Through both the experts’ and operators’ joint and unremitting endeavor, Baosteel has supplied qualified pipes to the Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) Project. So far, a total of 6 shipments of UOE pipes comprising three different wall thicknesses, over 100km, have been shipped to the Customer in Australia.
It signals Baosteel’s move from a domestic supplier within the Chinese market to a Tier 1 international supplier of high grade line pipe.
In March this year, Baosteel won the bid to supply 207,000 tons of high grade X70 steel line pipe, 550 km long, to the QCLNG Project in Australia, a priority development by QGC Pty Limited – a BG Group business.
As this is the largest amount of steel ever supplied by Baosteel to a single pipeline international project and its specification is very demanding, Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. paid high attention to the order and considers it as a good opportunity to advance to international market and promote Baosteel’s UOE pipes.
Baosteel set up an R & D team, including experts and engineers from their various departments, and established a complete program for pipe supply to guarantee both the technique and capacity for all procedures. QGC has given profound attention to the line pipe and the Customer’s inspection team includes experts for inspection, safety and technique to support and supervise the total process from steel making to coating.
Baosteel was assisted by and with the close cooperation of the Customer’s experts, comprehensive manufacture process and technical program.
Since June, Baosteel has been applying their consistent management system, and their steel making plant, heavy plate mill and UOE mill have organized their production and quality control strictly observing the international code requirements.
Since August, all the requirements have been met relative to the macro-etch grading of 300mm slab, finishing rolling temperature, and CPK control of final cooling temperature as well as the mechanical testing results of pipes, such as tensile strength, Charpy test and DWTT.
On August 25, the first shipment loaded with 12000 tons of UOE pipes sailed from Baosteel wharf to Australia.
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Source: Baosteel, December 27, 2010;