Producing pipelines for across the globe

Sep 23 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

STEELMAKER Corus is an expert in producing pipeline for some of the deepest and least hospitable locations in the world.

Corus Tubes operates three pipe mills at Hartlepool.

Last year it secured a contract to make and deliver almost 200 miles of pipe for the Perdido Norte project in the Gulf of Mexico.

One of the deepest pipelines in the world, pipes were laid in depths ranging from 3,500ft to 8,300ft.

But as the search for oil sees companies digging deeper and increasingly difficult conditions, products being supplied to the market also change.

Sue Titmuss, marketing manager (energy) for Corus Tubes, Hartlepool, said the company has also developed a clad pipe made of outer carbon steel with stainless steel anti-corrosive liner.

“It would be too expensive to have really thick stainless steel pipes, so we have developed a carbon steel outer to get the strength but lined it with corrosion resistant alloy to provide resistance. We are looking to sell that into the market place.”

Some years ago, Corus developed the ‘pipe in pipe’ - an inner pipe with an annulus between that and the outer sleeve that insulates the emerging oil against sea temperatures which can slow the flow.

“We tend to sell that more in the North Sea, but new materials are now being developed to fill that annulus for deep water applications,” added Sue.

“The North Sea used to be our principal market. Since 2000 though we have been focused on more hostile markets where oil and gas is more corrosive. We supply pipe to Africa, Middle East, and the Gulf of Mexico among others.”

Corus’ North Sea contracts are now mainly for ‘tie backs’ - branch lines to the main pipes that take oil from smaller reserves.

The company is bidding in South America, where much of the deep sea exploration is happening.