engineering standard

1. Engineering Standard
SAES-A-111 20 November 2007
Borrow Pit Requirements
Environmental Standards Committee Members
Hejazi, Ramzi Fouad, Chairman
Abdulkader, Khaled Abdullah, Vice Chairman
Kadhim, Mohammad Hassan
Carne, Malcolm
Qahtani, Saleh Yahya
Ayoubi, Ensan Mahmoud
Kunnummal, Noushad
Barrie, David George
Khalaf, Adli Shafik
Reed Jr., Philip Edward.
Conner, William Glenn
Mulhim, Khalid Abdul Aziz
Harbi, Nassir Thaali
Nassar, Rafat Mohammad
Rehm, Thomas E.
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards
Table of Contents
1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 Definitions....................................................... 3
5 Site Selection................................................. 3
6 Design............................................................ 4
7 Construction................................................... 5
8 Pit Closure...................................................... 5
9 Environmental Requirements......................... 5
Figure1 – Minimum Distance from Borrow Pit
Slope to Facilities Inside Permit Boundary..... 6
Figure 2 – Borrow Pit Setback Requirements....... 7
Previous Issue: 31 December 2002 Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012
Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin Page 1 of 7
Primary contact: Harbi, Nassir Thaali on 966-3-8736285
Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2007. All rights reserved.

2. Document Responsibility: Environmental SAES-A-111
Issue Date: 20 November 2007
Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012 Borrow Pit Requirements
Page 2 of 7
1 Scope
This standard defines the minimum mandatory requirements for the design, construction
and closure of onshore borrow pits. Environmental requirements as well as the
minimum safe distances between borrow pits and various facilities are covered by this
standard.
2 Conflicts and Deviations
2.1 Any conflicts between this standard and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards (SAESs), Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company Representative through the Manager,
Environmental Protection Department, Dhahran.
2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this standard in writing to the Company or
Authorized Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302 and forward such requests to the Manager, Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) for approval.
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 Procedure
SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a
Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement
Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards
SAES-A-102 Air Pollutant Emission Source Control
SAES-A-105 Noise Control
SAES-A-113 Geotechnical Engineering Requirements
SAES-M-006 Saudi Aramco Security and General Purpose
Fencing
SAES-M-100 Saudi Aramco Building Code

3. Document Responsibility: Environmental SAES-A-111
Issue Date: 20 November 2007
Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012 Borrow Pit Requirements
Page 3 of 7
Saudi Aramco Construction Safety Manual
Saudi Aramco General Instructions
GI-0002.716 Land Use Permit Procedures
GI-0475.001 Blasting Near Existing Facilities
GI-1021.000 Street and Roads Closure: Excavation,
Reinstatement and Traffic Controls
3.2 Government Documents
Saudi Arabian Government Mining Code, Royal Decree No. M/21
Royal Decree M9
3.3 International Code Council (ICC)
IBC 2003 The International Building Code
4 Definitions
Borrow Pit: A site where earth material is removed by mechanical equipment and
transported to an off-site location for use in grading.
Permit Boundary: The boundary in a land use permit that contains and describes the
borrow pit.
Grading: Any excavating, filling or a combination thereof.
5 Site Selection
A Land Use Permit (LUP) shall be requested, processed and approved as outlined by
GI-0002.716 to grant permission for permanent or temporary designated sites for
proposed borrow pits. Efforts shall be made to utilize existing closed borrow pits where
practical.
5.1 Once the LUP approved, then the requirements of Chapter 33 of SAES-M-100
shall be implemented.
5.2 Table 1 shall be used to determine the minimum distance from the borrow pit
permit boundary to various types of facilities outside the boundary.

