A study on the economic incentives of welding steel pipelines using friction stir welding
- Kumar A. ,
- Wasson A. ,
- Fairchild D.P. ,
- et al
- Kumar A. ,
- Wasson A. ,
- Fairchild D.P. and
- Macia M.L.
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An economic analysis was undertaken to compare the costs of onshore and offshore pipeline construction scenarios for welds made using friction stir welding (FSW) and conventional mechanised MIG/MAG welding. Pipe diameters of 1067 and 305 mm were selected as the examples for onshore and offshore pipelines, respectively. The onshore MIG/MAG scenario was based on internal root welding followed by an external (bug and band) procedure. The offshore scenario incorporated the J-lay technique where all welding was conducted from the outside of the pipe at a single welding station. In the analysis, it was assumed that NDE costs and repair rates were equal for the two methods. Issues discussed include the use of an internal MIG/MAG root weld to support an external FSW butt weld for large diameter, onshore construction and the sensitivity of cost savings to key factors such as FSW equipment and tool costs, tool life, welding speed and pipe wall thickness.
9th International Symposium, 15-17 May 2012, Session 1: Plenary, Paper 01
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