Hey Hey Hey.... I dont do grits, its rice and gravy where I come from. Remember now, Im a Cajun aka a Coon@$$, and trust me, we know how to cook.


Man did I ever miss that one, gonna have to get a second cup of jeaux before I read the post. Buts its ok, cause every one knows that there is Nothing Finer than a Pipeliner!

 

Let me ask you a serious question if I may; Why is gas-less flux cored mig not approved for pipe applications? Seems it would be quicker and easier than stick with basically the same properties. Always wondered about that but never knew a CWI to be able to ask.

chaikwa.

 

Gasless Flux core welding is almost never used on pipeline applications, however, gas sheilded flux core is, on an uphill procedure usually. An external sheilding gas allows for better puddle formation and increased repulsion of impurities versus and gasless flux core setup. It is very common in shop setting where the equipment can be set up. However in the field the SMAW (stick) setup is more suitable due to its portablility and to be honest, time honored and proven reliability. Stick is the 5.9 12v of the welding world.

Im digging through some old work pics to give yall an idea of what it is I do.

 

Thanks Blake, that's the first real answer I've ever received to that question!

I did some stick yesterday, first time in about 5 years, and it came out pretty well. I guess it's like riding a bike... you never forget how but if you fall off, someone is gonna get hurt!

chaikwa.

 

Chaikwa,

You'd be amazed at some off the offshore work Ive seen and done. Been on several ships that are the largest in the world at there intended use. 99% of all welding being done on major offshore laybarges use automatic welding machines. Its a solid core wire set up with a "bug" - the auto welder setup, that travels around the pipe and does all the welding, the operater just starts and stops it. Ive got a post in the works, uploading pics, to show some of it, gonna be a little long, but interesting no the less.

 

Blake, I had something I had to do today, but I'm going to sit right here until I see those pics!

I wish I was closer to the south... I'd love to sit and pick your brain for a few... WEEKS!

chaikwa.

 

Chaikwa I sure hope your talking about welding.. One sure could think you were talking about something else



Morning DTR.. Late evenin pops. Goin to the Homer Depot today to pick up some yard stuff. Then off to pick up the bathroom tile that finally came in from back order. Maybe I can get this dang bathroom done

Chris, good to see ya stop bye sir.

 

Once, just once, I'd like to see you get your mind out of the gutter!



chaikwa.

 

OK here we go, here is some pics of what I do and where Ive been...


Welding 101 - The push. In area like South Louisiana where cross country travel is sometimes impossible and impassible a pipeline is laid via the push method. This where a push rack is set up and the pipeline if fabricated assembly line style. The way it works is several welding stalls are set up, a large crane feeds the individual joints of pipe to a side boom, a tractor that aligns the joint to be welded. The welders then start welding and when the first pass, the beed, is finished, then the pipe is "pushed" down and the process starts all over again. The sucessive stalls have welders that are doing more passes until the pipe is pushed all the way down and the weld complete. It then is put into a pipe ditch and floated to where its final resting place will be. Voila, instant pipeline.


Here is the crane feeding pipe to the sideboom. This was a 42" job that had a 5 inch CWC, concrete weight coating. Yes, even this big, when welded up it is boyant, and the CWC is used to anchor it when it its final resting place.



The Side boom stalking on a joint into the beedstall



A view down the push site



Another view of pushsite



The pipe that has been welded, accepted by testing, coated and going into the pipe ditch. The floats are to keep it boyant until its final resting place then they are cut off and the pipe goes to the bottom of the ditch and is buried.



Now, in such bad terrain your probably wondering how the ditch gets dug right. Well we use these. They are basically 330 cat trackhoes with specially designed track pontoons. They can literally walk on water.

We call them Marsh Buggies



Here is a few of them in action







This is what the inspectors use when the atv's can no longer make it...



Those are called Marsh Masters, they float, go every wheres and are V8 powered.

Hope yall like.

Will have more later on.

 

AWESOME! So many questions tho;

It look like a giant 'dock' has been made from wood for a work platform. Is that accurate? Does it just sit on the ground?

What are those things that look like trailers that the pipe is traveling thru? Is that where the welding takes place? ie; the 'weld stalls'? They look like they have air conditioning too!

How many miles of pipe can be pushed at a time?

How do you dig a ditch in conditions as wet as those? Meaning, I would think the sides of the ditches would cave back in as soon as they are dug.

What has to be inspected once the pipe is in the ditch? I wouldn't think you could even SEE the pipe once it nhas laid on the bottom.

Do you accept visitors on site?

chaikwa.

 

1. Its referred to as padding or matting, yes its right on the ground. A layer of plastic barrier prevents any chemical leaks into the soil, then a layer of sand for stability then oak matting laid down. The ditch is dug right up to the matting.

2. Those are the welding stalls. It gets awful hot in there in the summer time and that particular contractor did indeed install ac in them.

3.We set a world record on that job for the longest push of big inch (36" and up) pipe on this job, we pushed almost 8 miles. Technically the pipe is not pushed but pulled, a D8 dozer was connected to a ****** block on a deadman and a choker to the pipe and pulled it, but it has the same effect of the pipe being pushed.

4. Very carefully, it has to have the proper slope to it and the water plays a factor in holding in the side. There is always one or two buggies ahead of the pipe as it floats down "sweeping" the ditch clean and guiding the pipe.

5. All inspection work is done before the pipe hits the water. My job as a Welding Inspector is to make sure that the are following the right procedure (preheat, right rods, correct parameters etc) then when the weld is complete I visually inspect it for external defects. It is then radiographed (xrayed) or AUT'd (automated ultrasonic testing) for internal defect. Any out of code defects are repaired on the spot or if too bad the entire weld is cut out. It then goes to a blasting and coating stall and where it is coated. When it goes into the water it is completely accepted and will no longer be seen

6. I could arrange that, if your in the area, give me a shout.

 

This is just about the coolest thing I've ever seen. Heard about this stuff but never seen it until now. I've been a welder since I was about 14. Most of what I do now, involves heavy equipment; building or reparing. I've never been involved in something of the scale of what you do and I doubt I could make it as a pipeliner, but it sure would be neat to see it up close and personal.

Any need for a contract safety consultant?

Thanks for sharing Blake, looking forward to MORE! (please!)

chaikwa.

 

MORNING YE`ALL
BLAKE -NICE PICTS. NOW THOSE ARE INTERESTING WORK PICTS !
i`M SURE YOU HAVE SOME INTERESTING PICTS OF OTHER USES FOR PIPELINE ALSO LIKE(BAR-B-QUE PITS) -
ABOUT 5 OR 6 MILES FROM HERE IS ONE OF THE NATIONS LARGEST UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS STORAGE`S - FRIENDS & FAMILY OF THE GAS CO. HAVE SOME OF THE BEST & MOST UNREEL CHIMLEYS FOR THEIR WOOD BURNERSTHEY STAND IT UP IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND POUR CEMENT AROUND IT CUT A HOLE IN THE SIDE AT AN APROPRIATE LEVEL WELD IN A PIECE OF PIPE (MAKING A- T -) AND WHA-LA YA HAVE A CHIMNEY THAT WILL NEVER BURN OUT
CLAUDE

 

blake.clark, thanks for taking the time to put those pictures together. That is fascinating and very interesting information. As chaikwa said, more please.

 

Hey Stan Long Time No Hear!
Get Your Electric Fence Working ?