Welding Pipe in Extreme Weather Conditions Prominent welding engineering considerations to support Alaskan oil/gas projects are discussed BY WILLIAM C. LAPLANTE The prevailing whine of a truckmounted, engine-driven welding machine reverberates through the frigid Arctic air as reflective shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) arc light dances about on snow-laden tundra like an aurora borealis in a cloudless sky. The arcs and sparks of welding represent a vital skill and science that supports oil/gas-based engineering endeavors in Alaska — Fig. 1. The execution of oil/gas projects drives many types of welding applications to support on- and offshore energy operations. The SMAW, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) processes are heavily utilized by contractors and regional fabrication shops. The double joining of 40 ft (12.2 m) pipe lengths is predominantly accomplished by submerged arc welding (SAW). However, in remote locations such as the Cook Inlet or the Valdez Marine Terminal complex, SMAW is the workhorse of welding processes — Fig. 2. Prior to project kick-off and the striking of an arc, qualified welding procedures are required. This article 72 WELDING JOURNAL / JUNE 2016 Fig. 1 — Welders applying their craft at project job sites.
Welding Journal | June 2016
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