4. Document Responsibility: Environmental SAES-A-111
Issue Date: 20 November 2007
Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012 Borrow Pit Requirements
Page 4 of 7
Table 1 – Minimum Setback Distance from Borrow Pit Boundary
Facility/ Landform
Minimum Distance from
Borrow Pit Permit Boundary
Residences 1000 m from nearest dwelling wall
Industrial Plants 100 m from plot boundary
Isolated Permanent Structures 25 m from structure plot boundary
Hydrocarbon Pipelines 100 m from corridor boundary
Existing Oil and Gas Sites 100 m from boundary
Air Fields 200 m from secure fence
Power Lines and Substations 100 m from corridor boundary
Utility Lines 25 m from corridor boundary
Lagoons (natural or manmade) 200 m from secure fence
Access Roads 25 m from centerline
Highways 100 m from centerline
Shoreline 500 m from highest tidal line
6 Design
6.1 When specific soil characteristics or geotechnical soil properties are required from
the borrow, a soil report shall be obtained to determine the suitability of the
material prior to initiation of a Land Use Permit. The Supervisor, Civil
Engineering Unit, Consulting Services Department, shall determine the suitability
of borrow pit soils from the soil report. Refer to section 4.2 in SAES-A-113.
6.2 Figure 1 shall be used for reference, and Chapter 1805.3 of International
Building Code shall be used to determine the minimum distance from the top
and/or toe of the borrow pit to any structure inside the borrow pit area.
6.3 The dust concentrations and noise levels from borrow pit operations near
residential or industrial areas shall not exceed the limitations in SAES-A-102
and SAES-A-105.
6.4 In no case shall removal of earth material create a situation in which standing
water accumulates due to seepage, tidal flooding or overland stormwater flow.
6.5 Borrow pits shall not be established on lands occupied by holy places or
officially designated as historical.
6.6 Borrow pits shall be fenced if the pit boundary is less than the minimum setback
distance to a residential area as specified in Table 1. Fencing or controlled
access to any borrow pit shall be determined by SAES-M-100.

5. Document Responsibility: Environmental SAES-A-111
Issue Date: 20 November 2007
Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012 Borrow Pit Requirements
Page 5 of 7
6.7 Borrow pits, designed for final slopes not steeper than 1 unit vertical to 5 units
horizontal (20% slope), shall not require closure activities (see section 8).
7 Construction
7.1 Unless otherwise recommended in an approved soils engineering or engineering
geology report, whenever practical, cut slopes shall be no steeper than 1 unit
vertical to 5 unit horizontal to maintain the final slopes within the 20% slope
required for final closure.
7.2 The borrow pit shall be less than one meter deep if the borrow is less than 45 m³.
7.3 Figure 2 shall be used for reference, and Appendix Chapter 33 of SAES-M-100
shall be used to determine the minimum distance from the top and/or toe of the
borrow pit to the permit boundary.
7.4 When using explosives in constructing a borrow pit, refer to GI-0475.001.
7.5 Refer to the Saudi Aramco Construction Safety Manual, Part II, Section 2.0 for
safety criteria on excavations, trenching and shoring.
8 Pit Closure
In compliance with the Saudi Arabian Government Mining Code, all closed borrow pits
shall be restored to their former state, to the extent reasonably practicable. Refer to
Royal Decrees M/21 and M/9.
At closure borrow pits shall have final slopes not steeper than 1 unit vertical to 5 units
horizontal (20% slope). This shall be the responsibility of the Company or organization
that received the borrow pit permit.
Proponent organization shall provide written documentation upon borrow pit closure to
the Manager, EPD ensuring that the closed borrow pits are restored to their former state.
9 Environmental Requirements
Environmental impacts of borrow pit construction/backfilling must be included as part
of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the entire project.
Revision Summary
20 November 2007 Minor revision to incorporate recommendations of value engineering study.
Revised the "Next Planned Update".

6. Document Responsibility: Environmental SAES-A-111
Issue Date: 20 November 2007
Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012 Borrow Pit Requirements
HEIGHT
FACE OF FOOTING
= H
=
H/2 BUT NEED NOT EXCEED 15 FT MAX
=
H/3 BUT NEED NOT EXCEED 40 FT MAX
TOE OF
SLOPE
TOP OF
SLOPE
FACE OF STRUCTURE
BORROW
PIT
SETBACK, TOE OF SLOPE
SETBACK, TOP OF SLOPE
Figure1 – Minimum Distance from Borrow Pit Slope
to Facilities inside Permit Boundary
Page 6 of 7

7. Document Responsibility: Environmental SAES-A-111
Issue Date: 20 November 2007
Next Planned Update: 19 November 2012 Borrow Pit Requirements
PERMIT
BOUNDARY
HEIGHT
TOE OF
SLOPE
TOP OF
SLOPE
PERMIT
BOUNDARY
BORROW
PIT
10.0 M Min
5.0 M Min NATURAL
OR FINISH
GRADE
NATURAL
OR FINISH
GRADE
Figure 2 – Borrow Pit Setback Requirements
Page 7 of 7