Steels for Oilwell Casing and Tubing - Past, Present and Future

Abstract

THOMAS, P.D., ASIATIC PETROLEUM CORP., NEW YORK, N.Y.As the result of the continuing trend to deeper wells and higher pressures, the oil industry has regularly required casing and tubing with higher physical properties and better surface quality, while retaining sufficient ductility to meet the increasingly severe service conditions. This has caused the mills to develop new grades of steel, improved heat treatments and equipment and, currently, new procedures utilizing more efficient methods for inspection of casing and tubing. Likewise, users have had to review and improve their field practices.The API Div. of Production Committee for the Standardization of Oil Country Tubular Goods has been alert to these changing and tightening requirements and to future developments reflecting the still continuing trend to deeper wells and higher pressures, with its related increase in stringency of specifications for oil country tubular materials.