There are more than 1,382,569 million miles of pipelines in the United States. These pipes are used to deliver tons of liquid petroleum and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas all year round. While most of these pipes are joined conventionally, there are instances where there is a need to use custom pipe fittings […]
There are a number of methods through which metal can be manipulated and formed into different shapes and two of these are forging and casting. With forging, metal is heated to just under its melting point and then hammered into the required shape. With casting, the metal is heated until it becomes liquid, and then […]
Oil wells generally present hostile environments with a lot of pressure, both internal and external, as well as high temperatures, corrosive media, and tons of tensile load. Care must therefore be taken to make sure that the oil well pipes are not damaged, as that can directly cause the abandonment of an oil well- a […]
The first hydrocarbon pipelines recorded in history were in China around 500 BC. They were made of bamboo. Since then, this technology has evolved dramatically. In the U.S., the first oil pipeline is believed to have been built in 1862 in Pennsylvania. Today, there are over 2.6 million miles of oil and gas pipelines across […]
Oil and gas plants are large, complex environments with thousands of miles of interconnected piping. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Organization estimates that there are 160,521 miles of liquid petroleum pipeline and 1,585,672 miles of natural gas pipeline in the United States. Pipe flanges are a critical part of the piping systems, interconnecting pipe […]
Branch connections bridge a larger pipe to a smaller pipe or another of equal size. Each branch connection serves a specific purpose, and it’s important to understand the function of each one. The proper connection will ensure the most efficient pipeline. They come in various sizes, types, and classes, and they are typically made out […]
A flange is a projecting rim or collar on a pipe for a pressure vessel. When used in combination with another flange, it is capable of sealing a pressure vessel or another pipe. This is a reliable way of connecting pipe or vessel systems. The four core-standards for flanges are: ANSI/ASME API – used for […]
Pipeline corrosion alone costs the U.S. economy more than $9 billion each year. There are four main types of corrosion for which oil and gas plants have to be on the lookout: weight loss corrosion, corrosion fatigue, galvanic corrosion caused by currents (which occur due to a mixture of metals), and stress corrosion (cracked pipes). […]
Along the Gulf Coast, there are over 100 major projects that will require flanges, piping, and various pipe fittings in the next five years. Understanding the types of joints, pipes, and flanges used in the oil and gas industry will prove critical in maintaining the proper level of safety on these projects, as well as […]
What are blind pipe flanges? Despite the fact that these pipe flanges are incredibly important for a wide variety of piping systems, many remain unaware of exactly how they work and what makes them unique. With that in mind, we’re exploring below a quick guide to blind pipe flanges — what they are, how they […]