Gazprom begins using laser welding on gas pipelines in fields

MOSCOW. Oct 21 (Interfax) - Gazprom has begun using laser welding on the main gas pipelines in its fields, the company said

Gazprom said that it is currently using the new technology during repairs, though the company plans to apply the technology to the future construction of new major pipelines, including the massive Power of Siberia 2 project.

As noted, this is a global industry first, and the development is entirely Russian, from the technology and equipment to the laser welding software.

The new equipment is being successfully used during major repairs on a section of the Punga-Ukhta-Gryazovets III gas pipeline in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District (KhMAD), with the results of the inspection confirming that the quality of the welded joints meets Gazprom's high standards.

Gazprom will use laser welding technology in field conditions during major repairs and construction of main gas pipelines, including new-generation pipes designed for a record-breaking operating pressure of 150 atmospheres for onshore pipelines.

"Upon the company's request, Russian scientific and industrial organizations created a unique mobile complex. A specialized self-propelled unit houses a laser welding system. It enables automatic circumferential welding of pipes with diameters ranging from 720 mm to 1420 mm," the company said.

Laser welding surpasses traditional methods in speed, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. It operates within a narrower gap between the pipes being welded, thus substantially improving productivity. The volume of smelted metal is reduced by a third, thus reducing welding material consumption, and the resulting field joints have mechanical properties that are 1.5 to 2 times higher. Laser welding minimizes the heat-affected zone on the pipe metal, thus reducing the risk of defects during subsequent operation, according to experts.