Applications
- Flexible pipes
- Umbilical tubing
- Mechanically lined pipes
- Heat exchangers
- Burners and flarers
- Structural components and storage tanks
- Safety systems
Oil & Gas
Stainless steel for oil & gas industry
For the exacting standards of today’s oil and gas industry, Outokumpu – the most sustainable supplier of stainless steel for the most sustainable solutions – offers the broadest range of stainless steels available. With long lifetime and low life-cycle costs, Outokumpu stainless steel products have been used for decades in many oil and gas applications.
Advanced materials for harsh conditions
The scale of projects in the oil and gas industry is massive and the production chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Though oil is not corrosive in itself, production takes place in harsh and highly corrosive environments. The benefits of stainless steels – superior corrosion resistance, excellent mechanical properties and significant cost savings are compelling, both for topside construction and applications for production fluids.
Benefits of using stainless steel in oil & gas
Performance
- Forta duplex stainless steels for low nickel content with high mechanical strength
- Superior corrosion resistance
- Increased heat transfer and longer service life for heat exchangers
- Unmatched heat resistance for burners and flaring systems
- Reduced maintenance costs on offshore installations
White Paper
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Ultra Alloy 825 thrives in extrememly corrosive environments
Outokumpu has developed the Ultra range of products for applications in extremely corrosive environments. This white paper discusses the benefits of Ultra Alloy 825 in oil and gas applications, a nickel base alloy providing good resistance to sulfur containing sour environments.
Read the white paper and find out more.
Tried and tested in extreme conditions
Outokumpu has been a key supplier of stainless steel to the oil and gas industry for more than 50 years. Our products can be found in upstream and downstream applications – from oil and gas production to transport and storage, refineries, LNG plants and petrochemical units. Tried and tested in these extreme conditions we have earned approvals from leading oil and gas companies worldwide.We meet ASTM and EN standards, certification by bodies like Norsok, as well as customers’ own complex in-house specifications. These cover mechanical properties, length of coil and other dimensional standards.
One widely used standard for material certification is BSE EN 10204. It defines various levels for traceability and certification. We regularly supply to level 3.1, which requires testing at our own laboratory facility, as well as level 3.2, where an independent third party carries out certification.
Corrosion resistant alloys
Depending on the application, our alloys may be competing with painted carbon steel at one end of the market and with nickel alloys at the other end. High levels of corrosion resistance ensure long life, process continuity and control of risk.
When high strength is also needed, duplex stainless steels such as Forta DX 2205, Forta LDX 2101 and Forta SDX 2507 are popular.
For extremely corrosive environments, alloys in our Ultra range are used widely. These include Ultra 825, a nickel alloy that can withstand sour environments and is therefore well suited to flowlines. In comparison, Ultra 904L, Ultra 254 SMO and Ultra 6XN are ideal for wet corrosion environments, with Ultra 254 SMO providing a cost advantage due to its high strength and relatively low nickel content.
Duplex allows lighter design
As wells are explored at greater depths, the piping becomes heavier. The superior mechanical strength of duplex stainless steel benefits the industry by allowing for lighter design. Outokumpu offers a wide range of duplex stainless steel grades, from lean duplex up to superduplex stainless steels.
Also on the platform, the increased mechanical strength of the duplex grades can be utilized. The present lifetime of a platform in stainless steel is more than 50 years with the intention to increase it even further. The technical challenges for the industry, such as increased depths, tar sands, heavy oils, more sour wells, arctic and high pressure / high temperature conditions require materials able to cope with these harsh environments.
Number one choice for sustainability
Sustainability is a major driving force in industry, with some energy companies setting an objective to achieve net zero operation by 2050 and others facing tightening regulation from governments. As a supplier of stainless steels and other alloys, we’re already ahead of the curve when it comes to carbon footprint. We have certified data in place so that our customers can calculate the carbon footprint of their own projects.
Our carbon footprint is 30 percent lower than the average. That’s partly due to our use of low-carbon electricity to power our mills and electric arc furnaces. Learn more about Outokumpu's take on sustainability
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Pipes and tubing
Whether manufactured for subsea or topside application, oil and gas piping has to go the extra mile. So when it comes to pipe and tubing - durability and value for money is the key.
Learn more about stainless steel for flexible piping, umbilicals and MLP.
Oil & Gas webinars
As today’s oil and gas infrastructure calls for advanced materials suitable for harsh environments, stainless steels offer a wealth of unbeatable advantages. Meet our experts and get industry-leading insights on why and how to use stainless steels.