Effect of Strain Ageing on Mechanical Properties of Pipeline Girth Welds

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badri K. Narayanan ◽  
Jon Ogborn
Keyword(s):  
Yield Strength ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Dynamic Strain ◽  
Pipe Material ◽  
Cored Wire ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Strain Ageing ◽  
Girth Welds ◽  
Welding Processes

Pipeline girth welds for on-shore and off-shore pipelines use a variety of arc welding processes. The trend towards strain based designs for line pipe installation and the effect of coatings for off-shore pipelines have resulted in evaluation and testing of pipe material subjected to strain ageing. However, very little work has been done to systematically study the effect on ferritic weld metal. This work details some initial work done on evaluating the effect of strain ageing on ferritic weld metal deposited with a 1.2 mm diameter flux cored wire under 75% Ar −25% CO2 shielding gas. Pipeline girth welds were welded on API Grade X-70 pipe and tested to get all weld metal tensile and Charpy V-Notch properties. The weld metal strength overmatched the base material by 7–9%. The ductile to brittle transition temperature for the weld metal was −40°C. The effect of strain ageing on weld metal properties was evaluated. All weld metal tensile samples were subjected to varying levels of pre-strain and ageing treatments to evaluate the effect on yield strength and post-yield behavior. An increase in yield strength after straining and ageing as well as the re-appearance of yield point is observed. Increase in pre-strain decreases elongation. Increase in ageing temperature delays the appearance of dynamic strain ageing. The activation energy for the increase in strength after strain ageing has been measured by assuming a diffusion controlled mechanism. Charpy V-Notch samples were taken to generate transition curves of weld metal after strain ageing and compared to the as-welded condition.

Improving Reliability of Carbon Steel Girth Welds in Sour Environment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harpreet Sidhar ◽  
Neerav Verma ◽  
Chih-Hsiang Kuo ◽  
Michael Belota ◽  
Andrew J. Wasson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Steel ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Welding Parameters ◽  
Pipe Material ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Weld Root ◽  
Girth Welds ◽  
Sour Service

Abstract The oil and gas industry has seen unexpected failures of sour service carbon steel pipelines in the recent past. Below par performance of girth welds and line pipe material have been identified as the root causes of such failures. Although mechanized welding can achieve good consistency, the weld region is more heterogeneous as compared to base material, which can lead to inconsistencies and poor weld performance. Overall, the effects of welding parameters on performance of carbon steel pipeline girth welds for sour service are not well understood. Furthermore, industry is moving towards more challenging environments, such as production of hydrocarbons from ultra-deepwater, which further necessitates the need to improve welding practices for additional high criticality applications. Many of the critical parameters for sour service performance will also improve general weld performance for ultra-deepwater. So, there is a clear need to understand the effects of various welding parameters on weld properties and performance. This effort aims at assessing the effects of key welding parameters on performance of girth welds to develop improved welding practice guidelines for sour service pipeline applications. In this study, several API X65 grade line pipe girth welds were made using commercially available welding consumables. The effects on weld root performance of preheat, wire consumable chemistry, hot pass tempering, single vs. dual torch, copper backing, root pass heat input, metal transfer mode, pipe fit-up (root gap, misalignment) were studied. Generally, carbon steel welds with hardness 250HV or below are considered acceptable for sour service. So, detailed microhardness mapping and microstructural characterization were conducted to evaluate the performance and reliability of welds. It was evident that the welding parameters studied have a significant impact on root performance. Preheat and pipe fit-up showed the most significant impact on weld root performance. Based on the results and understanding developed with this study, recommendations for industry are provided through this paper to improve reliability of pipeline girth welds in sour service application.

