Overview
EN ISO 10438-2:2007 (ISO 10438-2:2007) specifies requirements for special-purpose oil systems used in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Used together with ISO 10438‑1 (general requirements), this part covers systems that supply lubrication oil, seal oil or both and are intended to serve equipment such as compressors, gears, pumps and drivers. The standard was prepared in collaboration with API (aligned with API 614) and adopted by CEN as EN ISO 10438-2:2007.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard details design, construction and documentation expectations for special-purpose oil systems, including:
- Design life: equipment and auxiliaries are to be designed for a minimum service life of 20 years with at least 5 years of uninterrupted operation (design criterion).
- System layout: options for separate consoles or integration with equipment baseplates; provisions for transfer and shutdown arrangements.
- Mechanical components: baseplates, oil reservoirs, pumps and pump drivers, coolers, filters, transfer valves, accumulators, overhead tanks, degassing drums and seal-oil drain traps.
- Piping: oil, instrument, process and water piping requirements and routing.
- Instrumentation & controls: recommended arrangements, instrumentation, and electrical system considerations for reliable operation.
- Inspection & testing: inspection, factory testing, and preparation for shipment requirements.
- Vendor documentation: required vendor data, datasheets, P&IDs, and an inspector’s checklist (informative annexes).
- Purchaser input: the standard requires purchasers to specify certain options; clauses marked with a bullet (•) indicate purchaser decisions or data to be supplied.
Applications
ISO 10438‑2 is applied where robust, industry-compliant oil supply systems are needed for specialized rotating and driven equipment in oil & gas and petrochemical facilities. Typical applications include:
- Lubrication and sealing for centrifugal and reciprocating compressors
- Gearbox lubrication systems for drivers and turbines
- Seal oil and control-oil systems for pumps and mechanical seals
- Custom or non-standard oil systems where “special-purpose” configurations are required
Who should use this standard
- Equipment manufacturers and oil system vendors specifying and designing special-purpose oil systems
- Plant engineers, rotating-equipment engineers and maintenance teams in petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas facilities
- Procurement and inspection teams preparing technical specifications, datasheets and factory acceptance tests (FAT)
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 10438-2, special-purpose oil systems, lubrication systems, seal oil, control-oil, petroleum industry, petrochemical, natural gas, lubrication and sealing systems.
