01/07/2024
API 5L is for use in conveying gas, water, and oil in the natural gas and oil industries, and covers seamless and welded steel line pipe.
The API SPEC 5L specification provides standards for pipe suitable for use in conveying gas, water, and oil in the natural gas and oil industries. The API SPEC 5L covers seamless and welded steel line pipe. It includes plain-end, threaded-end, and belled-end pipe, as well as through-the-flowline (TFL) pipe, and pipe with ends prepared for use with special couplings.
Pipe manufactured to ASTM 106 Grade A or B are not interchangable with API 5L. Requirements to API 5L X grades are more stringent; rolled grades are not acceptable and rework is not allowed. Moreover, particular attention is given to toughness and toughness tests for sour services and higher pressure & temperature classes.
Strength Levels & Desulphurization
Manganese sulphides are typical inclusions in all manganese alloyed steels. Because they tend to segregate resulting in reduced impact strength, sulphure content needs to be minimized. We specify maximum 0.007%.
API 5L Benefits & Applications
Gas, water and oil transportation - preferred in long pipelines due to inexpensiveness
Pipeline steel - resistance to crack propogation
Line Pipe / Sour Service Line Pipes
API 5L is a seamless pipe and welded carbon steel pipe material specification. API 5L pipes are widely used to transport oil, water, and gases in the pipeline industry. Depending on the strength, schedule, and service requirements API 5L pipes are manufactured in various grades and are suitable for both onshore and offshore applications.
API 5L pipes in the oil and gas, water, and petrochemical industries are available in two Product Specification Levels (PSL) depending on quality levels. The first one is PSL1 which provides a standard quality level. The other one PSL2 provides additional mandatory requirements in strength, chemical composition, NDT, or notch toughness.