Pipeline welding

[apprenticetom]

Hi all, ive been welding for 3 years now, do a lota pipework, structural, mig, tig and arc, in the last year its been all pipework but now works drying up and im dying to get working abroad on a pipeline. Ive no codes yet just wondering what standerd id need, asme ix im guessing?? Anybody with any info on getting work on the pipelines or has past expierience id greatly appriciate the help

 

[oilcooled :)]

I know for a fact you will need codes to be considered for a job. And all codes will do, is at most get you a weld test. I'm fully coded Mig plate, and tig and mma pipe both en 287 and asme iv. I was a competent Welder but I had to go back and be thought how to do pipe by an instructor. Pipes have to be spot on if there being bombed, and from experience site positional welding is usually about 6 inches from the ground or the ceiling or a wall, leaving no room for error,

 

[lionleg]

First of all Tom learn to walk before you run. You need to get multi coded in all processes and get a few years experience under your belt. As for working abroad on pipelines, I will be brutal, forget it. Working abroad nowadays us not like it was. Brits used to be used for the skilled trades but not any more, usually now they are just employed as supervision and management etc. Your best chance of any pipeline work is in Britain/Ireland but you really need to be in the know. You will NOT see this kind of work advertised anywhere. It is well paid, so the guys on the pipelines (quite rightly) keep it to themselves. I am not trying to put you off though, you have your ambitions and good on you, all I am trying to say is get your codings , get some good , on site experience and see where it takes you.

 

[apprenticetom]

Thanks for the replies fellas just wondering is it difficult to pass asme ix? Also can i do it without any other codes or must i do a lower standerd code before doing it? ( sorry if that doesent make since long day with steel in my eye!)

 

[oilcooled :)]

Not being smart but if you no how to do it, its fine, If you don't you won't pass unless your as lucky as a black cat.you need to be shown from a experienced pipe Welder or instructor, You can sit any code at any time yes. Pipe welding is learning to weld again, it's ten times harder but when you get there your laughing.

 

[apprenticetom]

Not being smart but if you no how to do it, its fine, If you don't you won't pass unless your as lucky as a black cat.you need to be shown from a experienced pipe Welder or instructor, You can sit any code at any time yes. Pipe welding is learning to weld again, it's ten times harder but when you get there your laughing.

Ive only ever welded pipe in a 5g position never had the pipe at 45 degrees but im a year working with an asme ix welder and i must say hes **** hot at pipe, hes thought me a lot and im improving all the time, hopefully one day il get to where i want to be, im well able put in my root, hotpass and cap ive done a nice but of it and ive improved allot, is there limits to the process used for Asme ix or can it be done as say tig root stick fill and cap?

 

[oilcooled :)]

Well depending on where you are, today Im welding on a factory roof carbon pipe but it's tig complete as they don't want the roof burned, generally there's a procedure your given a spec sheet so it either tig cellouse, or low hydrogen root, then tig or mma fill and cap. Common ones tig complete, tig root low hydrogen fill and cap, cell root 6013 fill and cap all for carbon steel of course.

 

[apprenticetom]

Cheers mate found this helpfull

 

[Rrunnach]

My lads kick of with plate, working through all positions. Once competent, onto pipe @ 6g. If any struggle, revert to 2 & 5g. With an end test @ 6g.

I should add, 2" O&A process. 4" MMA process, 6011 root, 6013 cap.

 

[apprenticetom]

My lads kick of with plate, working through all positions. Once competent, onto pipe @ 6g. If any struggle, revert to 2 & 5g. With an end test @ 6g.

I should add, 2" O&A process. 4" MMA process, 6011 root, 6013 cap.

Is the 6011 root ran downhand or uphand? Seen the root ran downhand and fills and cap uphand with 6013 and 7018

 

[oilcooled :)]

Roots vertical up. Down hand Is stoving a root totally different beast.

 

[Rrunnach]

Is the 6011 root ran downhand or uphand? Seen the root ran downhand and fills and cap uphand with 6013 and 7018

6 to 12, because cells may not be available on-site. And they may not want to use them while training. Their prerogative.

 

[apprenticetom]

Roots vertical up. Down hand Is stoving a root totally different beast.

Is there a certain code to cover stoving then?

 

[oilcooled :)]

As far as I know it's a closed door more are less trade secret, some one in the know will show you when its applicable during your career. Not sure if there's a code

 

[Rrunnach]

While manual pipe welding is still an every day occurrence, personally, I'd research new modern processes, for example, STT. Most, if not all spoolbases use STT, root, fill and cap. Many use auto plant (bugs), smaller dia may be manual with STT, same goes for land pipelines.

Problem is, I don't know anywhere that offers STT training? I've had a play with it and, I can assure you, STT leaves MMA miles behind!

 

[Nagen6013]

First of all Tom learn to walk before you run. You need to get multi coded in all processes and get a few years experience under your belt. As for working abroad on pipelines, I will be brutal, forget it. Working abroad nowadays us not like it was. Brits used to be used for the skilled trades but not any more, usually now they are just employed as supervision and management etc. Your best chance of any pipeline work is in Britain/Ireland but you really need to be in the know. You will NOT see this kind of work advertised anywhere. It is well paid, so the guys on the pipelines (quite rightly) keep it to themselves. I am not trying to put you off though, you have your ambitions and good on you, all I am trying to say is get your codings , get some good , on site experience and see where it takes you.

Id have to disagree a little on the working abroad bit, in the last couple of months there have been company's from Canada advertising on job center plus for bsen287 welders for pipe with 1 yr experience in Fort M Alberta, moving costs etc covered+ training.

Haven't seen them since the beginning of Dec though..

What would be good is if the government could give an incentive for company's to take people on and train em, I have a BSEN287 in MMA and MIG myself and am also a qualified Lvl 2 NVQ C@G Domestic Plumber + Bpec Unvented, looking to start in commercial plumbing work. I've had one company ask me to pop along for an interview out of about 50 I've called/mailed etc. The most amazing thing I heard while I was taking my code was that the avg age for a coded welder in the uk is 55, and the second best line I've heard is "youre too old"...I'm 37

unles something changes there's gonna be a massive shortage, but I suppose we can just take in from the EU.

 

[lionleg]

ApprenticeTom asked about working on pipelines , not on refineries / power stations etc. There is a difference. I stand by what I said. You will not see pipeline jobs advertised anywhere . Yes you will see adverts for jobs in Canada etc but the locals will have had the cream and the rest are just usually for the flesh peddling agencies offering crap rates. Believe me when I say that working abroad is not as it used to be. I have travelled the world working. There is work around abroad but most of it is not worth it. Gone are the days when the British tradesman was held in high esteem, wherever you are in the world now you can find coded welders , pipe fitters, steel erectors etc . I know of guys who jumped at the chance of $50 per hour in Oz.....that's less than the locals are on on some of the big jobs out there.
The average age thing is probably about right, but most kids nowadays would never dream of sticking the bucket on their head for a living, it's too dirty and yes, you will occasionally get burnt.

 

[Fastfingaz]

Hey lionleg you ever been to kasakstan Russia that refinery in the middle of the desert??? that ya'll run??? I say ya'll I mean Brits,,, no disrespect,,,,,,

 

[Rrunnach]

Us "ya'll Brits" know you really mean the country of "Kazakhstan". Which is of course, is an old Soviet Republic.

Looks like the Kazakh's are now running the flights to and from the Space Station, of course being rich in oil and gas (Caspian) helps immensely.

Nasa crashed and burned with recession??

 

[lionleg]

Yes I have worked in Kazakhstan but offshore only. And the only Brits there were commissioning. Not a British tradesman in sight.