The main historical and technical aspects of welding on the several phases of the petroleum industry in Brazil are reported.
The first phase, after the industry implementation, took place with the petroleum discoveries at Bacia de Campos in the early ‘70. Such fact demanded the construction of several fixed petroleum platforms intended to water depths over
100 m requiring the development of high strength structural steel with thickness over 50 mm . The welding consumables also had to be adjusted to the new requirements. Consequently, it was necessary to foresee the maintenance of such structures and a development program for dry underwater welding repair techniques was created for depths up to
500 m.
With the discovery of oil in deep waters, in the middle '80s, a new phase began. The new sea production units became adjusted floating units, using thinner naval steels and mechanical resistance. The focus on maintenance was reviewed and the wet underwater welding, in shallow waters, started to be developed.
In the refinement area, the equipment aging requires the employment of new integrity analysis methodologies and special repairs. It became necessary to characterize the fractomechanical behavior of welded steel joints under use conditions. Although Petrobras lead the works, they were jointly developed with universities, manufacturers and services providers. Both technological and scientific aspects were equally considered when submitting researches and such attitude was decisive in order to obtain quick results.
The increase on the petroleum production and on the derivatives consumption will request, on the years to come, new investments on production, refinement and sea and pipeline transport. |
