Engineering Standard

SAES-A-102 31 July 2012

Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................ 2
3 References.................................................... 2
4 Engineering Reports...................................... 3
5 Design Requirements.................................... 4
6 Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms.... 12

Appendix I – Table 1 - PME & Royal Commission

Ambient Air Quality Standards.................... 20
Appendix II – Scope of Flaring Minimization
Plan (FMP).......................................... 21

Previous Issue: 10 March 2010 Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 21
Primary contact: Elyas, Alaa Adeeb on 966-3-8760401

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2012. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

1 Scope

1.1 This standard governs the design of air emission controls.

1.2 This standard applies to new facilities and to facilities undergoing modifications
or upgrades.

1.3 This standard does not apply to gases that are injected into any reservoir.

1.4 Requirements specified in this standard are in addition to requirements under

government environmental standards. See Section 3.2 for a list of applicable
government environmental standards.
Note: Projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall comply with the latest Presidency
of Meteorology and Environment Standards. Projects in the Royal Commission
areas shall comply with the latest Royal Commission Environmental Standards.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any deviation or difference between standards, the more restrictive standard
shall apply.

2.2 Any conflicts between this standard and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Standards (e.g., SAESs, SAMSSs, SASDs, etc.), and/or government standards
(PME, RC) shall be resolved in writing through the General Supervisor,
Environmental Engineering Division (EED), Dhahran.

2.3 All requests to deviate from this standard shall be made in writing to the
Manager of Environmental Protection Department who shall comply with the
requirements in SAEP-302, Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirements. The Saudi Arabian Government
Environmental Standards can not be waived by Saudi Aramco.

3 References

The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this standard shall comply with the latest
edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

SAEP-340 Air Dispersion Modeling & Emission Inventory

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-104 Wastewater Treatment, Reuse and Disposal
SAES-B-055 Plant Layout
SAES-F-007 Systems Design Criteria of Flares
SAES-M-006 Saudi Aramco Security and General Purpose
Fencing
SAES-O-202 Security Fencing

3.2 Government Environmental Standards

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Supreme Economic Council, General
Environment Regulations (October 2001).
Presidency for Meteorology and the Environment, Document No. 1409-01
(August 20, 1982).
Royal Commission Environmental Regulations, Royal Commission for
Jubail and Yanbu (2004).
Note: The EPD website maintains the current version of these government
standards.

4 Engineering Reports

4.1 Design Basis Scoping Paper (DBSP) – Environmental Screening and

Scoping (ESS) Statement

The ESS Statement of a DBSP shall include a discussion of any significant air
quality impacts and the controls required to meet the Ambient Air Quality and
Source Emission Standards in the applicable Saudi Aramco and Government
Environmental Standards.

4.2 Project Proposal – Environmental Impact Assessment

4.2.1 The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a Project Proposal shall

identify the applicable Ambient Air Quality and Source Emission
Standards in the applicable Saudi Aramco and Government
Environmental Standards and provide detailed plans to meet these
standards.

4.2.2 Compliance with Ambient Air Quality Standards shall be demonstrated

through an air dispersion modeling study as per the procedures detailed
under SAEP-340. The General Supervisor of Environmental

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

Engineering Division shall have the responsibility for the technical

review and approval of any air dispersion modeling study.

5 Design Requirements

The following are Saudi Aramco requirements which are in addition to PME and RC
standards:

5.1 General Requirements

5.1.1 Site emission sources at a prevailing downwind direction and at suitable

distances from sensitive areas (population areas, roads, etc.). Evaluation
of such facilities as to adequacy of location, emission controls, and/or
operational procedures shall be reviewed and approved on an individual
basis by the EPD.

5.1.2 All industrial facilities shall be designed to not discharge any toxic
substances or hazardous matter in such quantities or duration as to be
harmful to the health and welfare of humans, animals, or plants.
Evaluation of such facilities as to adequacy of controls and/or procedures
and emission potential shall be done on an individual basis by the EPD.

5.1.3 Best Available Control Technology (BACT) shall be used for new
facilities and Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) shall be used
for existing facilities undergoing modification to control air pollutant
emissions. Source specific BACT and BART information are found at
the USEPA database through its website at www.epa.gov/ttn.

