Development of High Strength Line Pipe for Arctic Applications

Abstract

The design of pipelines to transmit natural gas from the Mackenzie Delta and the Alaska North Slope to Alberta will place stringent new requirements on material performance. The necessity of transmitting large volumes of gas over long distances provides the impetus to increase operating pressures. In turn, the higher pressures require higher strength steels and/or greater pipe wall thickness. As well, Arctic construction in which the pipeline must traverse areas of continuous or discontinuous permafrost necessitates the use of low operating temperatures and strain-based designs. This presentation will highlight initial development of Grade 550 and Grade 690 line pipe for Arctic applications.

The design of pipelines to transmit natural gas from the Mackenzie Delta and the Alaska North Slope to Alberta will place stringent new requirements on material performance. The necessity of transmitting large volumes of gas over long distances provides the impetus to increase operating pressures. In turn, the higher pressures require higher strength steels and/or greater pipe wall thickness. As well, Arctic construction in which the pipeline must traverse areas of continuous or discontinuous permafrost necessitates the use of low operating temperatures and strain-based designs. This presentation will highlight initial development of Grade 550 and Grade 690 line pipe for Arctic applications.

La conception de pipelines pour la transmission du gaz naturel depuis le delta du Mackenzie et le Versant nord de l'Alaska vers l'Alberta va imposer de nouvelles exigences très rigoureuses quant à la performance des matériaux. La nécessité de transmettre de gros volumes de gaz sur de longues distances fournit l'impulsion pour l'augmentation des pressions de service. À leur tour, les pressions plus élevées nécessitent des aciers de plus hautes résistances et/ou des tuyaux à parois plus épaisses. En plus, la construction en Arctique, où le pipeline doit traverser des régions de pergélisol continu ou discontinu, nécessite l'utilisation de basses températures de service et des concepts basés sur la déformation. Cette présentation souligne le développement initial de tuyau d'oléoduc de nuance 550 et de nuance 690 pour utilisation dans l'Arctique.