Frequently Asked Questions about Welded Steel Pipe
1. What types of welded steel pipe does Xenith Steel manufacture?
Xenith Steel manufactures four welded steel pipe types:
(1) ERW Pipe: Electric resistance welded, OD 21.3-610mm, WT 1.8-22mm. Cost-effective for oil/gas/water transmission.
(2) LSAW Pipe: Longitudinal submerged arc welded, OD 323.9-1820mm, WT 5-50mm. High strength for large diameter pipelines.
(3) SSAW Pipe: Spiral submerged arc welded, OD 219.1-2540mm, WT 3.2-25.4mm. Flexible diameter production.
(4) Piling Pipe: For foundation and earth retention, OD 219-3048mm, WT 5-25.4mm.
2. What is the difference between ERW, LSAW, and SSAW pipe?
Three welding processes differ in method and application:
(1) ERW: High-frequency electric resistance welding of strip edges. Economical for medium diameter (up to 610mm). Used for oil/gas/water transmission and structural applications.
(2) LSAW: Submerged arc welding of longitudinal seam from steel plate. Superior strength for large diameter (up to 1820mm). Preferred for high-pressure pipelines.
(3) SSAW: Spiral submerged arc welding from coiled strip. Flexible diameter production (up to 2540mm). Cost-effective for water transmission and piling.
3. What standards govern welded steel pipe?
Xenith Steel follows five welded pipe standards:
(1) API 5L PSL1/PSL2: Line pipe for oil and gas. Grades B through X70.
(2) ASTM A53: Carbon steel pipe for general service. Grades A and B.
(3) ASTM A500: Cold-formed welded structural tubing. Grades A, B, C.
(4) ASTM A252: Steel pipe piles for foundations. Grades 1, 2, 3.
(5) EN 10219/EN 10217: European standards for structural and pressure welded pipes.
4. What grades are available for welded steel pipe?
Xenith Steel supplies eight welded pipe grade categories:
(1) API 5L: GR.A, GR.B, X42, X46, X52, X56, X60, X65, X70 for oil and gas.
(2) ASTM A53: GR.A, GR.B for general service.
(3) ASTM A500: Structural tubing grades.
(4) JIS G3466: Japanese structural pipe grades.
(5) ASTM A252: Piling pipe grades 1, 2, 3.
(6) ASTM A178: Boiler and superheater tubes.
(7) EN 10219: S235JR, S275, S355JRH, S355J2H.
(8) AN/NZS 1163/1074: Australian/New Zealand structural grades.
5. What are the typical applications of welded steel pipe?
Welded steel pipe serves two main application areas:
(1) Oil/Gas/Water Transmission: ERW and LSAW pipes for medium to large diameter pipelines. API 5L grades for high-pressure service.
(2) Machinery Manufacturing: ERW structural pipes for equipment frames, supports, and mechanical components. ASTM A500 for structural applications.
6. What quality tests are performed on welded steel pipe?
Xenith Steel performs six quality tests:
(1) Chemical analysis for grade verification via spectrographic testing.
(2) Tensile testing for yield strength, ultimate strength, and elongation.
(3) Hydrostatic pressure testing for each pipe.
(4) Non-destructive testing (UT/RT) for weld seam integrity.
(5) Flattening and reverse flattening tests for weld ductility.
(6) Dimensional inspection for OD, WT, length, straightness, and bevel accuracy.
