OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2011. Under the joint efforts of Baosteel Co.,Ltd. high grade steel line pipe team members, recently, Baosteel won the contract of 43,000-ton South China Sea deepwater natural gas line pipe, including the most difficult X70 steel grade, 762X31.8 mm specification submarine line pipe supply, reported the press-centre of Baosteel.

This indicates that Baosteel thick-walled UOE line pipe now travels from land to ocean and achieves a historic breakthrough. South China Sea Liwan 3-1 gas field is China's largest and deepest offshore gas field, with great strategic significance. Since the offcial launching of Liwan 3-1 South China Sea project, Baosteel marketing and technical team took early intervention, tracked, developed, evaluated and finally settled project. Meanwhile, it conducted in-depth technical exchanges with CNOOC and provided them with effective plans for the tough line pipe factory production.

Ultimately, Baosteel won the other side's trust, the Steel Line Pipe trial production task were delivered to Baosteel. The pipeline was to be laid from 200 meters deep sea area to the land, with conveying pressure of up to 24 MPa. The wall thickness, high diameter ratio added to high requirement for the steel stability and security, especially the products were required for full-size drop test, which was a great challenge for thick-walled line pipe manufacturing.

To meet the needs of customers and ensure the success of the bid, Baosteel Co.,Ltd. set up Liwan project team, composed of steel pipe business unit, manufacturing unit, steel making mill, heavy plate mill plant, Research Institute, BSEE technology service unit and Baosteel International commercial & trade company. With the spirit of "quality first, steady progress", detailed trial plan was prepared according to the project requirement.

Under the full supervision of CNOOC, CNPC and CCS, Baosteel evoked the advantage of consistent technology management system from smelting process to UOE pipe making, overcame unfavorable factors such as the tight schedule, equipped itself with mold, and tackled technical problems in steel, rolled plate and pipe making and completed the first round of single furnace trial production, stage trial tasks of small batch, 1000 tons and 2000 tons. The product stability and pass rate rose steadily.

In last June and this January, Baosteel UOE sea pipe line products passed assessment of sea pipe line localization expert appraisal organized by CNOOC and Liwan 3-1 small quantity trial production expert review. It was qualified for supplying for South China Sea deepwater natural gas development project.

The successful trial and production of South China Sea deepwater natural gas submarine line pipe marks the localization of submarine long-distance high-voltage transmission thick-walled, high-strength line pipe, raises the comprehensive competitiveness of Baosteel UOE line pipe and is landmark in marine application of high-grade UOE line pipe.