5.2 Exhaust Stacks and Vents

5.2.1 The Stack Height (SH) shall be determined by: “either:

1. Good Engineering Practice (GEP) Stack Height (SH) determined by

the following equation:

SH = H + 1.5L
Where:
SH= GEP stack height measured from the Ground-Level Elevation
at the base of the stack.
H = height of nearby structure(s) measured from the ground-level
elevation at the base of the stack.
L = Lesser Dimension (height or projected width) of nearby
structure(s); OR

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

2. The height demonstrated by a fluid model or a field study, approved

by EPD, which ensures that the emissions from a stack do not result
in excessive concentrations of any air pollutant as a result of
atmospheric downwash, wakes, or eddy effects created by the
emissions source itself, nearby structures, or nearby terrain features.
Notes:

1) The Fluid Model study shall be conducted in accordance with

guidelines published by the U.S. EPA in “Guideline for Use of Fluid
Modeling to Determine Good Engineering Practice Stack Height,”
July 1981, U.S. EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
EPA-450/4-81-003; and “Guideline for Fluid Modeling of Atmospheric
Diffusion,” April 1981, U.S. EPA Environmental Sciences Research
Laboratory, EPA-600/8-81-009.

2) “Nearby” is defined for a specific structure or terrain feature; and

means:

a. For purposes of applying the equation provided above, that

distance up to five (5) times the lesser of the height or the width
dimension of a structure, but not greater than eight-tenths (0.8) km
[five-tenths (0.5) mile]; and

b. For conducting demonstrations under subsection 2 of this section,

not greater than eight-tenths (0.8) km [five-tenths (0.5) mile] except
that the portion of a terrain feature may be considered to be nearby
if it falls within a distance of up to ten (10) times the maximum
height (HT) of the feature, not to exceed two (2) miles if such
feature achieves a height (Ht) eight-tenths (0.8) km from the stack
that is at least forty (40) percent of the GEP stack height
determined by the equations provided in subsection 1) of this
section or twenty-six (26) meters, whichever is greater, as
measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack.
The height of the structure or terrain feature is measured from the
ground-level elevation at the base of the stack.

5.2.2 Provide stacks with two sampling ports, 90 apart, if the stack diameter
is less than < 3.1 meters including the port length; or four sampling
ports, 90 apart, if the stack diameter is ≥ 3.1 meters including the port
length. Locate all sampling ports at least eight (8) stack (or duct)
diameters downstream and at least two (2) diameters away from any
flow disturbance such as a bend, expansion, contraction, stack opening,
or visible flame if the flue gas flow is cyclonic or swirling. If the flue
gas flow is not cyclonic, an alternative location may be selected at a
position at least two (2) stack (or duct) diameter downstream and a half
(½) diameter upstream from any flow disturbance.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

5.2.3 The positions of the ports shall be placed at the same elevation and
separated by 90 degrees on the stack (Contact the EED General
Supervisor for technical guidance if a sampling port location can not
meet the above requirements and an alternate sampling scheme must be
used). Each port shall consist of a 4-inch to 6-inch inside diameter (I.D.)
opening. The sampling port shall be installed with a pipe extending
approximately 6 inches beyond the outside stack wall and at 90 degrees
to the stack. The pipe shall be threaded on the outside and ended with a
bolted flange installed. The flange shall be capped when not in use.
Install at each sampling point a hook to support monorail system.

5.2.4 The equivalent stack diameter for square or rectangular cross-section

ducts, for the purpose of determining flue gas sampling port upstream
and downstream distances, shall be calculated as follows:

2 HW
De  (1)
(H  W )

Where De is Equivalent Diameter of Stack (or Duct), H is the (or length)

of the stack (or duct), and W is the width of the stack (or duct).

5.2.5 Provide access to the sampling ports with work platforms 1.1 m to 1.25 m
wide at approximately 1.5 meters below the installed sampling ports and
capable of supporting 3 adults (300 kg) plus 100 kg of sampling
equipment. Equip the platform with a safety handrail and ensure there are
no obstructions within a one-meter horizontal radius on the platform
beneath the ports. The platform shall be equipped with grounded
weatherproof dual 120 VAC/240 VAC/30-Amp electrical service with
multiple outlets at the platform and base of the stack. For more detail refer
to EPA Methods 1-5, these methods appear in title 40, part 60 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (referred to as 40 CFR 60).

5.3 Boilers, Process Heaters, and Other External Stationary Combustion Units

5.3.1 Design gas fired boilers and process heaters to operate at 10% to 15%
excess air (equivalent to 2% to 3% excess O2) and oil fired boilers
between 10% to 25% excess air (2% to 5% excess O2).

