c) Send the welders’ NDT results including VT, RT, PT, and MT to WTS
coordinator after inspection.
d) Ensure all contract welders are holding active and valid JCC prior to start
any welding job.
5.8 Operations Inspection Unit (OIU) WTS Coordinator shall:

a) Enter welding inspection results (Visual and RT inspection results) in WTS
within 1 week from receiving the NDT results.

b) Notify WTS Administrator about welders movement.

c) Notify Welding Shop Foremen about the welders ARD two months in
advance.
d) Issue bi-monthly welders performance report.
e) Issue a Job Clearance Card for Contract welders after reviewing their
qualifications in the WTS. The validity of JCC shall not exceed the process
expiry date indicated in the WTS. A sample of JCC is provided in
Appendix A.
f) Ensure all welders working for Maintenance Organization are tracked by
WTS.
g) Request WTS Administrator to transfer the contract welders to his
maintenance organization in the WTS after getting the approval from the
releasing department WTS Coordinator.
5.9 Projects Inspection Engineering Unit (PIEU) shall:

a) Approve welder testing agencies.
b) Conduct assessment of WTA every six (6) months.
c) Maintain the list of approved welder testing agencies.
6 Instructions
6.1 General Requirements
6.1.1 Maintenance shall only select those contract welders for hire that are
properly certified by a Saudi Aramco approved Welder Testing Agency.
6.1.2 Maintenance shall send the contract welders certifications to the

responsible OIU for review and approval prior to hire.
6.1.3 Contract welders that do not have a valid test certificate shall not be
considered for employment with Saudi Aramco.
6.1.4 Contract welders that have a valid test certificate shall take a welder
performance qualification test conducted by the WTC in accordance with
SAEP-321 for welders.
6.1.5 The test shall be scheduled by the responsible OIU.
6.1.6 Test results shall be reported in writing on Form SA-2318 (Welder and
Welding Operator Qualification Record) and entered in WTS by the WTC.

6.1.7 Contract welders who pass the welder performance test shall be assigned a
welder symbol by the WTS. They shall be issued Job Clearance Cards by
the OIU.
6.1.8 Contract welders shall provide a valid test certificate from a third party
welder testing agency as proof of welding proficiency and proof of
continuity of welding (this also applies to welders transferring from one
Saudi Aramco Maintenance organization to another).
6.1.9 Welders that are transferred from one maintenance organization to

another shall keep their welder symbol.
6.1.10 Contract welders that fail the welder performance qualification test
conducted by the WTC shall be rejected for employment with Saudi
Aramco (one retest is permitted). This test result, reported in writing on
Form SA-2318, shall be entered in the WTS by the WTC.
6.1.11 The welder test requirements of SAEP-321 do not apply to shutdowns and
one off jobs. The contractor welders supporting shutdowns and one off
jobs shall be qualified by WTA. OIU Welding Inspector shall issue JCC
to contractor welders based on WTA certification. Contractor welder
certified by WTA does not require certification by WTC.
6.2 Initial Production Welds Testing
6.2.1 The first three (3) production welds welded by each new contract welder
shall be 100% radiographed. The OIU inspector shall witness the
welding of at least one of these welds. Radiographic acceptance shall be
as specified by the applicable design code governing the work.
6.2.2 If all the radiographs are acceptable the contract welder shall be
permitted to continue production welding. Subsequent production
welding shall be radiographed at normal job monitoring levels.
6.2.3 Radiography results showing rejectable discontinuities in any of the first

three (3) welds, OIU Inspector shall further visually examine all three
welds and their corresponding radiographs as per below criteria:
a. If radiography shows that all three welds are rejectable the newly
qualified certification shall be revoked.
b. If the weld quality is borderline (i.e., two out of three welds), the
welder may be permitted to weld five (5) production welds provided
all welding work is 100% radiographed and all accepted.
o If the weld quality improves (i.e., all five passed), the
radiography shall be reduced to normal job monitoring levels.

