Use of automatic welding process in pipelines for meeting tight schedules

Pipelines are becoming increasingly suitable for transporting hydrocarbons and other fluidic materials over long distances. With the demand for such transportation increasing steadily, pipelines are being designed to transport larger volumes and at higher pressures using higher strength materials to optimise the capital expenditure. Also, the project schedules are being shrunk to meet the cash flow calculations as well as to meet urgent demands. When the projects are required to be completed in much shorter duration times, conventional pipeline welding processes and laying procedures need to be changed to high productivity processes and procedures without compromising on the quality and safety levels. With modern high strength steels, a good knowledge of their weldability together with the capabilities and limitations of the high productivity welding processes and the related quality assurance requirements is essential for meeting the project schedules. This paper seeks to bring out the salient features of such high productivity processes adopted for Indian projects in recent times. (AU) Copyright © 2013 Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) All Rights Reserved