Patent ID: 7199325
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A method for interconnecting tubulars by forge welding, each tubular comprising a wall and a tubular end, the method comprising: arranging the tubular ends of the tubulars that are to be interconnected at a selected distance from each other in a space, which is substantially filled with a flushing fluid mixture; forming heated tubular ends by heating each tubular end within said space by means of high frequency electrical heating wherein use is made of at least three electrodes that are pressed at circumferentially spaced intervals against the wall of each tubular adjacent to the tubular end to form electrical contacts, such that the electrodes transmit a high frequency electrical current in a substantially circumferential direction through a tubular segment between the electrical contacts; and moving the tubular ends towards each other until a forge weld is formed between the heated tubular ends to produce interconnected tubulars.