What to Expect from an Exploration Pipeline Supplier

Petroleum exploration relies on advanced techniques used in places believed to contain hydrocarbon resources. Evaluation of an area's magnetic and seismic properties helps explorers find sub-surface geological features indicating the possible presence of hydrocarbons. After geophysical tests, an exploration well is drilled to determine definitively whether oil or gas is present in these areas.

Expense and Risk in Oil Exploration

Finding new oil reserves is expensive, and involves considerable risk. When it comes to exploring remote areas or potential offshore oil fields, usually only major petroleum companies or national governments are involved. Finding the type of shallow shelf wells that are found in the North Sea costs up to $30 million, and exploring deep water sources can easily cost $100 million. Even the smallest oil exploration projects on land cost upward of $100,000.

How Pipes are Used in Oil Exploration

Drill pipe is thick-walled pipe made of steel that is used on rigs to create a wellbore. Drill pipe manufacturers typically make it in lengths of about 30 feet. Drilling fluid is pumped through drill pipe into the hole, and back up in the space between the drill pipe and drill stem, a wider pipe surrounding the drill pipe. The drill pipe assembly, collectively known as a drill string, must penetrate the earth's crust to depths of a mile or more.

What an Exploration Pipeline Supplier Should Provide

Drill pipe manufacturers cannot cut corners due to the risk and expense of oil exploration. Your supplier should have extensive experience in oil exploration, and should have a keen understanding of your schedule and delivery needs. All pipes used in petroleum exploration should adhere to the applicable standards of the American Petroleum Institute (API) and other industry standard organizations.

Choosing your Supplier

The best supplier for exploration pipeline is one with engineers on staff with experience in the oil industry who understand exactly what is needed and when it is needed. Your supplier should have the inventory necessary to fill your needs, and should have a distribution network that can get the product to you on time and on budget.

The Basics of OCTG Tubing

OCTG stands for Oil Country Tubular Goods and refers to pipe and tubing used by oil producers. OCTG includes ISO steel pipes that are used on drilling rigs. While each drill site differs, all have certain things in common. For example, all drilling rigs use drill pipe and drill collars, which are larger-diameter, heavier pipes that fit around the drill pipe and place weight on the drill bit. OCTG must meet certain standards to accommodate the pressures, temperatures, and corrosiveness characteristic of drilling rigs.

Drill Pipe

Drill pipe consists of hollow tubing that connects equipment on the surface to the bottom hole assembly. It works as a conduit for drilling fluid. Drill pipe, along with drill collars and other necessary equipment that goes into the wellbore for drilling, are collectively known as the "drill string."

OCTG Casing

The large diameter pipe inserted into the drilled section of a bore hole and held in place with cement is known as casing. OCTG casing has many functions:

Prevention of water contamination
Prevention of cave-ins on unstable formations
Sealing off high pressure zones to prevent blowout
Providing a smooth bore for installing oil production equipment

OCTG Tubing

Tubing aids in directing oil from the reservoir to the surface. Tubing is placed inside a well and is used to inject fluids. It is of relatively small diameter compared to other OCTG products. Thick metal tubing known as a standpipe facilitates flow of drilling fluid and supports one end of the hose connected to a rig's Kelly drive, which provides the means to turn the drill bit.

Connections

Most OCTG products are joined together by means of threaded connections. Connections seem simple, but with oil wells, considerable attention must be paid to connections to minimize risk of connection failure, which could prove catastrophic.

Clearly, there are many places on an oil rig where inadequate OCTG could lead to disaster. In addition to using ISO steel, obtaining OCTG from a trusted supplier that is vigilant about meeting all applicable standards is an absolute necessity for safe and successful oil drilling.

ISO Steel and Other Manufacturing Standards

Today more than two-thirds of new pipeline demand comes from the Middle East, Asia, and North America. Additionally, some 85,000 km of steel pipe is expected to be needed in the United States alone, to replace pipes that were installed in the 1960s that are nearing the end of their functional lifespan. With the economies of India and China growing rapidly, steel pipe manufacturers must keep up with demands while meeting the standards set for ISO steel pipe and ASTM steel pipe, along with other standards.

Types of Welding and Quality

Steel pipe that is longitudinally welded and made from plates is of higher quality than steel pipe that is welded horizontally and made from coils. Longitudinally welded pipe is preferred for offshore gas and oil transportation because this type of transport typically takes place at higher pressures in a setting where leakage can be extremely costly. Horizontally welded steel pipe is more often used for water transport. Clearly, pipe that doesn't meet standards is problematic in these applications.

Processing of Steel Pipes

After steel pipes are made, they are straightened by machine, and may have threading added for connection purposes. Pipes are sent through measuring machines, and quality control data are printed onto pipes before they are sprayed with protective oil. Pipes are usually galvanized or coated with zinc to prevent rusting, and some applications require other paints of coatings. Steel pipe is manufactured according to many international industry standards. For example API 5L line pipe is designated by grade (A or B), or designated according to minimum pipe steel yield strength. For example, API 5L line pipe of X60 grade has steel with a minimum yield strength of 60,000 pounds per square inch.

Quality Control

Whether your project requires ASTM steel pipe, or pipe meeting some other international standard, it undergoes quality control procedures to ensure the finished product complies. For example, x-ray gauges regulate steel thickness on the production line. After being made, pipes are inspected and tested in various ways. Projects involving steel pipe are generally capital intensive, so choosing suppliers with expertise in international standards and strong grounding in engineering ensures the finished product is up to the task for which it is assigned.

