[Haichuan Overseas Engineering] Record set for welding of CPP415 unit in Lot 2 of the East African crude oil export pipeline project

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On October 8, the welding progress for unit CPP415 in Lot 2 of the East African crude oil export pipeline project, undertaken by Pipeline Company No. 1 of CNPC Pipeline Bureau, reached 104 kilometers; a total of 5,743 welds have been completed, with a welding success rate of 99.1%. Faced with the challenges of alternating dry and wet seasons, high temperatures and humidity, as well as difficulties in securing supplies, this team, through its excellent skills and strong determination, set a record by welding 1,074 joints in a single month, and achieving zero rework on 801 consecutive welds. In October 2024, the CPP415 unit commenced construction at section KP610 of Lot 2. It was the minor rainy season in Tanzania at that time; the construction area was muddy and slippery, the geological conditions were complex, and traffic was frequently disrupted by the rain. Faced with the challenges, the crew did not wait; instead, they decided to tackle the difficulties head-on. After completing the pre-startup drills at both sites, they promptly initiated the ignition process and started construction right away. To counter the adverse effects of frequent rainfall, the crew erected protective shelters in advance to ensure a stable and controllable working environment and to prevent construction progress from being disrupted by the weather. Over a period of 10 days, the team achieved efficient coordination among personnel, equipment, materials, and processes, maintaining an average daily welding volume of 25 joints and breaking the pattern of inefficiency associated with construction during the rainy season. As night fell, the welding machines continued to roar on the muddy construction site. Sparks and rainwater intertwined to create patterns of light and shadow, reflecting on every focused face. Old welder Liu Guang removed his mask; sweat streamed down along the marks left by his goggles. He murmured to himself, \"The root weld success rate is 99.7% – I can’t afford to fail.\" ”This perseverance serves as a clear testament to the determination shown by the CPP415 unit from the very beginning. With high-quality cast iron frames, by the end of April 2025, the CPP415 unit, having completed its period of concentrated maintenance, returned to the construction site and moved on to the KP596 to KP602 area. In this area, wetlands, mountains, and rivers are intermixed, making construction far more difficult than in the previous phases. The crew optimized the welding process by closely integrating tasks such as welding, alignment, and inspection, thereby reducing waiting times and advancing the construction progress steadily.