The greater corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and strength of type 316, duplex grades, and higher alloyed special grades, mean that stainless steel is eminently suitable for rigorous applications in the North Sea - whether for topside construction or for down-hole oil flow applications.
On oil platforms, stainless steel offers a maintenance free, lightweight, fire and explosion resistant material for blast walls, cable ladders, and walkways. In these applications the life cycle benefits are a big plus, whilst any weight saved topside is an advantage in overall project cost savings.
In down-hole gas and oil flow systems, besides its resistance to corrosion and high temperatures, stainless steel also offers benefits in facilitating the flow of erosive products.
The following pages show some information on how Outokumpu products can be and are used on offshore platforms around the world.