Corus Tubes, a subsidiary of Tata Steel, has been awarded an American Petroleum Institute (API) 5LD accreditation for the manufacture of its innovative corrosion resistant, clad pipeline at its Hartlepool 42” mill.

Clad pipe is made from plate with a stainless steel, corrosion resistant alloy layer, finished with a submerged arc weld (SAW). The product allows for the cost effective recovery of previously unviable reserves in mature and sour service fields, which contain high levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

The Monogram Licence allows Corus Tubes to use the Institute’s monogram, certifying the business as an accredited manufacturer inline with API’s strict manufacturing and quality assurance standards.

Forecasts for the use of clad linepipe around the world suggest increased demand, and Corus Tubes commercial manager, Andy Townson, believes the technology will now open up significant areas of business in major energy producing regions.

Mr Townson said: “We are delighted to receive this approval from API as it underlines our capabilities and competencies as a manufacturer.

“The drive to cover marginal or demanding reserves has resulted in greater calls for offshore clad pipes, and to harness this we have recently invested in manufacturing equipment to facilitate production.”

Corus Tubes has developed a process, using metallurgically bonded clad plate that is formed into linepipe using what is known as the UOE method, where the material is formed into a ‘U’, then an ‘O’ shape, before being expanded to the final dimensions.

Using this method, the company has determined a production route enabling faster production of large quantities of linepipe in the same dimensional and mechanical tolerances as offshore grade carbon steel material.

Tags: Corus Tubes