Research progress of laser-arc hybrid welding technology in long distance pipeline welding

The development of laser welding technology for pipeline at home and abroad was emphatically introduced. Application of laser-arc hybrid welding technology with different types of lasers in long oil and gas pipeline was reviewed in detail. The results showed that CO2 lasers and lamp pumped Nd: YAG lasers were not suitable for long-distance oil and gas pipelines due to disadvantages of transmission mode and efficiency, while high-energy Yb fiber laser technology promoted application of laser-arc hybrid welding technology in pipeline welding on site. Meanwhile, the problems existing in application of the technology at present were summarized and analyzed. Finally, application prospect of laser-arc hybrid welding technology in pipeline welding was prospected. Laser-arc hybrid welding technology was applied to X80 steel pipelines with 1 219 mm pipe diameter and 8 mm root face thickness under laboratory conditions. Appearance and mechanical properties of weld could satisfy requirements of long-distance pipeline weld criteria. However, in order to be suitable for long-distance pipeline welding on site, adaptability tests of welding process on site were required.Highlights: The common problems existing in the application of laser-arc hybrid welding in pipeline welding were analyzed and summarized, and specific solutions for the application of laser-arc hybrid welding in the field were proposed, which provided feasible solutions for the final application of laser-arc hybrid welding in the field.