5.3.2 NOx emissions from external combustion units with heat input capacity
equal to or greater than 100 MMBtu/hr shall not exceed 0.06 lb/MMBtu
or 26 ng/J. NOx emission from external combustion units with heat
input capacity less than 100 MMBtu/hr shall not exceed 0.08 lb/MMBtu
or 34.4 ng/J.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
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Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

5.3.3 Utilize the Best Available Technology (BAT) for reducing NOx emission
(ex: Ultra Low NOx Burners, Flue Gas Recirculation, Selective Catalyst
Reduction, etc.).

5.3.4 For units with heat input capacity greater than 100 MMBtu/hr, provide
excess O2 and NOx analyzers. For NOx monitoring, Predictive Emission
Monitoring System (PEMS) is preferred over Hardware CEMs.

5.4 Stationary Combustion Gas Turbines (CGTs)

5.4.1 CGTs running shall not exceed the NOx emission limits as follows:
 60 ppm (dry at 15% oxygen) for Gas Fuel
 80 ppm (dry at 15% oxygen) for Liquid Fuel
Note: In remote areas, where there are technical difficulties, such as
scarcity of water and unavailability of gas, the EPD Manager can
authorize a deviation from this standard - provided there are no
significant environmental concerns.

5.4.2 Provide excess O2, NOx and CO analyzers. For NOx monitoring,
Predictive Emission Monitoring System (PEMS) is preferred over
Hardware CEMs.

5.5 Fluidized-Bed Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCU)

5.5.1 The applicable source standards for CO emissions from an FCC

regenerator shall be met with either a CO boiler or complete combustion
in the regenerator.

5.5.2 Types of Particulate Emission Controls for the FCCU Regenerator stack
include but not limited to the following:
 Caustic Venturi Wet Scrubber
 High Efficiency Cyclone (HEC)
 Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)

5.6 Sulfur Recovery Units (SRU) and Sulfur Loading Facilities

5.6.1 All new SRUs shall use air dispersion modeling in accordance with
SAEP-340 to demonstrate compliance with the Ambient Air Quality
standards in the applicable Saudi Arabian Government environmental
standards. The modeling shall include the effect of stack gas heat
recovery if it is proposed.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
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Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

5.6.2 Incorporate a tail gas incinerator in the SRU design. Design the
incinerator to operate at temperatures that will ensure complete
combustion of H2S.

5.6.3 Provide a flame monitoring system on new SRU main incinerators to

ensure continuous operation.

5.6.4 Design sulfur handling and loading facilities with appropriate emission
control techniques to minimize direct atmospheric H2S, SO2, and
sulfurous particulate releases.

5.6.5 Provide emission monitoring for each Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) stack
to verify compliance with the emission limits. The sulfur recovery
efficiency shall be monitored on a continuous basis using a Continuous
Emission Monitor (CEM) or other appropriate methods.

5.6.6 Sulfur plants shall be designed with multiple trains having excess
capacity. The excess capacity shall be able to handle the additional
throughput resulting from the failure/shut down of any SRU train.

5.7 On-Shore Flares

5.7.1 For facilities with normal continuous flaring rates equal or greater than
1 MMSCFD, a Flare Gas Recovery System (FGRS) shall be installed.
For facilities with normal continuous flaring rates less than 1 MMSCFD,
smokeless flare shall be installed. Flaring is exempt during start-up,
shut-down and emergencies/upset scenarios and shall be reported to EPD
within 24 hours.

5.7.2 Horizontal and short flares (less than 30 feet in height) are prohibited.
Flare height shall be determined based on air dispersion modeling studies
conducted for the EIA.

5.7.3 The opacity of the flare shall not exceed 20%. Routine operation of a
smokeless flare system does not include startups, shutdowns, and
emergencies/upset scenarios.

5.7.4 All Saudi Aramco facilities with flares/burn pits shall maintain a
comprehensive facility specific Flaring Minimization Plan (FMP).
The FMP shall be updated annually. Refer to Appendix II for the scope
of FMP.

5.8 Burn Pits

5.8.1 The usage of burn pits is restricted to Emergency Cases only. A liquid
hydrocarbon recovery system shall be provided to eliminate

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
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Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

non-emergency liquid hydrocarbon burning. Emergency burn-pit usage

shall be reported to EPD within 24 hours.

5.8.2 The installation of new burn pits is restricted to the following emergency
situations:
 Burning liquids or gases from pipelines during emergency blow
down only.
 Burning liquids during plant emergency shutdown only.
Commentary Notes:

Liquid brought-up during drilling and well cleaning operations are not
considered Emergency. Hydrocarbon recovery system or alternatives
shall be provided to eliminate liquid hydrocarbons burning.

