Energy consumption, which supports economic activity and individual life, is increasing dramatically due to global population growth and the economic development of the more advanced developing nations, represented by the BRICs.
The infrastructure for the development, transportation, and use of energy is also dynamically constructed to meet this increasing energy demand.
Steel products are widely used in plants for production and use of energy resources, represented by petroleum and natural gas. Steel materials are used in various forms and must provide high levels of performance and quality. In the field of steel products for energy industries, the leading pipe manufacturers are actively engaged in research and development of materials to meet client’s requirements utilizing state-of-the-art material technologies and production equipment. Seamless steel pipes for the energy industry are mostly used in a few important spaces mentioned below.
Transportation
In many cases, long distance transportation of oil and gas is necessary, as the consuming region is far from place of production. The means of transportation are marine transportation using oil tankers and LNG carriers (LNG: liquefied natural gas) and pipelines joining the producing and consuming regions. High quality is required in the materials used in oil tankers and LNG ships to ensure safety. In particular, the reliability of welds is important. In oil tankers, high corrosion resistance is required in crude oil tanks and piping to prevent corrosion by impurities such as H2S contained in crude oil. Pipelines are used to transport oil and natural gas from producing regions to consuming regions. As the name indicates, steel pipes are used.
Refining Plants and Electric Power Facilities
In thermal power plants, high Cr alloy steel tubes and plates with improved high temperature strength and oxidation resistance properties are used to increase power generating efficiency. Large quantities of steel pipes and tubes are used in various piping applications. In ducts, chimneys, and flues, in addition to high Cr alloy steel plates, sulfuric acid corrosion resistant steel plates, stainless clad steel plates, and stainless-steel plates and pipes are used.
Titanium alloy and titanium clad steel plates are also used in condensers. As other products, large quantities of heavy section plates are used in various types of tanks which are installed as auxiliary facilities.
Oil and Natural Gas Production Wells
In production of oil and gas, seamless steel pipes and tubes for energy industry are used in large quantities in casings, which provide support to prevent destruction of the oil well, tubing to carry the oil or gas to the ground surface, line pipe for transportation from the well to the oil refinery, and other applications.
In oil and natural gas development, a high performance is required in oil well tubulars, accompanying the increase in deep wells (high temperature/high pressure) and wells containing corrosive gases and progress in drilling technology, such as horizontal drilling and the like. The main property requirements are the following 3 points.
(a) High strength
(b) High corrosion resistance
(c) Threaded joint performance
As the depth of oil wells has increased, high strength materials have also become necessary in order to support the dead weight of the tubing and casing.
The high-quality piping and tubing products help in the development and manufacturing of special components not only for large industrial plants, power plants for energy generation, but also for coal-fired plants, incinerators, biomass plants, chemical plants and refineries. Here is technical data of the generally used seamless steel pipes for the energy industry:
- Thickness of the material: minimum 4 millimeters
- Dimensional range: maximum diameter 215 millimeters
- Internal diameter for hollow profiles: from 20 to 160 millimeters
- Weight per meter: from 1.5 to 110 kilograms
- Length: maximum 16,800 millimeters, depending on the cross section and profile material
- Materials: carbon and stainless steels, nickel-based alloys, resistant to corrosion and high temperatures.
The range of products that the leading steel pipe manufactures produce has vast variations, and includes different types of steel profiles obtained by hot extrusion:
- Semi-finished products for the construction of gas and steam turbines
- Shaped pipes (finned pipes, omega pipes, double omega and seamless pipes) for membrane walls of boilers and steam generators
- Hear-resistant steel profiles for steel mills and refineries, thermal, nuclear and hydraulic power plant structures
- Profiles for hydrodynamic grids and water filtration in hydroelectric power plants
- Steel structure for nuclear waste containers
If you are searching for the best quality seamless steel pipes for the energy industry that will serve your project best, you firstly should get in touch with the experts for a no-obligation consultation. Most of the well-known pipe manufacturers of our country produce and export high quality seamless steel pipes specially manufactured for energy production or the oil and gas industry. Find the best one for your project that can meet your unique requirement.
