An extensive network of petroleum pipelines transports a wide range of natural gas and crude oil across the United States. This network includes 2.4 million miles of natural gas pipelines and more than 190,000 miles of liquid petroleum pipelines. However, the functionality and construction of these pipelines differ significantly. Due…
Strong bonds are always the objective for welding. This is true for tubes, tubesheets, fillets around pipes, pressure vessels, or other systems. And, for most applications, bond strength is a reliable metric for the quality of a weld. For some industries, the purity of a weld is the principal concern….
Pipe welding is a challenge. Maintaining the appropriate arc length as the metal surface falls away from or rises towards the welder as the weld progresses is difficult. So is managing the input of fill materials. These factors are further complicated by the pipe and tube often being in the…
How do you determine the quality and integrity of the weld? Is it based on the size and appearance of the weld or the number of defects? These are critical questions the welders should ask when performing a weld. And the first approach to getting them answered is through visual…
Whenever there is a heat input on the metal, there is an inevitable expansion and contraction. The extent to which this happens is dependent on the intensity of heat, but this basic thermodynamic concept is sure to change the metallic properties during the heating and cooling cycle. In pipes, distortion…
Fillet welding a pipe can add complexity to the joint, but comes with its own demands. The most obvious one is the challenge to achieve complete fusion while maintaining the perpendicular angle. To ensure that the fillet welds around a pipe will result in a high-quality and strong joint, we…
What is the recipe for a successful weld? The right welding technique, correct parameters, and compatible tools all work to produce the best result during the welding process. However, there is one crucial consideration to make before the welding process even begins: joint preparation. When welding large or small pipes,…
Cladding can enhance a metal’s corrosion-resistant properties. The process involves the deposition of a corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) layer over a base metal with weaker properties. The most common CRA is stainless steel. Along with its corrosion-resistant properties, stainless steel also offers the benefits of increased strength, temperature resistance, and cost-efficiency. …