Obiettivo The J curve pipe laying method, associated with the electron beam welding, seems to be the most attractive method to lay thick pipes of high steel grades in great water depths.The object of this project consisted in building a complete prototype machine for welding pipelines with electron beam, and testing this machine at the workshop on a test bench that simulates the movements of the laying barge in order to prepare for the qualification by the certification authorities.Tests were performed at vertical position then at inclined position, with or without roll.The tests were carried out with series of 3 pipes, making it possible to execute two welds without interrupting the roll motion on 24" pipes of x 65 and x 100 steel grades.Tests made it possible to conclude that the envisaged rythm of a weld every 15 minutes could easily be obtained.A reliability study, showed that the probability of achieving a weld cycle without incident represented 99.5% (this figure can be compared to that of a radar on board a ship).The work programme included the successive phases:- the engineering study of the laying ramp, mainly the inclined mast and loading arm,- the study of the welding machine including: . a mating system enabling to position both extremities of the pipes to be welded, using soft tongs . a prototype welding machine . a retractable vacuum seal with important deflection . an internal clamp- the "prequalification of the welding process"- the manufacturing and the testing of the units of the welding machine- the test of this equipment on an oscillating test platform. Programma(i) ENG-HYDROCARB 1C - Programme (EEC) of Community projects in the hydrocarbons sector, 1973-1985 Argomento(i) 1.8 - PIPELINES Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinatore GERTH Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 232 AV. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 92500 Rueil Malmaison Francia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
