The following is a cost comparison of different types of steel pipes on offshore oil and gas extraction platforms:

seamless steel tube

Material cost: relatively high due to its complex production process, requiring perforation of steel billets, and low production capacity. For example, overseas seamless steel pipes with a diameter less than 3 inches are generally priced between $500 and $1000 per ton, those with a diameter between 36 inches are priced between $600 and $1200 per ton, and those with a diameter greater than 6 inches are priced between $800 and $1500 per ton

Processing cost: including the cost of cutting, bending, welding and other processing procedures. Due to the high requirements for material and dimensional accuracy of seamless steel pipes, the processing difficulty is relatively high, and the processing cost may also be high. For example, the processing cost of some high-precision seamless steel pipes may be over 1000 yuan per ton

Installation cost: High technical and equipment requirements are required during installation, requiring professional installation personnel and equipment such as lifting equipment, welding equipment, etc. The labor cost and equipment rental fee are relatively high. Moreover, the installation environment of seamless steel pipes on offshore platforms is complex and the construction difficulty is high, further increasing the installation cost

Maintenance cost: With high corrosion resistance and strength, the maintenance cost is relatively low under normal use, but once damage occurs, it is difficult to repair and the repair cost is high.

Straight seam submerged arc welded steel pipe (LSAW)

Material cost: Usually slightly lower than seamless steel pipes, its raw material is steel plate, which is made through processes such as curling and welding, with relatively high production efficiency and relatively controllable cost

Processing cost: Adopting submerged arc welding technology, the welding quality is good, but the equipment and process requirements are high, resulting in relatively high processing costs. The processing cost per ton of UOE pipeline pipe is around 12001600 yuan, but its production efficiency is high, and the unit cost will be reduced during large-scale production

Installation cost: The range of pipe diameter and wall thickness is large, and can be customized according to needs. When installing on offshore platforms, it is more convenient to install large-diameter and long-distance oil and gas transmission pipelines, and the installation cost is relatively low. However, for the installation of some special parts, special installation equipment and technology may be required, which will increase some costs

Maintenance cost: The weld quality is reliable, the corrosion resistance is good, and the maintenance cost is relatively low. However, it is necessary to regularly inspect and maintain the weld to ensure the safe operation of the pipeline

Spiral seam submerged arc welded steel pipe (SSAW)

Material cost: It is relatively economical and can produce welded pipes with larger diameters using narrower billets. It can produce welded pipes with different diameters using billets of the same width. The utilization rate of raw materials is high and the cost is relatively low

Processing cost: The processing technology is relatively simple, the production efficiency is high, and the processing cost is moderate. However, due to the 30% to 100% increase in weld length compared to straight seam pipes, the welding workload is large and the welding cost will increase

Installation cost: It has good flexibility and adaptability, making it convenient to install in complex environments on offshore platforms. It can reduce stress concentration during installation and has relatively low installation costs. However, for large-diameter and high-pressure pipelines, additional support and fixing devices may be required, which will increase installation costs to some extent

Maintenance cost: The quality of the weld seam is good, but due to the length of the weld seam, it is necessary to strengthen the inspection and maintenance of the weld seam. The maintenance cost is slightly higher than that of straight seam submerged arc welded steel pipes.

Straight seam resistance welded steel pipe (ERW)

Material cost: Similar to spiral seam submerged arc welded steel pipes, its raw material is also steel plate, and the cost is relatively low

Processing cost: By using resistance welding technology, the production efficiency is high and the processing cost is relatively low. However, the weld quality of resistance welded steel pipes is not as good as that of submerged arc welded steel pipes. For some high-pressure and high demand application scenarios, additional treatment of the weld may be required, which will increase certain processing costs

Installation cost: With high dimensional accuracy, it can ensure the precision and sealing of pipeline connections, which is conducive to the rapid installation of offshore platform pipeline systems and has relatively low installation costs. However, due to its relatively weak strength and corrosion resistance, additional protective measures may be required in some harsh environments, which may increase some installation costs

Maintenance cost: The corrosion resistance at the weld seam is relatively poor, and regular anti-corrosion treatment and testing of the weld seam are required, resulting in relatively high maintenance costs.

