Guide to Metals, Steel and Alloys in Oil & Gas Industry
03.09.2020
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Metals represent more than 60% of Oil & Gas industry spending and present almost in every step of the industry value chain. There are a number of different types of metals used in the Oil & Gas industry. Here is a quick guide and all-you-need-to-know summary.
STAINLESS STEEL
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Type of iron steel with at least 10.5% of chromium that create a layer commonly called “passive layer” to provide protection against corrosion. Other metals, such as nickel and molybdenum might be present, to enhance corrosion-resistance properties. |
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DUPLEX STAINLESS STEEL
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Steel material consisting of Austenitic (most common stainless steel) and Ferritic (magnetic stainless steel with less than 0.10% of carbon) dual microstructure. Duplex stainless steel is very strong with high corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking properties. Duplex stainless steel has less nickel and molybdenum than other alloys with corrosion resistance properties. Hence, it could be a better alternative at times of high prices for nickel and chrome. In addition, Duplex Stainless Steel is more price stable. |
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CARBON STEEL
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Iron steel with less than 2 % of carbon content and a small composition of manganese, phosphorus, sulfur and silicon. Carbon steel is known to be very strong with high resistance to wearing, and the most produced material of all steel types. The higher the carbon content, the harder it is to weld and machine it. Carbon steel could be Low, Medium, High and Very High. All carbon steel is susceptible to corrosion. Chemical additives and coating help to control corrosion. | The most widely used in the Oil and Gas industry. Applications include:
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The most widely used type of steel |
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FORGED STEEL & METALS
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| End product of a steel refinement process, whereby forces applied to achieve desired shape and strength. There are different types of forging techniques, namely: Impression Die Forging, Cold Forging, Open Die Forging, Seamless Rolled Ring Forging and Press Forging. |
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ENGINEERED STEEL
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Nickel, chromium, molybdenum or carbon containing steel. It is also known as special bar quality (SBQ) steel. Mainly used where, moving parts with safety / reliability risks |
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NICKEL ( scarce & declining resource metal)
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Mainly used as an additional component to produce corrosion-resistant alloys. |
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CHROMIUM ( scarce & declining resource metal)
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Used to produce stainless steel and corrosion-resistant alloys. Usage of chromium for the last several years increased significantly. There are various grades of chromium-based steel products and could range from Cr13 till Cr35. |
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MOLYBDENUM ( Moly)
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Added to steel in order to increase the strength of steel, enhance corrosion resistance qualities and ensure that steel can be used in extremely high-temperature environments. |
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Engineering & Stainless steel |
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INCONEL
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications |
| Inconel alloy is a corrosion-resistant superalloy and is a trademark of Special Metals Corporation (PCC Energy Group). Inconel is a nickel ( up to 70%) -chromium ( up to 24%) based alloy that used in high temperature, corrosion and pitting environments, acid applications, exposure to high mechanical stress and sea water. There are a number of various grades of Inconel, but common grades in the Oil & Gas industry are 718, 628, 625,825, and 945. For wellhead applications, Inconel 718 (solid) Inconel 625 (as cladding) are commonly used. Inconel 718 is also used for completion equipment in sour applications. Inconel alloys are very hard to machine and weld. Machining of forged Inconel is even more time-consuming process. |
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INCOLOY
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications |
| Incoloy alloy is a corrosion-resistant super alloy and is a trademark of Special Metals Corporation (PCC Energy Group) Incoloy is a more cost-effective alternative to Inconel, as it has a higher composition of ferrous (iron). Incoloy alloys are best suited for sour gas, high chloride, process piping and aqueous environments, such as seawater and brine. Incoloy 925, 625, 945 and 945X are commonly used in Oil & Gas applications Incoloy 945 and 945X as the most recently developed alloys and are known to be one of the best corrosion resistance alloys available and used in Oil & Gas Industry only. |
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MONEL
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications |
| Monel is a corrosion-resistant super alloy and is a trademark of Special Metals Corporation (PCC Energy Group). Monel is a nickel (avr 60%) and cooper (avr 30%) based alloy and used in many applications. Common grades in the Oil & Gas Industry are K500 and 400. Monel K500 is used in completion equipment with high corrosion resistance and higher strength requirements. |
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HASTELLOY
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications |
| Hastelloy is a corrosion/oxidation and erosion resistant nickel-molybdenum alloy produced by Haynes International Inc. In addition, Hastelloy has high mechanical strength, in particular at high temperatures. Hastelloy is a member of supper alloys, of which Incoloy is a member as well. Although there are several common characteristics shared between two alloys, yet there are differences that are worth to be aware of such as weldability and suitability for various applications. There are several types of Hastelloy, such as HastelloyB2, HastelloyS, HastelloyC, HastelloyW, HastelloyC276, HastelloyX and HastelloyN and all have its own applications with some degree of commonality. Peteochemical is a major user of Hastelloy in the Oil & Gas Industry. |
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TITANIUM
| Description | Oil & Gas Applications | Other Applications | Major Producers | Major Companies |
| Titanium is a very light but strong metal with high corrosion-resistant qualities |
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