The driving force for the development of high strength steel for pipelines is the prospect of significant reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) in the construction and commissioning of long distance gas pipelines. Further savings might be made by design optimization and lower operating expenditure (OPEX) leading to enhanced whole life economics for such pipelines. Over the past 40 years, pipelines have been constructed in a wide range of steel grades specified in the well-known API Standard 5L ranging from grade A up to grade X80 (ISO 3183 Grade L555) and covering a range of specified minimum...
The driving force for the development of high strength steel for pipelines is the prospect of significant reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) in the construction and commissioning of long distance gas pipelines. Further savings might be made by design optimization and lower operating expenditure (OPEX) leading to enhanced whole life economics for such pipelines. Over the past 40 years, pipelines have been constructed in a wide range of steel grades specified in the well-known API Standard 5L ranging from grade A up to grade X80 (ISO 3183 Grade L555) and covering a range of specified minimum yield strength from 30 ksi (270 MPa) to 80 ksi (555 MPa). This work fully characterizes X100 prototype line pipe from four suppliers, to determine its weldability, to consider its influences on the design of pipelines together with design optimization and to determine its effects and implications on the construction of pipelines.