Pipelines will be an integral part of our energy distribution systems for the foreseeable future with tens of billions of dollars being invested in pipeline infrastructure, due in part to the increase use worldwide of combined cycle power generation plant using natural gas a fuel. The need to construct large diameter pipelines over long distances has led to an increased demand to improve the productivity of pipeline girth welding. In a number of cases, the cost of exporting the energy will have a dominating influence on the viability of the upstream production facilities. These facilities will progress only if the industry can substantially reduce capital expenditure and improve design for pipeline integrity. Whether the application is an onshore gas transmission line or a deepwater pipeline, there is a need to constantly improve the productivity, quality, integrity, and reliability of pipeline girth welds to reduce construction costs. There is also a need for improved technologies suitable for the higher strength steels currently being developed. Different types of welding procedures exist such as one-shot welding and power beam processes. Currently, innovative hybrid laser/arc welding techniques, such as GMAW are the dominant pipe girth welding technique. They best assure weld soundness, material properties, geometric profile, and offer the best chance of developing high integrity welding processes