Burn pits shall be lined with a suitable, non-combustible material,

i.e., 60 cm low permeability compacted marl.

Burn pits shall be fenced with Type V fence (Ref. SAES-M-006) and
locking gates (Ref. SAES-O-202).

5.9 Open Burning Sources

Open burning is prohibited within Saudi Aramco properties and facilities except
as noted in Section 5.8.

5.10 Atmospheric Tanks

5.10.1 Storage Tanks for hydrocarbon liquids with TVP greater than or equal
to 1.5 have shall be designed with floating roof and secondary seal.
Storage tanks for hydrocarbon liquids with a TVP greater than 11 psia
shall require vapor recovery as part of the design of the storage tank.

5.10.2 All Floating Roof Tanks shall have seal inspections at the initial fill.
The initial seal inspection report of new tanks shall be provided to the
General Supervisor of EED.

5.10.3 Slotted Guide Gauge Poles shall not be used on storage tanks containing
VOC material having a True Vapor Pressure (TVP) of greater than
78 mm Hg unless the poles are equipped with Pole Wiper on Sliding
Cover, and Well Gasket on Top of Fixed Plate, in addition to Pole
Sleeve Seal or Float with Wiper Seal.

5.10.4 External floating roof tanks used for crude oil storage with a capacity
greater than 1,000 bbls shall be equipped with a secondary roof seal.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
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Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

5.11 Bulk Loading and Product Transfer Operations

5.11.1 Facilities loading or unloading liquid hydrocarbons with a TVP greater

than or equal to 1.5 psia in quantities greater than 75 m³ per day shall
install a Vapor Control System (VCS) to control VOC emissions.

5.11.2 Vapor emissions from the vapor control system are limited to no more
than 35 grams hydrocarbon per cubic meter (1000 liters) of loaded
product.

5.11.3 Use of bottom loading or submerged loading techniques for gasoline

tanker trucks is required at all facilities.

5.12 Site Location of Emission Sources

5.12.1 EED General Supervisor approval is required to obtain the permission

for Land Use Permit (LUP) for emission sources.

5.12.2 Land Use Permit (LUP) requests for crusher sites shall be approved as
follows:

5.12.2.1 All new crushers must be at least 4 kilometers away from

major highways, public areas and other sensitive receptors.

5.12.2.2 Existing crusher sites within 1 kilometer of major highways

and public areas shall not be renewed; and

5.12.2.3 Existing crusher sites from 1 to 4 kilometers of major

highways and public areas may be approved with site specific
conditions that would reduce/eliminate impact of the crusher
emissions on air quality.

5.13 Stack Emissions / Performance Testing

5.13.1 Conduct stack/performance tests on all regulated units (e.g., CGTs,

Boilers, SRUs, etc.) to demonstrate compliance with applicable Source
Emission Standards. The test shall be conducted within 60 days of the
facility achieving the normal production rate or within 180 days of
initial start up, whichever is earlier.

5.13.2 Periodic stack/RATA testing (at least once every two years) shall be
conducted on all regulated units and on units with CEMS/PEMS.

5.13.3 Stack/performance testing shall be conducted and reported in

accordance with methods and procedures that are approved by United
States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA): Code of Federal

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Regulations (CFR) Title 40, Parts 60 - 63 or Equivalent International

Standard.

5.13.4 A written stack perform report shall be provided to the General

Supervisor of EED within 60 days of the test summarizing the results.
A new facility shall not be considered in environmental compliance
until the initial stack test results have been accepted by EED.

5.14 Air Pollutant Emissions from wastewater systems shall be controlled by

implementing the following requirements:

5.14.1 Each oil-water separator tank, slop oil tank, storage vessel, or other
auxiliary equipment subject shall be equipped and operated with a fixed
roof, which meets the following specifications:

5.14.1.1 The fixed roof shall be installed to completely cover the

separator tank, slop oil tank, storage vessel, or other auxiliary
equipment with no separation between the roof and the wall.
The vapor space under a fixed roof shall not be purged unless
the vapor is directed to a control device.

5.14.1.2 If the roof has access doors or openings, such doors or

openings shall be gasketed, latched, and kept closed at all
times during operation of the separator system, except during
inspection and maintenance.
Note: Storage vessels, including slop oil tanks and other auxiliary tanks that
are required to install floating roof with double-seals are not subject
to this requirement.

