X70 JIP – Enhanced Girth Weld Performance for Newly Constructed Grade X70 Pipelines

This Joint Industry Project (JIP) was initiated to address several recent pipeline failures that have occurred at girth welds in pipelines that were constructed using API 5L X70 line pipe, and field welded using API 1104 qualified welding procedures. These failures occurred in pipelines that were designed using conventional stress-based design. Some of these failures occurred during hydrotest or shortly after the pipeline entered service. Since this project commenced, additional failures have occurred further highlighting the necessity to address this problem. Clearly something needs to change in order to eliminate future pipeline failures with similar attributes…