OREANDA-NEWS. On 23 December 2008 was announced, that Vyksa Steel Works (OAO Vyksa Steel Works, Nizhny Novgorod Region, is a part of the United Metallurgical Company, ZAO UMC) installed additional equipment in the shop of the three dimensional heat treatment of pipes (TDHTP). This treatment is necessary to increase the performance properties of pipe casing, and oil and gas pipelines.

The new equipment is made up of a water quench for pipe hardening, manufactured and delivered by subsidiaries of Vyksa Steel Works, VMZ-Techno and VMZ-Service, a plasma cutting machine for sampling, delivered by PK Spektr Plus (St. Petersburg) , and a descaling machine, manufactured by OOO NPF Gidromekhanika (Novosibirsk). The new quench can process pipes with a diameter up to 530 mm where previously, the TDHTP shop was limited to treating pipes with diameters of 114-426 mm.

Regarding the development of the pipe heat treatment technology in the TDHTP shop, Vyksa Steel Works continues to study the methods to increase cold and corrosion resistance of heat treated pipes, due to the fine (homogeneous) metal structure of the pipe wall thickness, and smooth welded joints.

The TDHTP shop was put in operation in 2007. It produces ultra-strength cold- and corrosion-resistant pipes, including highly resistant oil and gas pipelines of up to К65 (Х80) strength, and hardened casing pipes of Е and М (N 80Q, P 110). The investment in the TDHTP shop was over 1 billion rubles. The main equipment was supplied by the following companies: Sottri (Italy), Bronx (Great Britain), and SMS Meer (Germany).

In 2007, the TDHTP shop produced 10,000 tons of pipes. 19,000 tons were produced during the 11 months by November, 2008. At this point in the development, the TDHTP has mastered the production of casing pipes of E strength class in accordance with GOST 632 (in compliance with API 5CT - N 80Q) Steel 22 GU, and L and M strength class in accordance with GOST 632 (P110 in compliance with API 5CT) from Steel 22 GF and 26 HMA, as well as oil and gas pipelines of K60 strength class from Steel 17G1S-U and 09G2S.

“With the new technology of the TDHTP shop, we are now able to manufacture a product of a higher quality that before was something that we could only dream of. We are making a confident step into the market of ultra-strength pipes,” said Vyksa Steel Works Executive Director Vladimir Kochetkov. “The foundation of our company in the production of medium- diameter pipes is laid in order to be competitive in the market for many years to come. As the conditions of oil and gas extraction become more and more complicated, operations spread beyond the ocean shelf and the regions with a difficult relief and a severe climate, the strength of piping will need to be greater”.