ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
ArcelorMittal and CPW began developing the steels needed for reel laying over a decade ago. That work has resulted in the industrialisation of several grades of steel coils which can be used to form reeled pipelines. “The steel we use must have the correct properties to perform well at several critical stages in the manufacturing and installation process,” explains Nikolaos Sarsentis, procurement director for CPW.
“The reel lay method is popular for shallow and deep water pipelines which have an outside diameter up to 18 inches, and wall thickness up to 20.6 mm,” says Alan Currie, sales director – offshore for CPW. “Reel lay installation is a growing market. This trend will continue as new pipe laying vessels are introduced which can accommodate larger diameter pipes up to 20 inches, larger capacity reels, and faster transit times.”
To ensure that they are ready to supply reeled pipelines for these new vessels, CPW and ArcelorMittal are constantly working to develop the properties of the steels used. “ArcelorMittal’s Global R&D Centre in Gent (Belgium) is closely involved in our efforts to improve the properties of the steels used in reeled pipelines,” says Alan Currie. “The more we can improve the steels, the better we get.”
Steels for reeled pipelines are severely deformed at every stage from forming to laying
Reeled pipeline technology is the fastest and most efficient way to install offshore pipes
CPW and ArcelorMittal are constantly working to improve the steels used for reeled pipelines