5.14.2 Each oil-water separator tank or auxiliary equipment with a design

capacity to treat more than 16 liters per second [250 gallons per minute
(gpm)] of refinery wastewater shall be equipped and operated with a
closed vent system and control device.

5.14.3 Slop oil from an oil-water separator tank and oily wastewater from slop
oil handling equipment shall be collected, stored, transported, recycled,
reused, or disposed of in an enclosed system.

5.14.4 Each oil-water separator tank, slop oil tank, storage vessel, or other
auxiliary equipment that is required to comply with paragraph (5.13.1)
of this section, and not paragraph (5.13.2) of this section, may be
equipped with a pressure control valve as necessary for proper system
operation. The pressure control valve shall be set at the maximum
pressure necessary for proper system operation, but such that the value
will not vent continuously.

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5.14.5 Each drain shall be equipped with water seal controls.

5.14.6 Sewer lines shall not be open to the atmosphere and shall be covered or
enclosed in a manner so as to have no visual gaps or cracks in joints,
seals, or other emission interfaces.
Note: For details about closed vent systems and control devices, refer to
USEPA document 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart QQQ.

5.15 Other Emission Sources

5.15.1 Spent caustic shall be treated to remove objectionable odors before

surface disposal.

5.15.2 H2S discharges to the ambient air from wastewater lagoons and ponds
shall be controlled as per design parameters found in the SAES-A-104
engineering standard.

5.15.3 Fugitive Emissions from components (valves, flanges, pump seals, etc.)
shall be controlled by implementing an annual Leak Detection and
Repair (LDAR) survey using USEPA Method 21 or equivalent
(40 CFR Part 60, App A, Method 21).

5.16 New Air Quality Monitoring and Meteorology Network (AMMNET)

Stations

5.16.1 Major new facilities (e.g., refineries, gas plants, major crude oil
processing facilities) shall include the installation of at least one new
AMMNET station to monitor regulated pollutants (SO2, NO, NO2,
Ozone, THC, etc.) to be located in the prevailing down wind direction
of the facility. EED shall approve the location and interface with Saudi
Aramco’s existing AMMNET system.

5.16.2 Air dispersion modeling shall be used to determine the appropriate

AMMNET station location.

6 Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

6.1 Definitions

Acid Gas: A byproduct from a natural gas or LPG sweetening process and
contains primarily H2S and CO2.

Actual Emissions (Tons/Year): This is the amount in tons per year of the
pollutant emitted at the emission point described.

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Air Dispersion Modeling: Using computer models to estimate the

concentration of pollutants in the air by solving the mathematical equations that
govern their dispersion and diffusion in the atmosphere.

Air Pollutant: Any substance emitted to the atmosphere that causes or has the
potential to produce adverse impacts on human health or the environment.

Air Quality (AQ): A measure of the concentration and distribution of

pollutants in the air.

Ambient Air: it is defined as any air on the external side of a pollution source’s
boundary fence to which the public has access. This includes industrial areas
neighboring a pollution source.

Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) Standard: The prescribed level of a pollutant in

the ambient air that should not be exceeded during a specific time period to
prevent adverse effects.

Averages (as applied to the air quality standards):

1-Hour Average: - the smallest discrete averaging period that is used to

determine the other concentration averages such as 8-hour, 24-hour, and
1-year.

8-Hour Average: - computed as a running 8-hour average; any exceedances

will be determined based on running averages that do not share the same
hours. The 8-hour standard only applies to carbon monoxide.

24-Hour Average: - computed as the daily average, not as a running 24-hour

average.

Annual Average: - computed as 12-month Gregorian average (January 1 -

December 31).

Applicable Saudi Arabian Government Environmental Standards: The

latest version of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment standards or
Royal Commission environmental standards.

Best Available Control Technologies: An emission limitation based on the

maximum degree of reduction of each air contaminant emitted from or which
results from any stationary source or modification, which the Control Officer, on
a case by case basis, taking into account energy, environmental, and economic
impacts and other costs, determines is achievable for such stationary source
through application of production processes and available methods, systems, and
techniques for control of such air contaminants. Said BACT determinations
may include a design standard, operational equipment specifications, fuel

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restrictions, work practice or combination thereof. In no event shall application

of BACT result in emission of any pollutants which will exceed the emissions
allowed under existing Air Pollution Control Agency Rules and Regulations.

Bottom Loading: The loading of product via piping connected to fittings on

the bottom of the truck or railcar.

