Chapter 12
Industrial Pipeline Welding
Spyros Papaefthymiou
Abstract The growth path of advanced and developing countries demands huge
amounts of raw materials and energy sources. In applications such as transportation
of flammable oil/gas(es), which frequently involve high pressures, render steel the
optimum pipe material. Modern steel grades ensure safe and reliable long service life
of the pipeline. The most sensitive part is the weld in which defects may be introduced.
Pipelines are exposed to harsh conditions (e.g., arctic environment, sour service, high
pressures, etc.). Pipes are typically welded using high frequency induction welding
(HFIW) and submerged arc welding (SAW), both high productivity techniques. This
chapter overviews requirements, production methods, and metallurgical phenomena
that occur during pipe manufacturing and may affect weld quality. Scholars, students,
and engineers are introduced to the challenges of industrial welding and to the
significance of steel in matching application requirements of harsh environments.
12.1 Introduction to Energy Sector Pipeline Projects
Modern pipelines face new challenges due to the characteristics of both environment
and transporting medium. In order for pipelines to safely operate and to transport the
maximum possible amounts of oil and gas, pipeline steels needed to excel in their
properties and durability. Pipeline manufacturers had to overcome constructional,
welding, and metallurgical limitations to meet the demands. Pipelines currently
operate under sour gas (H 2 S) aqueous environments due to the increased amount
of H 2 S in today’s oil and gas reserves. Thus, the sour gas resistance embraces the
typical corrosion or erosive material losses and makes imperative a focused pipeline
design that addresses that kind of corrosion attacks. Without proper care, the presence of sour environment can lead to stress corrosion or sulfide stress cracking (SSC)
S. Papaefthymiou (B)
School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Division of Metallurgy and Materials Science,
Laboratory of Physical Metallurgy, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Her. Polytechniou
str, GR-15780 Zografos, Athens, Greece
e-mail: spapaef@metal.ntua.gr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. P. Davim (ed.), Welding Technology, Materials Forming, Machining
and Tribology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63986-0_12
387
Industrial Pipeline Welding
Spyros Papaefthymiou
Abstract The growth path of advanced and developing countries demands huge
amounts of raw materials and energy sources. In applications such as transportation
of flammable oil/gas(es), which frequently involve high pressures, render steel the
optimum pipe material. Modern steel grades ensure safe and reliable long service life
of the pipeline. The most sensitive part is the weld in which defects may be introduced.
Pipelines are exposed to harsh conditions (e.g., arctic environment, sour service, high
pressures, etc.). Pipes are typically welded using high frequency induction welding
(HFIW) and submerged arc welding (SAW), both high productivity techniques. This
chapter overviews requirements, production methods, and metallurgical phenomena
that occur during pipe manufacturing and may affect weld quality. Scholars, students,
and engineers are introduced to the challenges of industrial welding and to the
significance of steel in matching application requirements of harsh environments.
12.1 Introduction to Energy Sector Pipeline Projects
Modern pipelines face new challenges due to the characteristics of both environment
and transporting medium. In order for pipelines to safely operate and to transport the
maximum possible amounts of oil and gas, pipeline steels needed to excel in their
properties and durability. Pipeline manufacturers had to overcome constructional,
welding, and metallurgical limitations to meet the demands. Pipelines currently
operate under sour gas (H 2 S) aqueous environments due to the increased amount
of H 2 S in today’s oil and gas reserves. Thus, the sour gas resistance embraces the
typical corrosion or erosive material losses and makes imperative a focused pipeline
design that addresses that kind of corrosion attacks. Without proper care, the presence of sour environment can lead to stress corrosion or sulfide stress cracking (SSC)
S. Papaefthymiou (B)
School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Division of Metallurgy and Materials Science,
Laboratory of Physical Metallurgy, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Her. Polytechniou
str, GR-15780 Zografos, Athens, Greece
e-mail: spapaef@metal.ntua.gr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. P. Davim (ed.), Welding Technology, Materials Forming, Machining
and Tribology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63986-0_12
387