Industry Applications

Allianz Steel Group

Duplex Stainless Tubes,Nickel Alloy Tubes,Superalloy Tubes

Reference for SS&Alloy Pipe Applications in the Petroleum Industry

Date:2025-08-31

Facility and equipment type	Application Scenario	Application environment requirements	Recommended materials/model	Expected service life	Key performance requirements
Oil Well Tubular Goods	Downhole tubing, casing, and drill pipe	200°CAbove, high pressure, CO₂/H₂S/Cl⁻Corrosive media	13Cr martensitic steel, SUP13Cr, 22Cr/25Cr dual-phase steel, nickel-based alloy	5-15 years (depending on the corrosion environment)	ResistanceCO₂/H₂SCorrosion, stress corrosion cracking resistance, high strength
Oil pipelines	Oilfield internal gathering and transportation pipelines	100°C,Crude oil containing wax, sand, water, mild corrosion	304/304L, 316/316L	15-25 years	Wear resistance, crude oil corrosion resistance, good weldability
Water injection pipe	Secondary oil recovery water injection system	high pressure (Can be exceeded10MPa), the water temperature changes greatly, and the water contains a large amount of chloride ions and microorganisms	316L, 2205 duplex steel	15-20 years	Resistant to chloride ion pitting, anti-microbial corrosion, and strong pressure bearing capacity
Process pipelines	Refinery reaction unit, heating furnace	300°C-900°C, high pressure, sulfur-containing oil and high concentration hydrogen environment	321 (1Cr18Ni9Ti), 347H, 310S	10-20 years	High temperature oxidation resistance, hydrogen corrosion resistance, creep resistance, high temperature strength
Heat exchanger	Coolers, condensers, preheaters	Drastic temperature changes, large pressure difference between tube and shell, water vapor medium (may contain chloride ions)	316L, 317L, 904L	10-15 years (regular cleaning required)	Resistant to crevice corrosion and pitting corrosion, good thermal conductivity, and thermal fatigue resistance
Heating furnace tube	Tubular heating furnace	High temperature flame scouring, high temperature and high pressure medium (oil, steam) in the pipe	321, 347H, 310S	8-12 years (affected by the operating cycle)	High temperature oxidation resistance, carburization resistance, high temperature strength
Long-distance oil and gas pipelines	Cross-border and cross-regional crude oil/natural gas transportation	The soil and atmospheric erosion environment faced by the pipeline, the corrosive medium in the conveyed fluid, such asCl⁻/H₂S	X52-X80Pipeline steel (mainly non-stainless steel), lining316Lor duplex steel composite pipe	20-30 years	General corrosion resistance, high strength, high toughness, good weldability
LNG Storage tanks and pipelines	LNG receiving station, liquefaction plant	Ultra low temperature (-162°C)	304L, 316L, 9%Nisteel	More than 25 years	Ultra-low temperature toughness, good welding performance, low temperature dimensional stability
Oil and gas transfer pumps	Oil feed pump, booster pump, submersible pump	Ultra-high pressure, high-pressure fluid flushing, high temperature and corrosive fluid	316L, 17-4PH (630)	10-15 years	Abrasion resistance, high strength and hardness, medium corrosion resistance
Offshore platform	Seawater injection system, fire protection system	Seawater environment (highCl⁻), marine atmospheric corrosion	2205Duplex steel, 2507Super Duplex Steel	20-25 years	Excellent resistance to chloride ion pitting, stress corrosion cracking, high strength
Subsea pipelines	Subsea oil and gas transportation	Deep sea high pressure, low temperature, seawater corrosion	2507Super Duplex Steel , nickel-based alloys (such as inconel625)	20-30 years (design life)	Ultra-high strength, pressure resistance, general corrosion resistance, local corrosion resistance, and fatigue resistance

Material selection in the oil industry is extremely complex, prioritizing safety over cost-effectiveness. The above recommendations represent general considerations. Specific projects require strict adherence to design specifications and a detailed corrosion assessment.
1. Corrosive media is the primary consideration
CO₂ corrosion: 13Cr martensitic stainless steel is the primary choice. For harsh environments, super 13Cr or duplex steel is recommended.
H₂S corrosion (acid corrosion): Sensitive to sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC), material hardness must be strictly controlled, and duplex steel or nickel-based alloys with improved SSCC resistance should be considered.
Cl⁻ ions: Highly susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion. 316L is an entry-level choice, while more demanding environments require steels with higher molybdenum content or duplex steel.
2. For high-temperature oxidizing/sulfiding environments
Austenitic stainless steels with high chromium or silicon content (such as 310S) are preferred.
3. Economic considerations
Consider the entire lifecycle cost, while meeting process requirements and safe lifespan. Sometimes, higher-grade materials (such as duplex steel) with a higher initial investment can result in lower overall costs due to reduced maintenance and longer lifespan.
4. Certification and Standards
Materials used in the oil and gas industry must comply with strict international and industry standards (such as API 5CT, API 5L, NACE MR0175/ISO 15156, etc.).