Breathing Loss: Breathing loss occurs daily when a liquid is stored in a tank.
Breathing loss for a product such as gasoline is due to evaporation and
barometric temperature changes. The frequency with which gasoline is
withdrawn from the tank, allowing fresh air to enter and enhance evaporation,
also has a major effect on the quantity of emissions.

Burn Pit: Any ground-level combustion area that is designed to burn off liquid
and/or gas.

Claus Sulfur Recovery Plant: A process unit that recovers sulfur from acid
gas by a vapor-phase catalytic reaction of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

Combustion Gas Turbine (CGT): A fired gas turbine supplied with liquid or
gas fuel and used to generate electricity or drive a pump.

Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM): The system(s) that are used to

sample, condition, and analyze in-stack gas streams; and provide a permanent
record of emissions or process parameters.

Criteria Pollutant: An air pollutant for which an air quality standard with a
specific set of ambient air concentration limits has been established by the Saudi
Arabian government based on specific health criteria (i.e., SO2, O3, NO2, CO.
Particulates).

Emergency/Upset Scenario: Unplanned, Intermittent, or infrequent process

interruption that leads to irregular atmospheric discharge events with averaging
time varied between 1 hr to 5 days depending on the situation and as per EPD
analysis.

Emission Source: Any facility, process, or operation that releases air pollutants
to the atmosphere.

Exceedance: A ground-level concentration (GLC) value greater than the PME

or Royal Commission standard. A source emission greater than the PME or
Royal Commission standard.

Facility: Any installation or industrial activity expected to be a source of

pollution or cause an adverse environmental impact.

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Facility Boundary: The recognized boundary of a facility indicated by a fence

line. Public facilities such as houses, schools, shops, etc., can not be within a
facility boundary.

Flaring: Flaring is a high-temperature oxidation process used to burn

combustible components, mostly hydrocarbons, of waste gases from industrial
operations. Natural gas, propane, ethylene, propylene, butadiene and butane
constitute over 95 percent of the waste gases flared.

Flare Gas Recovery System (FGRS): A system to recover the daily normal
continuous flare gas, and direct it back to the processing facility using a
compressor.

Fuel Gas: Any gas generated at a facility that is used to sustain a combustion
process to generate power, steam, or additional heat for other processes. Fuel
gas includes natural gas that is combined and combusted in any proportion with
another gas generated at facility.

Fugitive (Non-Point) Emissions: Emissions to the atmosphere from such

sources as pumps, valves, flanges, seals, and other process locations not vented
through discrete openings, area-wide sources such as settling ponds, wastewater
lagoons, landfills, cooling towers, open burning areas, and piles of stored material.

Ground Level Concentration (GLC): The actual measured ambient

concentration of the specified pollutant at ground-level, or the predicted
concentration based on air dispersion modeling techniques in parts per million
(ppm) or equivalent micrograms per cubic meter (g/m³), referenced to standard
temperature and pressure (STP) conditions.

Ground-Level Flare: Any flaring system that is designed to continuously

combust excess gases at ground level, inside or outside of a burnpit area.
Ground-level flares can be configured as a combination of horizontal or vertical,
multi-jet, multi-tip, or multi-stage type flares.

Industrial Area: The area inside a facility’s officially recognized property line
that excludes non-employees or other unauthorized personnel.

Inhalable Particulates: Any particle dispersed to the atmosphere in solid or

liquid form that has an aerodynamic size of 10 microns or less.

Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR): A program to control fugitive emissions

from a facility.

Modified (or Upgraded) Facility: Any modification or addition to an existing

facility that directly or indirectly increases air pollutant emissions to the
atmosphere from the facility.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
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Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

New Facility: Any facility designed and constructed as a wholly new facility.
All new facilities must be meet all current and anticipated environmental
standards and regulations.

Opacity: The degree to which emissions reduce the transmission of light and
obscure the view of an object in the background; the percent of opaqueness of
the exhaust gas of a stack or flare. (Note: the higher the opacity number, the
darker or more opaque the exhaust gas). Opacity measurement techniques are
specified in USEPA Method 9.

Open Burning: The intentional combustion of any material for the sole
purpose of disposal or recovery of specific products, and which produces air
pollution that cannot be controlled.

Performance Testing: The testing of new units to determine if such units

conform to the approved design. Performance testing includes stack testing of
process emissions to determine if all applicable Source Emission standards are
met.

Point Source: An emission source that releases pollutants from a limited

opening, such as a stack or vent.

