Process for preparing pipe sections of pipeline for mechanical press fit pipe joints

A process for preparing pipe sections for forming first and second ends of the pipe sections into pin and box configurations to enable formation of mechanical press-fit pipe joints in a pipeline, comprising the steps of:

• inspecting raw pipe sections for acceptance into pre-preparation processing;
• beveling, to a predetermined angle in an outward profile, an inside edge of one end of a pipe section to be formed with a pin end configuration;
• bypassing the previous step if the end of the pipe section is to be formed with a box end configuration;
• cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second ends of the pipe section such that average surface roughness Ra does not exceed 1 to 3 mil;
• forming, in an end prep machine configured to sense hydraulic pressure P and stroke length L, a pin end or a box end of a pipe section while measuring sensed values of P and L;
• ending the forming step when the sensed values of P and L both occur within a displayed acceptance window defined by predetermined tolerances;
• applying a corrosion inhibitor to the cleaned inner and outer surfaces of the pipe section;
• and
• transferring the prepared pipe section to a storage location or to an end-forming location to enable formation of the mechanical press-fit pipe joints for use in the pipeline.