Lincoln Electric manual Flux-Cored FCAW-G Welding

S U C C E S S

W E L D I N G C O N S U M A B L E S

Flux-Cored (FCAW-G) Welding

Welding on Pipe Cheyenne Plains Pipeline

Contractor U.S. Pipeline turned to new Lincoln Electric Pipeliner® G80M gas-shielded flux-cored wire to weld the pipe tie-ins for the 380-mile Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline project, which used X-80 grade pipe.

- C H A L L E N G E -

The Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline project was the first major pipeline in the U.S. to use high strength X-80 grade pipe. The contractor, U.S. Pipeline, was looking for ways to increase productivity while still creating high quality welds that could pass radiographic inspection.

- S O L U T I O N -

Lincoln Electric Pipeliner® G80M gas-shielded flux-cored wire for use on the pipe tie-ins at connection points and railroad crossings near populated areas.

- R E S U L T S -

Using a wire process yielded results that were three to five times faster than the stick welding typically used for pipeline welding. The Pipeliner G80M provided high quality and flawless operation with its smooth arc and low spatter levels.

During the summer and fall of 2004, the plains of the west were busy with the hustle and

bustle of cranes, trucks, heavy equip- ment and supplies to lay pipe for the Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Project. The 380-mile, 36-inch natural gas pipeline runs from the Cheyenne hub in Colorado to existing pipelines near Greensburg, Kan. Once operational in early 2005, the pipeline will export

560 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from Wyoming to growing markets in the mid-continental U.S. and further east.

The $425 million pipeline, owned by El Paso Corporation, was being con- structed in three spreads which were connected in the final phase of the project. Spread one was contracted to Associated Pipelines while spreads two and three were handled by U.S. Pipeline, Inc.

The Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline Project was the first major pipeline in the U.S.

to use X-80 grade pipe. Already a standard in other parts of the world, the X-80 pipe provides higher strength with a thinner wall.

As on any pipeline project, welding plays a critical role in the construction process. But what made this project unique was the extensive use of wire welding to provide high productivity. A new consumable from the Lincoln Electric Company, the Pipeliner® G80M gas-shielded flux-cored wire, was selected by the evaluation team at U.S. Pipeline, Inc. for use on the pipe tie-ins at connection points and road crossings near populated areas. These welds, completed manually by inde- pendent pipeline contractors, connect the mainline pipe to the thicker walled pipe of the tie-ins.

For the mainline pipe, a CRC-Evans®automated welding system was used in combination with Lincoln’s premium SuperArc® L-56 copper coated gas metal arc wire.

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