Papers - Miscellaneous - Electric Welding of Field Joints of Oil and Gas Pipe Lines (Abstract with Discussion; see also Technical Publication No. 251)

Prior to Sept. 1, 1928, there had never been constructed what might be termed a long pipe line with electric-welded field joints. A year later more than 2500 miles of electric-welded lines had been completed which varied in diameter from 6 to 20 in., and in length from 50 to 700 miles. This paper discusses methods used on five lines with a total length of about 750 miles. The welding equipment used for the firing line or rolling welds, was 300-amp. generators driven with six-cylinder gasoline engines, and for the bell-hole or tie-in welds, 200-amp. generators driven by four-cylinder gasoline engines. A welding gang consisted of a foreman, 6 to 12 firing-line welders and 2 to 4 bell-hole welders, a mechanic and a tractor driver. Coupons about 1/4 in. thick were frequently cut from completed welds, which showed a cross-section of the weld and an indication of its size and penetration. For tests of tensile strength complete welds were cut out. The tensile strength of 52 welds cut from 420 miles of 12-in. line averaged 50,870 Ib. per square inch. The following results give a fair average of the number of welds made per man per day: on 157 miles of 8-in. line both firing-line and hell-hole welds averaged 15.3—the firing-line average was 21; on 39 miles of 10-in. line the firing-line average was 19.9; on 50 miles of 6-in. line, with unfavorable weather, the average was 17.7; on 424 miles of 12-in. line most of which was welded during the spring, 10.3, and with good weather the average rose to 13 welds per day. The average time for making a complete weld on 12-in. pipe 0.313 in. thick was found to be 30 min. for the rolling weld and 45 min. for tie-in welds. A comparison of costs between electric and gas welding shows that the cost of labor for electric welding is 25 per cent. more than gas, generating cost 61 per cent. less than gas, welding wire 40 per cent. less than gas, and supervision and overhead the same. Estimating 50 per cent, annual depreciation on electric welding equipment, and no depreciation