Types of Pipes Seamless, ERW, LSAW

Types of Pipes Seamless, ERW, LSAW

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Learn about the 3 types of steel pipes: seamless, ERW (electric resistance welding) and LSAW (longitudinal submerged arc welding). A seamless pipe is manufactured by drawing a solid steel billet through a piercing rod. Welded pipes are produced by cutting, bending, welding coils (ERW) or steel plates (LSAW).

SEAMLESS PIPE

Seamless pipes are produced starting from steel billets, that are heated and perforated to create the tubular section. The word “seamless” means the absence of seam welds.

Seamless steel pipes are used for different applications within the oil & gas industry:

• upstream operations (OCTG pipes)
• midstream (transmission and distribution of fluids, as oil, gas, steam, acids, slurries)
• downstream (process piping to refine oil and gas in derivative products)
• general plumbing applications for utility services

The most common types of pipes used in the oil&gas industry are (ASTM pipe specifications):

• ASTM A53, A106, A333, and API 5L(types of carbon steel pipes for high and low-temperature carbon steel)
• ASTM A335 Grades P5 to P91(chrome-moly alloy steel pipes for high temperature and pressure, for refinery and power plants applications)
• ASTM A312 Series 300 and 400 (stainless steel pipes in grades 304, 316, 321, 347)
• ASTM A790/A928 (duplex and super duplex pipes with double ferritic and austenitic structure)
• Various nickel alloys material specifications (Inconel, Hastelloy, Cupronickel, Monel, Nickel 200)
• Specifications for non-ferrous pipes (aluminum, copper, brass, cupro-nickel)

Some specifications cover seamless pipes only (example ASTM A106), others apply both to seamless and welded pipes (example ASTM A53).

Carbon steel pipes (A53, A333, A106 and API 5L) have the largest market share, as they can be used for most high and low-temperature applications; the main application of stainless steel pipes is for corrosive services (and higher grades are used as the temperature and the pressure increase, or when the conveyed fluid is more and more aggressive).

In the upstream oil & gas industry, API 5CT is the key specification covering OCTG pipes (oil country tubular goods).

Seamless steel pipes shall not be confused with seamless tubes. Indeed, there are a few important differences between pipes and tubes, which are not only semantic. In general, the word “pipe” applies to any tubular used to convey fluids, whereas the word “tube” applies to tubular sections (of various shapes, round, oval, squared) used for structural/mechanical applications, instrumentation systems, and the construction of pressure equipment like boilers, heat exchangers, and superheaters.

ERW PIPE (ELECTRIC RESISTANCE WELDING)

ERW pipes are manufactured using steel coils: the coil is first uncoiled, then smoothed, cut and, finally formed into a pipe shape by joining its two extremities electrically.

ERW pipes are available in sizes between 1/2 and 20 inches, in carbon steel (ASTM A53 is the most common specification) and stainless steel (ASTM A312). In terms of dimensions, the ASME B36.10 and ASME B36.19 are the key reference specifications (API 5L for welded ERW line pipes).

The ASME and API dimensional charts show typical combinations of pipe nominal size and wall thickness (designated as “schedule”), and show ERW pipe weight in kg (or pounds).

In the last few years, ERW pipes are have become an efficient alternative to seamless pipes, both in terms of price and performance, due to the modern welding technologies adopted by ERW pipe manufacturers (example HFI and HFW, high-frequency welding). These advancements in welding technologies have reduced, over time, the technical superiority of seamless pipes vs ERW pipes, making them interchangeable at least in some applications (low/medium pressure and temperature). Of course, seamless pipes will always benefit from the intrinsic superior mechanical strength of steel billets vs. coils and plates.

LSAW PIPE (LONGITUDINAL SUBMERGED ARC WELDING)

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An LSAW pipe (“submerged arc welding”) is manufactured by cutting, bending and welding steel plates (JCOE process).

LSAW pipes compete with seamless and ERW pipes in the size range between 16 and 24 inches but are “must-go” option for pipelines above 24 inches (as 24 inches is the maximum size for commercial seamless pipes).

The two main types of LSAW pipes are the longitudinal (with a single or double straight seam weld, DSAW) and the spiral type (called, HSAW, SSAW or SAWL pipe). Therefore, the difference between DSAW vs. LSAW is that DSAW pipes have a seam weld in the inside and outside of the pipe, whereas LSAW pipes have a single seam weld on the outer surface.

The difference between LSAW and ERW pipes is that LSAW pipes are produced using steel plates, ERW pipes are manufactured starting from steel coils.

In the oil and gas industry, large-diameter API 5L LSAW pipes are used to transport hydrocarbons over long distances efficiently.

HSAW/SSAW spiral weld pipes are used for non-critical applications, as water transmission and distribution (not for oil & gas).

Manufacturing Process Of Pipes Seamless, ERW, LSAW

Seamless Pipe Manufacturing Process

ERW Pipe Manufacturing Process

LSAW Pipe Manufacturing Process

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