Electron beam welding in the oil, gas and chemical industry
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Electron Beam technology can be used to process materials for use in the Oil, Gas and Chemical Industries. Welding, heat treatment and surfacing of parts for these industries is routinely carried out using electron beams in applications where high integrity and minimal thermal damage are paramount.
TWI has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in the development of EB welding procedures for joining the materials commonly used in this industry sector which include:-
- Pipeline C-Mn steels (TMCP)
- Stainless Steels (Austenitic, Duplex, Ferritic and Martensitic)
- Nickel Alloys (Inconel, Hastelloy)
- Titanium Alloys
Some examples of how TWI has been able to assist this industry sector is described below:
Electron beam welding for offshore pipelay
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Laying offshore submarine pipelines for oil and gas transportation presents many welding challenges. TWI have developed a rapid pipe welding system based on the Reduced Pressure EB welding process which has been demonstrated to offer a significant productivity advantage over even narrow gap, high productivity arc welding systems.
Electron beam welding of well head equipment
EB welding is used extensively in the manufacture of sensors and wellhead equipment for sub sea oil and gas production where reliability of the welds is critical and stringent performance requirements are specified. TWI can assist in development and demonstration of welding procedures for these parts and materials combinations.
Electron beam hardening of lock out sleeves
The use of precise beam power control and programmable rapid beam deflection has made it possible to perform a critical hardening operation on a safety critical component for an offshore platform elevator system.
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Reduced pressure electron beam girth welding of pipelines.
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More detailed information is available to TWI's Industrial Members:
- Integrity of reduced pressure electron beam girth welds for deep water pipelines
- Advanced welding processes for fusion reactor fabrication
- Electron beam welded butt joints
- Design and development of a locally coupled, high frequency pulser for 100kw EB
- Fatigue tests on electron beam welded C-Mn steel butt joints
- High productivity pipe welding of Ti-6Al-4v alloys
- Electron beam welding enters forth decade
- High quality and productivity joining processes and procedures for titanium risers and flowlines
- Radical new joining - in the pipeline
Contact: electronbeam@twi.co.uk
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