Regulatory Agency: Presidency for Meteorology & the Environment (PME),

Royal Commission of Jubail, and Royal Commission of Yanbu.

Reid Vapor Pressure: The absolute vapor pressure of volatile crude oil and
volatile non viscous petroleum liquids except liquefied petroleum gases
(ASTM-D-323). Equivalent to true vapor pressure of volatile organic
compounds at 37.8 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).

Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu: The jurisdictional authorities that
administer industrial activities within the Madinat Jubail Al-Sinaiyah and
Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah areas.

Source Emission Standards (SES): The maximum amount of a particular

pollutant that can be discharged from a source. Source emission standards are
given for specific pollutants and specific sources and can specify technologies
and/or strategies to control the quantity and/or release rate of air pollutants from
a facility.

Spent Caustic: Caustic (NaOH) is used to treat light hydrocarbons and remove
Mercaptans and H2S. The caustic purge from these processes is referred to in
this document as Spent Caustic.

Stack: Any specific opening used directly or indirectly for discharging

pollutants to the atmosphere.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

Stack Testing: The manual sampling and analysis of stack gases during normal
operation to determine the emission rates of specific pollutants. Stack testing is
part of the performance testing required at the initial start-up of a new process
and may be required periodically thereafter if mandated by the regulatory
agency.

Standard Limit: The 1-hour, 8-hour, 24-hour, or 12-month GLC of the

specified air pollutant.

Submerged Loading: The transfer of a product using a loading arm that

provides product freefall of 30 centimeters or less.

Tanker ship Operations: All ship operations that may release fumes and gases
to the ambient air due to loading, discharging, tanks inerting/venting activities,
tube cleaning, sounding, manifold/loading arms connecting and disconnecting,
and tanks topping procedures.

True Vapor Pressure: The equilibrium partial pressure exerted by a volatile

organic liquid at storage conditions.

Violation: An exceedance of the allowed number of AAQC standard

exceedances.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): Organic chemicals which produce

vapors readily, at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure.
VOCs include gasoline, industrial chemicals such as benzene, and industrial
solvents (such as those used in dry cleaning). Many VOCs are also hazardous
air pollutants; for example, benzene causes cancer. VOCs also combine with
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of sunlight to form ozone (O3).
However, VOCs are not criteria pollutants.

6.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms

AAQS Ambient Air Quality Standard

AMMNET Air Quality Monitoring and Meteorology Network
Bbl Barrel
Btu British thermal unit
CEM Continuous Emission Monitoring
CGT Combustion Gas Turbine
DBSP Design Basis Scoping Paper for Projects

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

DSCM Dry Standard Cubic Meter

EED Environmental Engineering Division
ESP Electrostatic precipitator
FCCU Fluidized-bed catalytic cracking unit
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
FGRS Flare Gas Recovery System
FPD Facilities Planning Department
GLC Ground-level concentration
HEC High efficiency cyclone
J Joule, unit of energy
M 1000
MMBtu Million British thermal units
MT Metric Ton
MCF Thousand Cubic Feet
MMCF Million Cubic Feet
NOx Nitrogen Oxide
Ng/J Nanograms per Joule
PME Presidency for Meteorology and the Environment
PMT Project Management Team
PPM parts per million, by volume
PEM Predictive Emission Monitoring
RATA Relative Accuracy Test Audit.
RCJ Royal Commission of Jubail
RCY Royal Commission of Yanbu
RVP Reid Vapor Pressure
SAES Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

SAMSS Saudi Aramco Material Systems Specification

SASD Saudi Aramco Standard Drawing
SES Source Emission Standard
STP Standard temperature & pressure (STP) conditions of
25°C (298°K) & 1 standard atmosphere (760 mm Hg)
(used for air quality applications)
SOx Sulfur Oxides
TVP True Vapor Pressure
USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
µg/m³ micrograms per cubic meter
ng/Joule nanograms per joule

Revision Summary
10 March 2010 Major revision.
31 July 2012 Editorial revision to reflect the changes in committee members list and replaced cancelled
SAES-O-105 with SAES-O-202.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
Issue Date: 31 July 2012
Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

Appendix I
Table 1 – PME & Royal Commission Ambient Air Quality Standards
PME LIMITS RC LIMITS
TIME MAX. CONC. ALLOWABLE MAX. CONC. ALLOWABLE
POLLUTANT
PERIOD µg/m3 (ppm) EXCEEDANCES µg/m3 (ppm) EXCEEDANCES
(1) (2) (3) (2) (3)