Monel alloy steel pipe

Material cost: Monel alloy contains a large amount of precious metals such as nickel and copper, and the material cost is extremely high, several times or even dozens of times higher than ordinary steel pipes

Processing cost: Its processing performance is good, and the processing cost is similar to that of ordinary stainless steel pipes. However, due to the expensive material price, the losses during the processing will also increase the cost

Installation cost: The installation process is similar to that of ordinary steel pipes, but due to their heavy weight, larger installation equipment is required, which increases the installation cost.

Maintenance cost: It has extremely strong corrosion resistance and requires almost no additional anti-corrosion maintenance in marine environments. The maintenance cost is low, but once damaged, the replacement cost is extremely high

Here are some cost comparisons of other steel pipes on offshore oil and gas extraction platforms:

Bimetallic composite pipe

Material cost: It is between ordinary carbon steel pipes and high alloy steel pipes. The outer layer is usually ordinary carbon steel, which has a relatively low cost. The inner wall is made of corrosion-resistant alloy materials, such as nickel based alloys, which increases the cost to some extent. However, compared with all alloy steel pipes, it is significantly reduced. For example, bimetallic composite pipes made by 3D printing and welding can ensure corrosion resistance while significantly reducing the cost compared to pure nickel based alloy pipes.

Processing cost: The processing technology is complex and requires special welding or composite techniques to combine two different materials together, such as 3D printing welding technology. The equipment and technical requirements are high, and the processing cost is relatively high. However, with the maturity of technology and large-scale production, the cost is expected to decrease

Installation cost: The installation method is similar to that of ordinary steel pipes, but due to its heavy weight and the need to protect the inner wall alloy layer, the installation equipment and technical requirements are slightly higher, resulting in a slight increase in installation cost.

Maintenance cost: The alloy layer on the inner wall has good corrosion resistance, reducing the risk of corrosion inside the pipeline. The maintenance cost is relatively low, but the integrity of the alloy layer needs to be checked regularly. If there are problems such as local detachment, they need to be repaired in a timely manner. The repair cost is high.

Stainless steel pipe

Material cost: relatively high due to its high content of alloying elements such as chromium and nickel, which are expensive, causing a significant increase in the raw material cost of stainless steel pipes. For example, the price of 304 stainless steel pipes is usually 23 times that of ordinary carbon steel pipes.

Processing cost: The processing difficulty is similar to that of ordinary steel pipes, but due to their high strength and hardness, sharper cutting tools and higher cutting speeds are required during processing, which increases processing costs. In addition, special welding materials and methods such as argon arc welding are required, which further increases processing costs.

Installation cost: The installation process is similar to that of ordinary steel pipes, but due to their heavy weight and smooth surface, special fixing and connecting measures need to be taken during installation, such as using stainless steel bolts and nuts, which increases the installation cost.

Maintenance cost: Strong corrosion resistance, basically no need for anti-corrosion maintenance in marine environments, low maintenance cost. However, in environments containing highly corrosive media such as chloride ions, localized corrosion phenomena such as pitting corrosion may occur, requiring regular inspection and repair, resulting in high repair costs.

Fiberglass steel pipe

Material cost: The cost of raw materials is relatively low, but the production process is complex, requiring the use of various materials such as glass fiber and resin. In addition, strict requirements are placed on the quality and proportion of raw materials during the production process, resulting in a moderate overall cost.

Processing cost: The processing technology is special and requires winding, curing, and other processes in specific molds, resulting in relatively low production efficiency and high processing costs. However, with the improvement of production technology and large-scale production, processing costs are expected to decrease.

Installation cost: Lightweight, easy to handle and install, can reduce labor and equipment costs during installation. However, due to its relatively low rigidity, excessive bending and compression should be avoided during installation to prevent pipeline damage, which increases installation difficulty and cost.

Maintenance cost: It has good corrosion resistance and wear resistance, does not require anti-corrosion and rust prevention treatment, and has low maintenance cost. However, in the long-term use process, aging, cracking and other problems may occur, requiring regular inspection and replacement, and the replacement cost is relatively high.