o If the weld quality does not improve (i.e., if even one weld
failed), the newly qualified certification shall be revoked.
6.2.4 If radiography shows that two or more welds are rejectable the newly
qualified certification shall be revoked.
6.2.5 Use of Ultrasonic Testing (UT) for Production Welds Testing in-lieu of
radiography is acceptable provided prior approval of process is obtained
in writing from Supervisor, CNDT & PSU.
6.3 Maintaining Welder Certifications
6.3.1 OIU shall maintain Welder Experience Records to verify the welding
activity of each contract welder. A suggested Welder Experience Record
is given in Appendix 6 of SAEP-321.
6.3.2 Monthly and yearly repair rates shall be calculated on a butt joint and/or
linear inch basis. The method for calculating repair rate limits shall be as
defined in SAES-W-011, paragraph 8.4.
6.3.3 A welder will be placed in the Inactive welders list if he did not appear
for Anniversary Exam (ARD) within ninety (90) days. The welder will
be in the separated welders list if he did not appear for ARD after the ninety
(90) days period.
6.3.4 To reinstate a Separated Welder, a letter from his prospective

Maintenance Division head explaining the welder's case shall be sent to
the ITSD division head, Inspection Department for review.
6.3.5 Certifications of contract welders shall automatically expire after three

(3) years of continuous employment. Contract welders shall be required
to recertify to every Test Supplement previously held and/or required.
This shall be called the Anniversary Recertification Test. The Anniversary
Recertification shall be scheduled by the OIU and conducted by the
WTC. Test results shall be entered in the WTS and reported to the OIU
in writing. Welders that pass the Anniversary Recertification test shall
be given a new Job Clearance Card (JCC) by the OIU.
6.4 Job Clearance Cards (JCC)
6.4.1 Contract welders who are properly certified and have passed welders
performance qualification test conducted by the WTC shall be registered
and issued a Job Clearance Card by the responsible Saudi Aramco
Operations Inspection Unit.

6.4.2 Job Clearance Cards shall remain valid for the specific contract period
the contract welder was hired for, given that the certification is not either
revoked or expired.
6.4.3 Job Clearance Cards can be withdrawn by the Saudi Aramco Operations
Inspection Unit if the contract welder does not produce good quality work.
A written request to terminate that welder from WTS shall be addressed to
the WTS Administrator by maintenance foreman.
6.4.4 Job Clearance Cards shall be returned to the Saudi Aramco Operations
Inspection Unit when the contract welder’s contract expires.
Contract welders that return to work to the same maintenance
organization within one month may be reinstated without retesting.
6.5 Requirements for Underwater Welders
6.5.1 Underwater welders shall be certified for a given weld class in

accordance with AWS D3.6 by an approved independent welder testing
agency. They shall be certified to weld with each procedure used for
production welding in accordance with the limitations described in
AWS D3.6, paragraph 5.16.
6.5.2 The validity of certification shall be six months from their last
certification test or acceptable production weld. Proper documentation
of certification and proof of welding continuity is required to maintain
validity of certification.
Underwater welders are required to take the anniversary recertification

test.
6.5.3 Satisfactory evidence that underwater welders have been properly

certified by an approved independent welder testing agency for the
intended job application shall be submitted to and approved by the
responsible Operations Inspection Unit prior to the start of work.
6.5.4 Underwater welders with approved certifications shall take a Saudi

Aramco welder performance qualification test in accordance with an
approved Saudi Aramco Test Supplement for underwater welding prior
to the start of work. The test shall be administered and entered in WTS
by the WTC. Underwater welders shall be tested either at site or under
similar conditions.
6.5.5 Underwater welders that pass the performance qualification test

administered by the WTC shall have their test results documented in
accordance with the requirements of this SAEP.

Revision History
15 May 2014 Revised the Next Planned Update, reaffirmed the content of the document, and reissued as
major revision.
9 October 2019 This major revision addresses: (a) - Comments posted on the e-Standards Webpage.
(b)- Standards alignment with international requirements. (c)- Clarify contract and contractor
welders’ certification process. (d)- Update the Saudi Aramco and international standards
references and addition of applicable standard references. (e)- Ease the process of certification
and tracking. Added responsibilities of PIEU in approving, assessing and maintaining the
approved WTA list. Criteria for acceptance or rejection of initial production welds.
Summary of Changes (rev. 9 October 2019)

