Steel - meeting the needs of the evolving linepipe industry
The Australian natural gas transmission network is unique, in that it has to service relatively small, fragmented markets located at long distances from the sources of supply.
As a result, Australian transmission pipelines are typically of smaller diameter and are relatively thin-walled compared to international counterparts. Similarly, the evolution of the design rules, construction practices and operating conditions to improve the economic efficiency and integrity of transmission pipelines has led to demanding requirements for linepipe steel grades:
- A relatively high design pressure of 15MPa compared to the 10MPa, or less, that is characteristically used in most parts of the world
- The transmission of rich gas that places special demands upon fracture toughness
- High strength levels; typically X70
- An expected move from 72% to 80% design factor.
For approximately 40 years, BlueScope Steel has been actively pursuing developments in alloy design, steel making practices and hot strip processing to achieve sufficient levels of strength, weldability and toughness to meet the ever-increasing demands of the Australian linepipe industry.
Today, we are an active participant in the industry and are a market leader in the development, manufacture and supply of specialty linepipe steel grades.
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Read the full paper by Langley D, Killmore C, Barbaro F, Williams J : Steel - meeting the needs of an evolving linepipe industry (221 KB)
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