Hyperbaric welding works dry or wet
This article presents the application of underwater welding in the installation and repair of offshore structures and pipelines of the petroleum industry. Underwater platform structrual repairs have employed wet and dry hypebaric welding. Hyperbaric welding techniques can be accomplished faster, without compromising quality, by employing the flux-cored arc welding process. This process requires a complex underwater wire feeder package which can adversely affect equipment reliability and system downtime. Flux-cored and solid wire feed packages have been used for hyperbaric welding in the past with various degrees of success. The ever present potential for wire-feeder canister flooding during development and welding prompted a new, more reliable design concept. The new concept tried to improve upon the ever-present potential for wire-feeder canister flooding during deployment and welding. The concept was followed by fabrication and testing of a new packaged wire-feeder system which can be deployed in depths to 300 FSW, while like wire feed unit and welding gun remain at 10 atm of pressure. The design completely eliminates the requirement to equilize pressure in the wire feed canister as it is lowered to the work site. Thus, the potential for canister flooding is reduced dramatically.
- Research Organization:
- Oceaneering International Inc
- OSTI ID:
- 6521868
- Journal Information:
- Offshore; (United States), Vol. 42:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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