OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2015. Pervouralsk Pipe plant (part of ChelPipe Group) mastered and supplied a pilot batch of 62 tons of ?73.02 mm schedule 5.51 mm tubing with modified gas-proof ChT-VTm1 connectors to the Gazprom subsidiary Gazpromneft-Orenburg.

Premium Class ChT-VTm1 connectors designed by Pervouralsk Pipe plant engineers for the import substitution program are analogs of ChT-VT threaded connectors with modified thread parameters which can replace imported Voest Alpine VAGT connectors (Austria) and Vallourec NEW VAM connectors (France). According to the plant's calculations, the new connectors have the same if not better strength characteristics as the imported analogs.

According to the client requirement, ChT-VTm1 tubing was manufactured by the Pervouralsk Pipe plant Finishing Center from corrosion-resistant, hydrogen sulfide-resistant 18CrMFB steel specifically for fields with up to 6% hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide content.

ChelPipe Group and Gazpromneft cooperate closely in developing import substitutes. Chelyabinsk Pipe plant and Pervouralsk Pipe plant have positive experience of supplying large-diameter pipes and OCTG for the fuel and energy company. In 2015, Gazpromneft and Gazprom instructed domestic pipe plants to design and launch new products capable of replacing imported analogs to be used at gas fields within two or three years.