OREANDA-NEWS  On 25 November was announced, that VNIIGAZ branch conference “Welding operations at Gazprom: current state and major development trends” completed its session.The representatives of Gazprom group companies – VNIIGAZ, Gazprom dobycha Yamburg, Gazprom dobycha Orenburg, Gazprom pererabotka – and scientists from Gubkin State University of Oil and Gas, Oil and Gas Research Institute of RAS, R&D Centre “Welding and Control” of Bauman MSTU, etc. took part in the meeting. Foreign participants were represented by E.ON Ruhrgaz Аg, VIETZ Gmbh, ESAB, etc.

The program of the branch conference comprised the plenary session, topical reports, discussions and technical sessions. Scientific and practical issues of technology development, quality control and integrated assessment of reliability of welding works at various gas production and transmission facilities were on the conference agenda.  

At the closing of the branch conference the results of the implementation of the Target Integrated Program for Development of Welding Operations at Gazprom 2006-2008 were summarized. The draft program for 2009-2011 was also discussed.

The conference participants pointed out that Gazprom has already carried out serious work on improvement of welding fabrication processes in the recent time. In particular, the base for state-of-the-art welding equipment and welding materials, which have been already introduced into fabrication, has been established. The quality control over welded joints used in construction and repair of trunk and field gas pipelines contributed to defective index decrease. New repair technologies, which allow to weld without stopping gas transmission, have been developed and introduced.    

According to the results of the work, the participants were awarded. The general director R.O. Samsonov handed in acknowledgements “For conscientious and flawless work and active participation in research works on development and introduction of new welding technologies in construction and repair of field and trunk gas pipelines in line with the Target Integrated Program for Development of Welding Operations at Gazprom 2006-2008” to scientists of VNIIGAZ – V.I. Bespalov, T.V. Artemenko, O.A. Zenkevich, E.O. Steklova. 

The exhibition “Welding materials, equipment and technologies” and visit to the Technical Centre of Serimax Russia were also in the Conference Program. Guests and participants had a good opportunity to enjoy the cultural visit to the State Historical, Architectural, Art, and Landscape Museum-Reserve Tsaritsyno and the concert of “Jazzprom” project with participation of a well-known jazz ensemble from Venezuela - “Biela da Costa”.