Outokumpu introduces duplex stainless steel for Oil & Gas industry and storage

Outokumpu, world's leading stainless steel producer has introduced a new range of enhanced and formable duplex stainless steels with high mechanical strength to meet the complex profiles and high pressure conditions in harsher environments of the oil and gas industry in this evergrowing Indian market. Whether onshore or offshore, the O&G industry must not only weather the toughest external environments but also come to terms with the harshest process conditions.

Over the past few decades, as the oil exploration goes deeper into the sea the corrosive conditions in the Oil and Gas Industry have steadily grown in severity. The offshore oil industry continually pushes oil exploration to greater depths, which leads to higher pressure conditions. It is of prime importance in these industries to select corrosion-resistant materials that meet those tests to achieve long, maintenance-free service life of equipment and facilities. Outokumpu has introduced speciality EDX range of duplex stainless steel due to it attractive combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

"Outokumpu's new range of Duplex stainless steel offers a wealth of new opportunities to build more durable, safe and sustainable equipment. Stainless steel is infinitely recyclable which makes it ideal for O&G applications as Flowlines , umbilicals , firewalls, process piping , storage tanks, heat exchangers - each application is unique. The new products introduced in the duplex range are EDX2304 and FDX family which are superior versions of Duplex Stainless Steels. Also ever increasing use of Duplex Stainless in Storage Tanks is offering life cycle cost competitive advantage. Not only can our stronger grades provide cost-savings for the initial material cost but additional project cost savings from reduced maintenance can also be realized" Said Mats Benson, Vice President Sales & Mktg , Special Outokumpu Stainless Mill in Avesta , Sweden while introducing the new range.

"Duplex stainless steel EDX 2304® is an enhanced duplex grade that Outokumpu has developed for the offshore industry's needs. Sub sea solutions are poised to play an ever more important role in future oil and gas extraction. Demands for piping materials change as we go deeper with downhole temperatures of 200 plus degrees and pressures upto 150mpa The industry needed a competitive alternative that would have higher corrosion resistance and would be stronger than similar grades. The enhanced duplex grade EDX 2304® meets the NORSOK qualification. It complements our strong portfolio of grades suitable for the oil & gas industry." Said Mr Yatinder Pal Singh Suri, India Head, Outokumpu.

"The FDX family Platform : Outokumpu FDX grades overcome the one drawback that has held back Duplex grades from uses where high formability and ductility are required. These grades will be introduced in thin sheet and will perform in forming processes nearly as well as the most widely used austenitic 304 and 316L. To stay productive and profitable Oil &Gas industry has to weather rough conditions. From arctic temp to deep ocean wells and the ever present risk of blast and fire, it is easy to see why construction material choice becomes more and more important and our widest Duplex range offers the solutions. Due to the strength advantage of the duplex stainless steels as well as superior corrosion resistance, it is possible to use thinner gauges leading to weight and cost saving." said Mr Suri.

"Oil and Gas industry is always on the look out for new product innovations to extend the life cycle of plant and equipment's and surely the new range of Duplex stainless steels showcased today are attractive materials for oil and gas application. They Duplex grades have successfully been used and we welcome newer grades with superior attributes in the next 100 years of the stainless steel sector." Said Mr B Narayan, Group President, Procurement & Projects , Reliance Industries Limited, who launched the Outokumpu's new product range brochure.

Source : Equity Bulls

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