Pipework

Pipework is often process piping at installations, offshore platforms, refineries etc. Here the product is treated in some way or another, such as pressure reduction, filtering, sulphur removal, metering and so on. There are few long runs of pipe, but there are many joints to fittings:- tees, bends, valves and other components. Often, prefabrication of some of these elements may take place in a fabrication shop and then be bolted together on site.

Fittings are often more difficult to weld than plain pipe; they are heavier wall and have a higher proportion of alloying elements. The welding processes may include, Gas Shielded Tungsten Arc Welding [GTAW] and Submerged Arc Welding [SAW].

The materials used in this context may include many types other than the carbon and micro-alloyed steels used for plain pipework. They can include :- stainless steel, monel, duplex stainless steel, cupro nickel, and so on. Each of these alloys presents different problems in fabrication.

The standards for construction may be that of the pipeline or a separate specification the most common one being ASME B31.3

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