The increasing use of natural gas as an energy source has resulted in a significant increase in the construction of large diameter pipelines. At the same time, the sources of the gas needed to supply the market demands are increasingly more remote and the pipeline construction using conventional technology is too expensive. The use of high strength grade steel offers potential benefits, either in terms of using a higher operating service pressure, or by maintaining existing pressures, but with reduced pipe wall thickness. This, in turn, offers financial benefits arising from lower material, transportation and fabrication costs. However, higher strength has presented a challenge in meeting the combined demands of higher strength, good toughness and excellent weldability, both for longitudinal welding of the seam in welded pipe and also, particularly, for field welding.
Contact: oilandgas@twi.co.uk
