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PIPELINE STEEL

Built to Endure. Crafted for Efficiency.

Benefits of Pipeline Steel

Discover what benefits pipeline steel offers.

Types & Grades of Pipeline Steel​

Common pipeline steel types and grades.

Industries & Applications

Find out where pipeline steel is commonly used.

Dimensions & Properties

Learn about pipeline steel’s capabilities.

Introduction to Pipeline Steel

Pipeline steel is specially designed to transport oil, gas, and water over long distances. It is known for its high strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion and harsh environments. Typically made from carbon steel, this material ensures the safety and efficiency of steel pipes.

Pipeline steel grades vary, with higher grades offering more strength and toughness. For example, X70 steel can handle high-pressure applications, making it ideal for gas transmission. The steel’s weldability and toughness at low temperatures are crucial for seamless and safe welded pipe construction.

Pipeline steel is essential for the oil and gas industry, ensuring reliable infrastructure. The right chemical composition and wall thickness helps prevent brittle fracture, maintaining the pipe’s integrity.

View of large industrial pipelines running down a forested hillside.

Benefits of Pipeline Steel​

Pipeline steel provides several key advantages for efficient and reliable transportation of oil and gas. The main benefits of pipeline steel plates include:
  • High strength while retaining flexibility
  • Increased durability with resistance to wear and corrosion
  • Reduced weight for easier handling and installation
  • Cost-effectiveness due to lower maintenance needs
  • Easy weldability for faster and more secure construction
  • High toughness to withstand harsh environmental conditions and impacts
Please consult our materials experts for the best material for your application.

Types and Grades of Pipeline Steel

Carbon steel is most commonly used for pipeline steel because of its strength, durability, and weldability. Common grades include:
  • API 5L Grades (PSL1):
    • A25, A, B, X42 (L290): Low to medium strength.
    • X46 (L320), X52 (L360), X56 (L390), X60 (L415): Medium strength.
    • X65 (L450), X70 (L485), X80 (L555): High strength.
Apart from carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, duplex steel, polyethylene-coated steel, and FBE (Fusion Bonded Epoxy) coated steel are also commonly used types of pipeline steel.
Note: Grades in parentheses represent equivalent grades under the ISO 3183 standard. PSL1 is the basic standard for pipeline steel grades with PSL2 as the higher standard.

Industries & Applications​

Pipeline steel is essential across various industries, including oil and gas, water supply, chemicals, energy, mining, and district heating. It ensures the safe and efficient transport of resources and materials, playing a crucial role in modern infrastructure and industrial processes.

Some common industries and applications include:

Red icon of a fuel storage tank with a droplet symbol.

Oil and Gas

Transporting crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products in offshore pipelines, onshore pipelines, and subsea pipelines.
Red icon representing an oil refinery with a droplet symbol.

Water Supply

Transporting water for municipal and industrial use, including water mains, irrigation systems, and wastewater treatment facilities.
Red icon of laboratory flasks with a gear symbol.

Chemical Industry

Transporting chemicals and hazardous materials in chemical plants, storage facilities, and specialized pipelines for corrosive substances.
Red icon with a lightning bolt inside a circle.

Energy

Transmitting fuel and energy resources to power plants, refineries, and renewable energy projects.
Red icon of an offshore oil rig with birds and a helicopter.

Mining

Transporting ores, minerals, and waste materials in mining operations, including pipelines for slurry transport and tailings management.
Red icon of a heating element with steam lines above it.

District Heating

Distributing hot water or steam for heating residential, commercial, and industrial buildings through district heating networks.

Dimensions & Properties

Whether steel qualifies as plate or sheet depends on the specification used for certification. There is a large overlap in popular thicknesses between plate and sheet, but steel plates are offered in a much broader range of sizes.
PropertyX52X60X70
Yield Strength360 MPa (52 ksi)415 MPa (60 ksi)485 MPa (70 ksi)
Tensile Strength460-630 MPa (67-91 ksi)520-760 MPa (75-110 ksi)565-760 MPa (82-110 ksi)
Material StandardAPI 5L, ISO 3183API 5L, ISO 3183API 5L, ISO 3183
Vickers Hardness180-220 HV190-250 HV200-250 HV

Pipeline Steel When & Where You Need It​

Here, you get more than just quality steel. With multiple facilities across the country capable of providing high-strength steels, we can also work with you to manage your inventory, ensuring you get product when and where you need it to keep your production running.

Explore Our Available Steel Products & Grades​

Our knowledge and experience give nearly 100% accurate delivery of High Carbon, Low Carbon, Stainless Steel products processed and packaged to your exact specifications.

What material is used for pipeline steel?

Carbon steel is commonly used for pipeline construction.

What grade of steel is used in pipelines?

X60 grade steel is often used for pipelines.

What is the strongest steel pipe?

Alloy steel pipes are generally considered the strongest due to their high strength and durability.

Which is stronger, solid steel or hollow steel pipe?

Solid steel is stronger in terms of load-bearing capacity, but hollow steel pipes are more efficient in weight-to-strength ratio.

Which steel is used in gas pipelines?

Carbon steel, specifically grades like X60 or X65, is typically used for gas pipelines.

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