Development of Optimized Weld Metal Chemistries for Pipeline Girth Welding of High Strength Line Pipe

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan R. Fiore ◽  
James A. Gianetto ◽  
Mark G. Hudson ◽  
Suhas Vaze ◽  
Shuchi Khurana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Property ◽  
Yield Strength ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Process Variations ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Girth Welding ◽  
Dimensional Finite Element ◽  
Initial Work ◽  
Girth Welds

The primary objectives of this program were to provide a better understanding of the factors that control strength and toughness in high strength steel girth welds and to develop optimized welding consumables and welding procedures for high strength pipelines. The initial work on the program involved developing cooling rate models so that optimized weld metal compositions for high-strength pipelines could be developed, ensuring that the ideal balance of strength and ductility, together with tolerance to process variations and resistance to hydrogen cracking is achieved. The model, which was developed under a companion program, uses a two-dimensional finite element approach. Complete details can be found in Reference [1]. The model predicts the cooling rates during various weld passes in narrow groove welding of X80 and X100 pipes. Using this model, along with experimental datasets, a neural network model was developed which has been used to predict weld metal properties for various weld metal compositions. Based on the predictions, eight target compositions were selected and were manufactured by one of the team partners. The results of mechanical property testing showed that it was possible to develop weld metal compositions which exceeded the target yield strength of 820 MPa and also provided excellent toughness (>50J at −60°C). It was also found that the weld metal yield strength measured close to the ID of the pipe was significantly higher than that which was measured closer to the OD of the pipe. Complete mechanical property results, including results for round-bar and strip tensiles, CVN impact toughness, microhardness and more, are presented.

Girth Welding Development of Heavy Wall Materials for Severe Applications

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noé Mota-Solis ◽  
Mauricio Pelcastre ◽  
Eduardo Ruiz ◽  
Philippe Darcis ◽  
Jose Enrique Garcia-Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Filler Material ◽  
Pipe Material ◽  
Transverse Impact ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Girth Welding ◽  
Wall Materials ◽  
Welding Processes

The needs for oil and gas exploration in deep water (DW) and ultra-deep water (UDW) severe environments involve critical requirements of heavy wall materials. Offshore DW and UDW impose demanding service conditions of sour environment, mechanical properties, fatigue performance, gas service, high pressure and wide temperature ranges not only for heavy wall seamless line pipe materials but also for the girth weld performance. Thus, the development of heavy wall materials for severe applications is essential for DW and UDW, where complex material requirements are sought. Additionally the girth welding of heavy wall materials has imposed particularities typical of large wall thickness materials’ welding. The latter requires the development of particular solutions for pre-production and GMAW narrow groove offshore welding procedures. The present work presents the development of two welding processes of a heavy wall seamless pipe material: 273.1 mm OD × 46 mm WT, X65 steel grade. Pre-production welding involves STT®+SAW using a dual slope V-bevel, filler material for root processing was an AWS ER80S-G, while welding deposition for fill and cap passes was made using twin-wire technique, with two different electrodes (ENi1K and EG AWS designations), in combination with a neutral flux. On the other hand, narrow groove welding procedure considered a J-bevel, 3° angle, applying STT®+GMAW; filler material for GMAW was as well an ER80S-G AWS designation. Both welding procedures are aimed to deliver adequate mechanical properties to meet sour-service requirements (<250HV10), weld metal overmatching (120 MPa minimum) and toughness (CVN 45JAVE/38JIND) at low temperature. Mechanical characterization included hardness Vickers measurements using a 10 kgf load, tensile tests in all-weld metal and transverse impact fracture Charpy V-notch tests and CTOD tests.

EPRG Tier 2 Guidelines for the Assessment of Defects in Transmission Pipeline Girth Welds

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudi Denys ◽  
Robert Bob Andrews ◽  
Mures Zarea ◽  
Gerhard Knauf
Keyword(s):  
Yield Strength ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Pipe Material ◽  
Tier 2 ◽  
Planar Defects ◽  
Transmission Pipeline ◽  
Metal Yield ◽  
Girth Welds

This paper presents the proposed revisions of the EPRG guidelines for the assessment of defects in transmission pipeline girth welds. The revisions cover Tier 2 of the guidelines, in particular (a) the extension of the guidelines to include Grade L555 (X80) material, (b) the assessment of surface-breaking defects with heights up to 5mm and (c) the assessment of multiple co-planar defects. Since the welds should be, at least, matching the pipe material in yield strength, the paper also defines the required levels of weld metal yield strength for the safe application of the guidelines.

