APPLICATION OF STAINLESS STEEL IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Stainless steel has transformed nearly every industry ranging from the medical to aerospace industries. The oil and gas industry, in particular, has been no different, as operating conditions and extracting methods made stainless steel a very cost-effective, convenient, and reliable choice.
Despite worldwide efforts coming to rely on renewable energy for power generation, oil and gas remain the skeleton of the power generation energy supply at present. Many conventional reserves have been exhausted and new reservoirs discovered in some inaccessible locations and hostile environments are now usual targets for exploration.
Pressures and temperatures in this field impose considerable limitations on existing equipment and technology and make the oil and gas power generation industry face serious material-related challenges.
Because of the hazardous nature of the materials in these industries, ordinary metals, including carbon steel, are unable to withstand the constant exposure they have to face. Due to its chemical makeup; stainless steel is the best choice for corrosive environments as it possesses a thin surface film made up of chromium oxide that prevents corrosion.
Stainless steel’s corrosion resistance is not just limited to the basic level, but also extends to protection against stress corrosion cracking and galvanic corrosion. Certain alloys even offer the ability to endure in marine environments, an important consideration in the oil & gas industry, which is frequently involved in deep sea drilling.
Stainless steel is also known for its strength and durability which are critical attributes to be considered when dealing with toxic materials, especially in fragile natural environments. An unexpected material failure might prove both costly and devastating.
The basic process of oil & gas production and refining involves extracting the resource from underground or under the ocean through high pressure tubing, then feeding it through piping into a separator vessel. The oil will then be transported through a pipeline to the refinery, while natural gas will be refined at the extraction site. At every step of this process strong, durable metals are required.
More and more often the industry is turning to high performance stainless variants, such as duplex stainless steel, which is able to compete with titanium and other rare metals on both performance and price. Stainless steel can be found in piping systems, separators, scrubbers, pumps, manifolds, heat exchangers, flow lines, and storage tanks.
The right choice of material mix helps in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of an industry thereby leading them to sustain and succeed in the long run.
At Venus, our technical professionals have decades of experience working closely with clients in the chemical, processing, and oil & gas industries. We know the challenges they face, both at a technical level and from outside competitive pressures. Our goal is to help our customers procure the right alloy for their application. Visit the website for more information.