1 hour 730 (0.280) 2 per month 730 (0.280) 2 per month

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 24 hours 365 (0.140) 1 per year 365 (0.140) 1 per year
1 year 80 (0.030) none 80 (0.030) none
1 hour 200 (0.140) 1 per year 200 (0.140) 1 per year
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
24 hours 40 (0.030) 1 per year 40 (0.030) 1 per year
1 hour 660 (0.350) 2 per month 660 (0.350) 2 per month
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
1 year 100 (0.050) none 100 (0.053) none
Ozone (O3) 1 hour 295 (0.150) 2 per month 235 (0.120) 2 per month
Inhalable Particulate 24 hours 340 1 per year 150 none
Matter PM-10µ (4) 1 year 80 none 50 none

Inhalable Particulate 24 hours NS NS 65 none

Matter PM-2.5µ (4) 1 year NS NS 15 none
1 hour 40,000 (35) 2 per month 40,000 (35) 2 per month
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
8 hours 10,000 (9) 2 per month 10,000 (9) 2 per month
Benzene 1 year NS NS 5.0 (0.0015) none
Non-Methane
3 hours(5) NS NS 160 (0.24) none
Hydrocarbons (NMHC)
Ammonia (NH3) 1 hour NS NS 1,800 (2.60) none
Lead (Pb) 3 months NS NS 1.5 none
Chlorine (Cl2) 1 hour NS NS 300 (0.10) none
Sulfates 24 hours NS NS 25 none
(6)
Cadmium (Cd) 1 year NS NS 0.005 none
30 minutes NS NS 20 none
Carbon Disulfide (6)
24 hours NS NS 100 none
Manganese (Mn) (6) 1 year NS NS 0.15 none
(6) 30 minutes 1,000 (0.25)
Toluene NS NS none
1 week 260
Vanadium (6) 24 hours NS NS 1 none
(6)
Xylene 24 hours NS NS 4,800 none
NS = None Stated
1) Readings are averaged over the period indicated.
2) Maximum ground-level concentration (GLC) value corrected to STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure conditions of
25°C (298°K) and 760 mm Hg.
3) Indicates the number of times a GLC may be in excess of the GLC limit value without registering as a violation of the
standard. Allowable exceedances are counted over a calendar month or year as appropriate using the Gregorian calendar.
4) Exceedances of this pollutant as a result of natural causes such as sand storms are not considered violations of the standard.
5) There is no adopted standard for NMHC; this level is a goal to aid in the control of ambient ozone concentrations.
Sampling period is 6 a.m. through 9 a.m.
6) These standards do not apply to individual facilities, but are considered an objective, which should be met in order to
protect the health and well being of the general public.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAES-A-102
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Next Planned Update: 10 March 2015 Ambient Air Quality and Source Emissions Standards

Appendix II – Scope of Flaring Minimization Plan (FMP)

All Saudi Aramco facilities with flares/burn pits shall maintain a comprehensive facility
specific Flaring Minimization Plan (FMP). The FMP shall be updated annually.

Flaring Minimization Plan (FMP) shall consist of the following major elements:
 Policies and procedures adopted to minimize flaring;
 Measuring, monitoring and recording of flared gases;
 Causes of Flaring; and
 Implementation of preventive measures.
A. Policies and Procedures to Minimize Flaring

This procedure shall state facility policy and procedures for various categories of flaring
that include flaring due to process upsets, unanticipated equipment failure, plant start up
and shut downs and T&Is.
B. Measuring, Monitoring and Recording of Flared Gases

All flares at Saudi Aramco Facilities shall monitor the flared gases and prepare a monthly
report containing: 1) the total daily and monthly volumetric flow of the vent, pilot and
purge gas, and 2) the weekly average molecular weight of the vent gas.
C. Causes of Flaring

Plants shall categorize the flaring events as follows:

 Safety: Minimum purge gas (fuel gas or sales gas) to keep air out the flare headers.
 Leakages: Leakages from control valves and Safety Valves.
 Upset: Flaring attributed to process upsets.
 Mechanical Failure: Flaring attributed to mechanical equipment or instrumentation
failures.
 Startup/Shutdown: Flaring attributed to startup and shutdown.
 Process/Fuel Imbalance: Flaring resulting from temporary fuel imbalance in the fuel
system or inadequate gas processing capacity.
D. Implementation of Preventive Measures

Description of the completed FMPs capital modifications and a list of the remaining
activities along with their milestones.

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