Steve Nichols and Bob Carnes

Homopolar Offshore Pipeline Welding Research Program (JIP)

Steve Nichols, Bob Carnes, and Bobby Hudson; Muhammad Rasheed (UG student)

Optimization of HPW by varying the input parameters to achieve even heating, correct peak temperatures, proper upset.
Characterization of welds in different pipe materials, wall thicknesses, methods of manufacture.
Reduces the cost of producing oil and gas in deep water.

The program is aimed at achieving acceptance of Homopolar welding by industry. The first three years were spent in examination of material basics and optimization of weld parameters. The last three years will be spent in proving up welding of large diameter pipes, designing and building a prototype field pipe welding machine, and getting the word out to industry.

This is a unique process which is not being duplicated elsewhere.

Deep water laying of pipe constrains welding methods to ones which require only a single station. HPW is a single station method which requires only 3 seconds to effect a weld. Once it is proven for this use, it is expected that it will be found to be applicable to, and preferred by many industries.

October 1988 to September 1998

The main deliverables will be the optimum welding parameters for three different common kinds of oil field pipe, but it can be said that the program will deliver an entirely new method of welding to many industries.

The work has been guided by its industrial sponsors, the representatives of six oil companies: Shell, Exxon, Texaco, Mobil, BP, and Amoco. The results to date can be found in several OTRC reports and a number of scholarly publications which have been published or are in press.