TPi January 2020

Business & market news

Tata Steel secures line pipe contract for North Sea Field development

Steel producer Tata Steel has secured a multi-million pound contract to provide high frequency induction (HFI) line pipe for a gas condensate field in the Central North Sea. Under the scope of work, Tata Steel has been commissioned to provide more than 55km of 18" carrier pipe for a pipe- in-pipe system on the field. The line pipe will be manufactured at Tata Steel’s 20" mill in Hartlepool, UK. Barry Rust, marketing manager, energy and sustainability, said: “We have secured eight projects in the North Sea in just over a year and the order book for 2020 is healthy too, which is indicative of the returning optimism in the region. “We have also made a significant investment in our steel-making capabilities. At our Hartlepool 20" mill, our main line pipe mill, we have enhanced laser metrology to help our clients improve their offshore productivity as well as investments in less physical aspects such as data analytics, to drive both product capability and our understanding of performance. “While we provide a wide range of steel products and services, our HFI welded

Line pipe from Tata Steel

line pipes, available in diameters from two to 20" and strength grades up to API 5L X70, are answering the modern industry’s demands for a cost-effective solution to seamless pipe.” Tata Steel has supplied more than one million tonnes of pipeline for oil and gas projects in the North Sea over 24 years, including in excess of 500,000m of reel installed pipe and more than £250mn invested in subcontracts for North Sea projects. Tata Steel www.tatasteeleurope.com BPF pipes group produces guide to branch connections for water and gas mains

working space required is small, so excavation works can be minimised. The guidance is available at: www.bpfpipesgroup.com and contact details for BPF Pipes Group members who manufacture and supply branch connections for water and gas applications can be found at the same location. BPF Pipes Group www.bpfpipesgroup.com Severn Trent Water www.stwater.co.uk

highlights a jointing method that is very efficient and minimises disruption to customers. By making technically sound choices, we will go a long way towards ensuring we have a leak-proof network for future generations.” The guidance combines best technical practice with the need to maintain normal services to customers during operations on live distribution mains.  Installing a branch connection and tapping into the main under pressure eliminates the need for squeeze-off or flow-stopping, and the

BPF Pipes has published new guidance on making effective branch connections in live water and gas mains. The guidance comes as a direct response to a request from water companies working with the Plastic Pipes Liaison Group, which is a collaboration between the BPF Pipes Group and Water UK and is part of a growing resource provided by the BPF Pipes Group to maximise the benefits of polyethylene piping systems for water and gas mains. Clive Ingram, of Severn Trent Water, said: “This guidance

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January 2020 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL