Pipe Production Technology And Properties of X120 Linepipe

To provide a lower cost option for long distance gas transmission, X120 UOE linepipe has been developed. After development of heavy plate and basic seam welding technology, finite element models and forming tests in the UOE mill established the forming conditions and tooling design criteria to solve the problem of the large spring back that occurs during forming of the plate. To confirm X120 mass production technology, more than one hundred pipes were manufactured in a small-scale, commercial production run or “mini-roll.” The produced pipe generally met the dimensional tolerances and mechanical property targets, but improvements are planned for future runs. Field bending of the X120 pipe has been demonstrated, and the resistance to hydrogen embrittlement by cathodic protection has been confirmed.