Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing high-strength cladded components such as pressure containing components that may be used in, e.g., oilfield systems to carry corrosive fluids at high pressures. Embodiments of the invention include products and processes in which low carbon HSLA Steel that has a yield strength greater than 70,000 psi is used as a base material from which a component is formed. A corrosion resistant alloy is welded to selected surfaces of the base metal. Because the base material has a low carbon content, welding the corrosion resistant alloy onto the base material does not create significant stresses in the base material and consequently eliminates the need for PWHT to relieve such stresses and eliminates strength degradation that normally results from PWHT. Eliminating PWHT also allows the component to be refurbished and re-cladded multiple times without significantly degrading the yield strength of the component.

Abstract: A pipe connection in which at least one of the flanges has a reverse hub between the outer portion of the flange and the inner portion of the flange that extends outward to form to the weld neck. The reverse hub tapers down toward the sealing face of the flange, rather than away from the face of the flange. This taper may follow a spline curve which is empirically determined to reduce stresses that are caused by rotation of the outer portion of the flange around the gasket. The reverse hub eliminates material that would be required for a positive hub and thereby reduces the weight of the flange. By reducing the stresses resulting from rotation of the outer portion of the flange around the gasket, the thickness of the flange may also be reduced, further reducing the weight of the flange.

Abstract: A pipe connection in which at least one of the flanges has a reverse hub between the outer portion of the flange and the inner portion of the flange that extends outward to form to the weld neck. The reverse hub tapers down toward the sealing face of the flange, rather than away from the face of the flange. This taper may follow a spline curve which is empirically determined to reduce stresses that are caused by rotation of the outer portion of the flange around the gasket. The reverse hub eliminates material that would be required for a positive hub and thereby reduces the weight of the flange. By reducing the stresses resulting from rotation of the outer portion of the flange around the gasket, the thickness of the flange may also be reduced, further reducing the weight of the flange.

Abstract: A pipe connection having flange members which are configured so that the bolts which secure the two flanges of the connection together are staggered axially. One embodiment comprises a first flange member, a second flange member and a set of bolts and corresponding nuts. Each flange member has bolt holes sized to accommodate the bolts. The bolts are positioned in the bolt holes, and the nuts are tightened onto the bolts to secure the first flange member to the second flange member. Each of the bolt holes has a corresponding bolt seat against which one of the bolts' heads or nuts is seated, and the bolt seats of adjacent bolt holes are staggered axially (i.e., in the direction of an axis of symmetry through the flange members) so that each bolt's corresponding nut can be tightened without interference from the adjacent bolts or the corresponding nuts.