Rio Pipeline Conference & Exposition, 20-22 September 2011, Rio, Brazil

An overview is presented of automatic and mechanized welding technology of steel pipe grades in the range X52-X100 in both on-shore and off-shore applications. A special focus is given to recent successful solutions developed by OERLIKON.

The advantages and disadvantages of the various technologies are presented for MIG-MAG orbital welding and SAW double jointing and an assessment is given of best practice. For orbital welding, the GMAW-FCAW process used downhill with a narrow gap preparation is compared and contrasted with a mixed procedure using GMAW downhill and FCAW uphill in both narrow gap and ‘V’ bevel preparations. The different methods used to weld the root pass and joint fill are reviewed and guidance is also given to enable the most appropriate selection of welding consumables for J-Lay welding in the 2G position.

Typical welding procedures and solutions to increase productivity when SAW double jointing are presented, including a comparison between welding procedures with single wire, twin wire and flux cored wire in combination with specialist pipeline welding SAW fluxes.

For both MIG-MAG and SAW technologies, a range of specialised welding consumables has been developed by OERLIKON for all pipe grades to API 5L X100. The results of weld qualification testing, WQT, including mechanical properties are also presented.

To know more about this event, go on the dedicated website.