Underwater Welding Techniques & Technologies

The variety and amount of both wet and dry U/W welding taking place today in the offshore oil and inland sectors are such that a broader basic understanding of U/W welding techniques and technologies are needed to progress the integrity and quality of all U/W welding. To understand the problems which initiated the development of U/W welding, the solutions U/W welding has provided, and its benefits, an awareness of the weld processes, inspection techniques, weld procedures and welder qualifications are essential. Lastly, the acceptance criteria specifying the boundaries of underwater welding to include a greater comprehension of the AWS D3.6 "Specification for Underwater Welding", must be addressed. By recognizing the fundamentals upon which wet and dry underwater welding have developed, confidence in existing procedures and processes can continue to grow.