Meeting the highest standards for
As requirements for meeting the oil and gas industry standards have become stricter , materials manufacturers need to acknowledge early changes in the industry and adapt .
By Marcus Hillbom
offshore oil and gas
The oil and gas offshore industry is often exposed to some of the most challenging working conditions in the world , so the materials used to support this sector must be manufactured to the highest industry standards . As products , processes , and materials for the offshore industry evolve , and the focus on safety and performance continues to increase , developing standards to mirror these advances is a continuous journey . Not long ago , meeting ASTM , EN-norm , and NORSOK standards was the critical benchmark . However , times have changed , and requirements have become even stricter . The everincreasing list of new standards and customer demands includes increased reduction ratio , tighter chemical specifications , and extra testing . In addition to meeting common offshore standards , operators now face additional testing requirements to certify materials for aggressive conditions . In recent years , significant new standards developed are influencing the manufacturing of bar materials for the oil and gas offshore market segment .
Setting the standards
Two such important examples of standards recently introduced are ISO 17781 and 17782 . These will essentially be extensions of existing NORSOK standards . ISO 17781 specifies quality control testing methods and test conditions for the characterisation of microstructure in relation to relevant properties in ferritic / austenitic ( duplex ) stainless steel components . These components are supplied in the solution annealed condition and fabrication welds in the as-welded condition . ISO 17782 establishes a procedure for verifying that the manufacturer of special materials for the petroleum , petrochemical and natural gas industries has sufficient competence and experience to manufacture materials in the required shapes and sizes with acceptable properties . At the end of last year , the NORSOK M-650 and M-630 standards were released in their final editions and will be replaced in the future by the previously mentioned ISO standards . Another significant standard , first released in 2016 , is IOGP S-563 for piping and valve
32 Valve World August 2022 www . valve-world . net