China’s Independently Developed CMT Fully Automated Welding Equipment Applied for the First Time, Building a “Long-Life” Subsea Pipeline

On August 14, COOEC announced that China’s independently developed offshore engineering CMT (Cold Metal Transfer) fully automated welding equipment achieved its first application in the Qatar ISND5-2 project, helping enhance the intelligence level of offshore engineering equipment and accelerate offshore oil and gas development.

This application was used for welding a 13-kilometer highly acidic, sour-service corrosion-resistant subsea pipeline, with the main operation vessel being “Haiyang Shiyou 201” (Offshore Oil 201). The equipment accumulated over 1,200 hours of operation and completed welding for more than 1,000 joints (total weld length of about 1,000 meters). The one-time pass rate exceeded 97%, key indicators met the requirements, and its reliability under complex working conditions was validated. Relying on CMT technology, the equipment achieves low heat input and spatter-free welding, reducing welding defects. It also optimizes parameters through AI algorithms for precise control of temperature and deposition. The team also independently developed a backing-free welding process, improving the corrosion resistance of the welds.

Previously, R&D for this type of equipment in China faced technical bottlenecks. COOEC worked with universities and manufacturers to overcome more than 20 challenges, and the system was perfected through hundreds of tests and optimizations. The team is currently building an equipment management system to promote large-scale application.