Lincoln Electric FCAW-G - Manual

S U C C E S S
Flux-Cored (FCAW-G) Welding
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.
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.
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.
- S O L U T I O N -
- R E S U L T S -
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 -
D uring 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.
MC05-114 7/05
W E L D I N G C O N S U M A B L E S
Cheyenne Plains Pipeline Welding on Pipe
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