Structure and Properties of X80 and X100 Pipeline Girth Welds

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Gianetto ◽  
J. T. Bowker ◽  
D. V. Dorling ◽  
D. Horsley
Keyword(s):  
Yield Strength ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Tensile Properties ◽  
Arc Welding ◽  
Gas Metal Arc Welding ◽  
Narrow Gap ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Metal Arc Welding ◽  
Girth Welds ◽  
Strength And Toughness

This study aims to provide an understanding of the factors that control weld metal strength and toughness of mechanized field girth welds produced in X80 and X100 line pipe steels using a range of pipeline gas metal arc welding procedures. In the investigation of X80 welds, a series of experimental single and dual torch gas metal arc welds were prepared with three C-Mn-Si wires, which contained additions of Ti, Ni-Ti and Ni-Mo-Ti. The weld metal microstructures, tensile properties, notch toughness, and fracture resistance were evaluated. The results indicate that high weld metal yield strength and good toughness can be achieved. The X80 single torch welds exhibited higher yield strength but lower toughness compared to the corresponding dual torch welds. For the development and evaluation of welding procedures for mainline girth welding of X100 pipe, two narrow gap mechanized gas metal arc welding procedures were evaluated with emphasis placed on measurement of the tensile properties. The results show that dramatically different properties (strength and toughness) can be found as a result of differences in energy input, interpass temperature and weld width or offset distance. Additionally, the preliminary tensile testing, which utilized both standard round bar and modified strip tensile specimens, illustrates the potential variation that can occur when assessing all-weld-metal tensile properties of narrow gap pipeline girth welds.

Evaluation of UOE and Spiral-Welded Line Pipe for Strain Based Designs

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yankui Bian ◽  
Christopher Penniston ◽  
Laurie Collins ◽  
Robert Mackenzie
Keyword(s):  
Heat Affected Zone ◽  
Work Hardening ◽  
Good Work ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Pipe Axis ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Girth Welds ◽  
Welding Processes

Strain-based designs for Arctic pipelines place stringent demands on properties of the pipe body as well as the girth weld and associated heat affected zone. The pipe body must demonstrate good work hardening behavior in addition to satisfactory strength and toughness properties. Girth welds are required to overmatch the strength of the pipe body; both the weld and heat affected zone must also provide good toughness. In this study, X80 line pipe produced using the UOE and spiral welding processes were compared. The UOE process provides some degree of work hardening resulting from cold expansion. This extra hardening renders the UOE pipe more responsive than the spiral pipe to aging effects associated with pipe coating. However, the UOE pipe has an advantage in balancing LPA (longitudinal to pipe axis) and TPA (transverse to pipe axis) strengths. Greater strengths in the TPA orientation afford the capacity to meet specified minimum requirements of the pipe grade and lower strengths in the LPA orientation facilitate overmatching by girth welds. The two types of line pipe offer both advantages and disadvantages for strain-based designs. It must be emphasized that good work hardening characteristics can be maintained in the UOE pipe when the coating process involves a low temperature, which is an objective of modern coating technologies. It was also observed that aging effects did not affect toughness properties significantly.

Semi-Automatic Gas-Less Process for Girth Welding X-80 Line Pipe

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badri K. Narayanan ◽  
Patrick Soltis ◽  
Marie Quintana
Keyword(s):  
Yield Strength ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Slag System ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Automatic Process ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
High Toughness ◽  
New Process ◽  
Girth Welding ◽  
Acidic Components

A new process (M2M™) to girth weld API Grade X-80 line pipe with a gas-less technology is presented. This process combines innovations in controlling arc length and energy input with microstructure control of the weld metal deposited to achieve high strength (over matching 550 MPa yield strength) and Charpy V-Notch toughness of over 60 Joules at −20°C. This paper will concentrate on the metallurgical aspects of the weld metal and the systematic steps taken to achieve high strength weld metal without sacrificing toughness. The development of an appropriate slag system to achieve the best possible microstructure for high toughness weld metal is discussed. The indirect effects of the slag system on the weld metal composition, which in turn affects the microstructure and physical properties, are detailed. In order to achieve sound weld metal without gas protection using a semi-automatic process, a basic slag system with minimal acidic components is used to improve the cleanliness of the weld metal without sacrificing weldability. In addition, a complex combination of micro-alloying elements is used to achieve the optimum precipitation sequence of nitrides that is critical for high toughness. The final part of this paper gives details about the robustness of this process to weld high strength pipe. The results show that this is a practical and unique solution for girth welding of X-80 pipe to achieve acceptable toughness and over a 15% overmatch in yield strength of X-80 pipe without sacrificing productivity.

