| The preference
for SAW (submerged arc welded)
pipes manufactured by spirally welding
the edges of hot rolled coil (HSAW)
over the conventional longitudinal weld
steel plates, is showing an upward trend
not only in the domestic market but
also in the world market where the curve
is steeper for HSAW pipes. |
| |
| USA
– The $4.5b Rockies Express Pipeline
is the largest pipeline under construction
in 20 years in the world’s biggest
pipe market – the USA. Due for
completion by June 2009, this 2700km
pipeline will transport over 51 million
m3/d of natural gas from Wyoming in
the west to Ohio in the east of the
US. |
| |
| Europe
– No market is as discerning when
it comes to the highest possible safety
requirements as Europe and more so in
the high population-density/high-pressure
pipeline networks in the core market.
HSAW pipes have successfully been passing
their most stringent qualification procedures. |
| |
| India
– Most of the
capacity addition is in HSAW as it constitutes
about 65% of the total demand. Besides
being cheaper than steel plates, API-grade
HR coil is available indigenously, while
most of API-grade steel plates have
to be imported from Europe. Gas Authority
of India Ltd., the largest gas transmission
and marketing company in the country,
caused a panic among the conventional
pipe manufacturers when they invited
bids exclusively for HSAW pipes. |
| |
| Some
advantages of HSAW over conventional
longitudinal weld pipes |
| Lower
cost – HR coil to steel plate
price differentials ranges from USD
250 to 300 |
| |
|
Versatility – they can be used
for transmission of oil & gas, water
& sewage as well as in structural
and piling applications |
| |
|
Wide product range – due to wider
range of diameters and up to double
the standard length of 12m in longitudinal
weld pipes |
| |
| They
are perfectly round with much lower
ovality than longitudinal weld pipes |
| |
| Interruptions
during pipe-forming do not result in
defects in welded seams |
| |
| Advanced
welding technology allows for high pressure-bearing
strength |
| |
|
Collapse tests have proved that better
product quality than longitudinal pipes
can be achieved |
| |
|
Pipe-forming velocities of up to 12m/min |
| |
|
Simple manufacturing process |
| |
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