Pages/Section/Paragraph # Comments/Changes/Modifications
st
1 page  Changed company logo to new brand.
 Revised footer information.
1.2 Lower-case “Maintenance” to “maintenance”
Section 2 Rewrite “Conflicts and Deviations”
Section 3  Changed “Applicable Documents” to “References” pursuant to
SAEP-134.
 Lower-case “Revisions, Addenda, and Codes” to “revisions,
addenda, and codes” in the paragraph.
 Replaced “standard” with “procedure” in the paragraph.
3.1  Added SAEP-302 in the list.
 Added SAES-W-011 (as found in 6.3.2).
 Changed forms document numbering (includes other affected
paragraphs).
3.2 Arranged documents in chronological order.
Section 4  Changed title to “Terminology” pursuant to SAEP-134.
 Assigned sub-sections 4.1 (Acronyms) and 4.2 (Definitions).
4.2 Changed “SAP” to “Operating System” under WTS definition.
5.5(h) Capitalized job title “” to “Coordinator” and so with the rest.
5.8(e) Changed “Appendix I” to “Appendix A” pursuant to SAEP-134.
5.9 Added responsibilities of PIEU in approving, assessing and maintaining
the approved WTA list
6.1.6 – 6.1.11  Wrong paragraph numbers. Renumbered to 6.1.5 – 6.1.10.
 Lower case “” to “shutdowns” in 6.1.10.
6.2.3 Revised Criteria for acceptance or rejection of initial production welds.
6.3.4 – 6.3.6 Wrong paragraph numbers. Renumbered to 6.3.3 – 6.3.5.
6.5.2 – 6.5.5 Wrong paragraph numbers. Renumbered to 6.5.3 – 6.5.6.

Appendix A - Sample of Job Clearance Card
Job Clearance Card
Department Name Attach Photo
Weld Symbol:
Qualified Supplement #
Qualified Process
Position and Progression
Qualified Diameter Range
Joint Type
Qualified Base Material
Valid Until*
Date of issuance
Issued by: Inspector Name and Signature
* state the validity for each welding process. The validity of JCC shall not exceed the
process expiry date indicated in the WTS. The JCC shall be renewed upon expiration by
OIU WTS Coordinator/Plant Inspector.

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Engineering Procedure

SAEP-323 9 October 2019

Appendix A - Sample of Job Clearance Card ........ 12

Previous Issue: 15 May 2014 Next Revision: 9 October 2024

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

1.2 This SAEP applies to all proponent Maintenance organizations performing

2 Conflicts and Deviations

3.1 Saudi Aramco Documents

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

Saudi Aramco Forms

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society of Mechanical Engineers/Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code

American Welding Society

WTS: Welder Tracking System

Approved Welders List: This is an active welders list maintained by WTS.

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

Job Clearance Card (JCC): A temporary identification card issued by OIU to

Qualification Cards: A welder’s qualification card issued by WTC.

Registered Welder: A welder whose certification has been reviewed, found

Registration: The act of registering a welder certification in WTS.

Valid Test Certificate: A valid certificate of welder performance test issued by

Welder Certification: Certification in writing that a welder has produced a test

Welder Performance Qualification: The demonstration of a welders ability to

Welder Testing Center (WTC): Saudi Aramco testing facility administered by

Welder Tracking System (WTS): A Saudi Aramco SAP based utility

5.1 Welder Test Center (WTC) shall:

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 4 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

b) Conduct recertification testing of contract welders with revoked certifications.

5.2 WTC Welding Inspector shall:

5.3 WTS Administrator shall:

5.4 WTS Coordinator shall:

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 5 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

5.5 Maintenance Foreman shall:

5.6 Operations Inspection Unit (OIU) Supervisor or his delegate shall:

5.7 Operations Inspection Unit (OIU) Welding Inspector shall:

5.8 Operations Inspection Unit (OIU) WTS Coordinator shall:

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 6 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

b) Notify WTS Administrator about welders movement.

5.9 Projects Inspection Engineering Unit (PIEU) shall:

6.1 General Requirements

6.1.2 Maintenance shall send the contract welders certifications to the

6.1.5 The test shall be scheduled by the responsible OIU.

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 7 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

6.1.9 Welders that are transferred from one maintenance organization to

6.2 Initial Production Welds Testing

6.2.3 Radiography results showing rejectable discontinuities in any of the first

©Saudi Aramco 2019. All rights reserved. Page 8 of 12

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

6.3 Maintaining Welder Certifications

6.3.4 To reinstate a Separated Welder, a letter from his prospective

6.3.5 Certifications of contract welders shall automatically expire after three

6.4 Job Clearance Cards (JCC)