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golden weld (Golden welds is a concept that is used in conjunction with pipeline lay and repair. The golden weld is an accepted weld without solid (and more tangible) proof of strength, for example a break test or load test. Before a pipeline is put into use, it is often pressure-tested with water (a hydrotest) to a level above the working pressure of the pipeline. But, to save time, the user of the pipeline sometimes give construction of the various parts of the pipeline system to different contractors. The different contractors will then test their own system before handing it over to the owner. So, for example, the Europipe-II pipeline was laid from Emden,Germany to the middle of the north sea, and from Kеrstш,Norway to the same location – both pipelines could have been laid by different vessels or even different contractors. The same pipeline segments have also been pressure tested and found acceptable by the owners. Now the owner will want to connect the pipelines without having to test the entire system again. Because of the previous tests, all components in the system are now ok, except the final weld between the two systems. It is here that the "Golden weld" concept comes into play.  everything2.com Alexander Demidov) |
