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PRCI PR-185-9830
- Factors Influencing Girth Weld Reliability in Older Pipelines
- Report / Survey by Pipeline Research Council International, 10/31/2003
- Publisher: PRCI
$198.00$395.00
L51936e
Edison Welding Institute
Need: Many older pipelines were constructed without either the benefit of detailed weld inspection or the understanding of the requirements for girth weld performance that currently exists. Consequently, they often contain discontinuities that exceed today's workmanship standards. Operators of pipeline facilities are now being required, by recent legislation and regulation, to provide a higher level of assurance of the integrity of their pipeline systems. Older pipelines present some unique challenges in meeting these requirements.
Result: The objective of this project was to develop a technical basis for demonstrating the integrity of older pipelines at reasonable cost. This work addresses the characteristics of girth welds in older pipelines that prevent assessment of their fitness for service using standard available procedures. The present work focuses on developing a closed-form stress-intensity solution that includes the effects of weld cap size. In addition, this work improves test methodologies for measurement of appropriate material properties in low-strength girth welds.
Benefit: This report provides the technical basis for the use of hybrid methods to assess welds in older pipelines without having to perform detailed re-inspections or costly replacements.
Edison Welding Institute
Need: Many older pipelines were constructed without either the benefit of detailed weld inspection or the understanding of the requirements for girth weld performance that currently exists. Consequently, they often contain discontinuities that exceed today's workmanship standards. Operators of pipeline facilities are now being required, by recent legislation and regulation, to provide a higher level of assurance of the integrity of their pipeline systems. Older pipelines present some unique challenges in meeting these requirements.
Result: The objective of this project was to develop a technical basis for demonstrating the integrity of older pipelines at reasonable cost. This work addresses the characteristics of girth welds in older pipelines that prevent assessment of their fitness for service using standard available procedures. The present work focuses on developing a closed-form stress-intensity solution that includes the effects of weld cap size. In addition, this work improves test methodologies for measurement of appropriate material properties in low-strength girth welds.
Benefit: This report provides the technical basis for the use of hybrid methods to assess welds in older pipelines without having to perform detailed re-inspections or costly replacements.
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