Tensile and Toughness Properties of Pipeline Girth Welds

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Gianetto ◽  
J. T. Bowker ◽  
R. Bouchard ◽  
D. V. Dorling ◽  
D. Horsley
Keyword(s):  
Weld Metal ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Strain Curve ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Arc Welding Process ◽  
Girth Welds ◽  
Metal Microstructure

The primary objective of this study was to develop a better understanding of all-weld-metal tensile testing using both round and strip tensile specimens in order to establish the variation of weld metal strength with respect to test specimen through-thickness position as well as the location around the circumference of a given girth weld. Results from a series of high strength pipeline girth welds have shown that there can be considerable differences in measured engineering 0.2% offset and 0.5% extension yield strengths using round and strip tensile specimens. To determine whether or not the specimen type influenced the observed stress-strain behaviour a series of tests were conducted on high strength X70, X80 and X100 line pipe steels and two double joint welds produced in X70 linepipe using a double-submerged-arc welding process. These results confirmed that the same form of stress-strain curve is obtained with both round and strip tensile specimens, although with the narrowest strip specimen slightly higher strengths were observed for the X70 and X100 linepipe steels. For the double joint welds the discontinuous stress-strain curves were observed for both the round and modified strip specimens. Tests conducted on the rolled X100 mechanized girth welds established that the round bar tensile specimens exhibited higher strength than the strip specimens. In addition, the trends for the split-strip specimens, which consistently exhibit lower strength for the specimen towards the OD and higher for the mid-thickness positioned specimen has also been confirmed. This further substantiates the through-thickness strength variation that has been observed in other X100 narrow gap welds. A second objective of this study was to provide an evaluation of the weld metal toughness and to characterize the weld metal microstructure for the series of mechanized girth welds examined.

The Effect of Sample Flattening on Yield Strength Measurement in Line Pipe

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave G. Crone ◽  
Laurie E. Collins ◽  
Yankui Bian ◽  
Paul Weber
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Yield Strength ◽  
Tensile Testing ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Ring Expansion ◽  
Tensile Specimen ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Line Pipe ◽  
Ongoing Research

Tensile testing is a key part of the qualification process of Line Pipe. When qualifying pipe products various items are considered when tensile testing; Yield Strength (YS), Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Percent Elongation (%EL), and the Yield Strength to Tensile Strength Ratio (Y/T) are all important. Of these, the YS is the most critical and yet the most sensitive to both preparation and measurement techniques. During the pipe forming process, the base material is plastically formed into a curved shape, and then welded into the final product. The Transverse to Pipe Axis (TPA) tensile specimen removed for testing is curved and must be flattened prior to testing. The flattening process is varied in many facilities and the standards to which testing is conducted are not specific enough to ensure uniformity of procedures. ASTM acknowledges flattening processes and the degree of flatness “may affect test results”, though no guidance is given. This paper will provide an overview of ongoing research efforts, concerning the measurement of the Yield Strength of TPA tensile specimens and its relationship to curvature and flattening methods, prior to testing. By comparing flattened strap tests, to round bar and ring expansion tests, it is shown that the flattened strap test provides a conservative estimate of the actual YS of the pipe.

Tensile Properties and Microstructure of Butt Weld of Q235A Steel Made by Wet Welding Process

2011 ◽  
Vol 337 ◽  
pp. 448-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Tao Zhang ◽  
Wen Jie Jiang ◽  
Ji Cai Feng ◽  
Shi Sheng Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Tensile Test ◽  
Tensile Properties ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Tensile Specimen ◽  
Cored Wire ◽  
Butt Weld ◽  
Welding Processes ◽  
Rolled Plates

The effect of underwater wet welding processes with flux-cored wire on tensile properties and microstructure of Q235A steel was studied. Rolled plates of 8 mm thickness have been used as the base material for preparing single pass butt welded joints. OM and SEM were used to analyze the microstructure of the joint and the fractography of the tensile specimen. Tensile test showed that the fracure was occured at base metal and tensile strength could reach 415Mpa.

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