Homopolar pulse welding for offshore deep water pipelines

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:160712

Haase, P W; Carnes, R W; Hudson, R S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Center for Electromechanics

Homopolar pulse welding (HPW) is a one-shot resistance welding process being investigated as a method to join API 5L carbon steel line pipe. Homopolar pulse welding utilizes the high current, low voltage electrical pulse produced by a homopolar generator to rapidly resistance heat the interface between abutting pipe ends, producing a full circumference resistance forge weld requiting no filler metal in under three seconds. A five year joint industry program is sponsoring HPW research with the goal of developing the process for deep water offshore pipeline construction utilizing the J-lay method The first two years of the program have concentrated on weld parameter optimization by producing, testing, and evaluating welds in various grades, wall thicknesses, types and compositions of 3 inch nominal (3.5 inch OD) diameter API 5L carbon steel pipe. Mechanical properties of the welds and parent metal were evaluated by tensile testing, impact testing, and hardness traverse testing according to guidelines and criteria established by the industrial sponsors. Homopolar pulse welding has demonstrated the capability to produce industrially acceptable full circumference welds in carbon steel line pipe via a rapid, one-shot process. Future work will concentrate on developing the process for commercial field installation, with the program`s goal being the demonstration of a prototype system for producing HPW welds in 12 inch diameter pipe in a J-lay configuration.

• OSTI ID: 160712
• Report Number(s): CONF-950501--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON STEELS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
MATERIALS TESTING
OFFSHORE SITES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PIPELINES
RESISTANCE WELDING
WELDED JOINTS