Welding and Piping Interview

Abstract

The oil and gas industry is divided into three major stages of operation. These, which can be referred to as sectors, are Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream. Welding is widely used across all these sectors and its applications can be classified accordingly.

The Upstream sector, also known as E&P (Exploration and Production) covers the exploration, recovery, and production of crude oil and natural gas. It involves drilling oil wells and bringing oil and natural gas to the surface. Operations in the Upstream sector may take place onshore or offshore.

The main application of welding in this sector is the creation of flow and gathering lines as well as support structures. The latter is mainly used in offshore E&P where high strength, stable, and durable mega structures are required to support equipment and facilities right in the ocean and on the sea bed. Structures and equipment created include Jack-up rigs, fixed and floating structures, FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) systems, and SURF (Subsea Umbilicals Risers Flowlines) systems.

The Midstream sector covers the transportation and storage of extracted crude oil and gas before refining. These involve the use of transmission pipelines and storage vessels created using welding. Transmission pipelines transport crude oil over long distances to storage or refining facilities. They are created using numerous prefabricated individual pipes laid over a course and welded together to form an unbreaking pipeline. Welding is so crucial to the midstream sector that there is a branch of welding known as pipeline welding and special pipe welding equipment. Note that while pipe welding is also applied in the upstream and downstream sectors, it is mostly applied in midstream.

Crude oil cannot be used in its raw form. It first has to be refined into various products before it is distributed to consumers. Refining crude oil in refineries and distributing the finished products are the purposes of the downstream sector. Refineries are plants that comprise complex assemblies of pipes, pressure vessels, furnaces, supporting structures, and other components that all rely on welding for their structural integrity. Welding is also used in the downstream sector for the creation of storage and transport vessels for refined products, and distribution lines for supplying gas directly to consumers.

Keywords: Petroleum industry, pipeline, welding