The Refinery Pipeline Supplier: Your Strongest Link

Bringing petroleum products to the consumer involves several steps:

Finding resources
Drilling
Moving products to refineries
Converting crude products to finished products
Distributing and selling the refined products

Pipes are required in each of these steps. Offshore pipeline is used in exploration and on drilling rigs, and refinery pipeline is used to move products to and from refineries. Industries that refine petroleum require pipes, and the final distribution of the product often takes place via pipeline.

Importance of Pipeline Transport

Pipeline transport has a role in many industries besides petroleum. While liquids and gases are the most commonly pipe-transported products, pneumatic pipes can be used to transport solid products with compressed air. Any chemically stable liquid or gas may be transported by pipe, including biofuels, slurry, water and sewage. Most pipelines are laid underground, but some pipelines, like the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, are run above ground to avoid petroleum products melting the permafrost.

Pipes Used in the Petroleum Industry

Oil pipelines are usually made from steel, and their inner diameters range anywhere from 4 to 48 inches. Refinery pipeline is normally buried 3 to 6 feet underground. Pumping stations along the pipeline keep oil flowing properly. In the United States alone there are 150 oil refineries, converting crude oil to finished products. The tasks performed by refineries vary, and include everything from simple distillation to complicated sulfur removal.

Industry Standards

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is one of the bodies that sets standards for pipes used in the petroleum industry. The API is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for developing standards, specifications, and recommended practices for offshore pipeline, refinery pipeline, and other types of pipelines involved in petroleum transport.

Importance of Using the Best Pipeline Supplier

Petroleum distribution is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain from well to consumer. That's why choosing a refinery pipeline supplier with experience and knowledge along with the inventory and distribution capability needed to respond promptly to needs is critically important. Pipeline problems in the petroleum industry can be catastrophic, which is why only the most knowledgeable suppliers should be used.

Choosing your Line Pipe Manufacturer

Oil country tubular goods, or OCTG tubing, refers to tubing, drill pipes, and casing manufactured for the petroleum industry according to API Specification 5CT, a standard that covers seamless and welded casing, tubing, and liners. OCTG line pipe must be manufactured according to standards covering chemical composition, manufacturing process, and grade. It is a product category at the heart of both the petroleum industry and the steel pipe manufacturing industry.

Processes

If your project requires OCTG tubing, you need products manufactured in accordance with international standards, grades, and specs. Your line pipe manufacturer should be knowledgeable about ASTM, API, ASME, DIN, and other standards. Their quality assurance team should have expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and logistics so that you only receive products that have the quality necessary for your project. When you trust your supplier to follow proper processes in manufacturing and quality assurance, you can get on with your project with confidence.

Product Selection

With a huge project and a busy crew, who has time to source different products from different vendors? Your steel pipe supplier should have a broad selection so you can quickly order exactly what you need, such as:

Line pipe
Drill pipe
Tubing
Casing
Structural pipe

Having one source saves on time and paperwork.

Global Mill Network

Is your pipe supplier globally connected so that sourcing can be done quickly and conveniently no matter where your project is located? If not, you could end up wasting time waiting for the right supplies to show up. But if your supplier has the inventory and the global network to get the right products to you exactly when you need them, nobody wastes time, and projects stay on budget.

Finance and Logistics

Engineering, manufacturing, and quality control are vital, but even the best product falls short when the financing and logistical support is lacking. Choose a steel pipe supplier with the financial and logistical expertise needed to get your OCTG line pipe or whatever type of steel pipe you need to the right place at the right price and the right time. You should expect no less from your steel pipe supplier.

Your Steel Tubing Supplier and Success

It doesn't matter if you're in the oil and gas industry, water supply, industrial processing, or civil infrastructure: quality materials are one of the most important keys to success. With projects that often take place in remote areas or across international borders, those who rely on steel pipes must have a supplier with a proven track record of quality products, prompt delivery, and sufficient inventories.

Meeting Quality Standards

If your project requires pipe products that meet internationally recognized specifications such as those developed by

ASTM
API
ASME
ANSI
ISO

or others, then choosing a steel tubing supplier conversant in all international standards should be a top priority.

Delivery

Delivery needs vary across industries and across projects. But speed, convenience, safety, reliability, and economy are all important aspects of the delivery process. To keep your project on time and on budget, you need suppliers who understand time-sensitive needs, just-in-time delivery, and the intricacies of the delivery process. The best suppliers are willing to work with industries to develop custom delivery processes so that the right materials are available at the right time and in the right place.

Inventory

Sometimes you need ISO pipe or API line pipe as soon as possible, and for these supplies you need a source with an inventory on hand that meets your needs. When a project has to halt to await supplies, everyone loses out, and the best material suppliers keenly understand this. That's why choosing your steel pipe supplier is critically important to meeting your project goals.

Expertise

Because steel pipe is used in so many industries, expertise in those industries is extremely valuable to your particular project. If you need ISO pipe for a hydraulic project, you want a pipe supplier familiar with hydraulics projects and ISO. The same is true if your project needs API line pipe for a drilling rig. Choosing suppliers based on price alone can end up causing major problems with large projects. Invest in knowledge and expertise up front, and your long term prospects for success increase greatly.