Products Description
X70 PSL2 3LPE anti-corrosion steel pipe belongs to the PSL2 grade product in the API 5L standard, where "X" represents pipeline steel and "70" indicates a minimum yield strength of 70 ksi (approximately 483 MPa). Compared with X70 PSL1 steel, X70 PSL2 steel pipe, after quenching and tempering, has superior low-temperature toughness and crack propagation resistance, making it particularly suitable for the construction needs of pipelines in extremely cold regions or deep seas.
50-Year Service Life: 3LPE Coated X70 PSL2 Pipes for Harsh Soil & Marine Environments
Technical Specification of API 5L X70 PSL2 Line pipe for oil and gas
| Property | API 5L X70 PSL2 Specifications |
| Yield Strength | 485 - 635 MPa (70,300 - 92,100 psi) |
| Tensile Strength | 570 - 760 MPa (82,700 - 110,200 psi) |
| Coating Standard | DIN 30670 / ISO 21809-1 (3LPE) |
| Impact Testing | Mandatory Charpy V-Notch @ 0°C or -10°C |
| Dimensions | 2" to 48" (Seamless & LSAW) |
Main Differences Between 3PE and FBE Coatings for X70 PSL2 Line Pipe
| Characteristic | 3PE (3-Layer Polyethylene) | FBE (Fusion Bonded Epoxy) |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Three layers: FBE powder + adhesive + PE outer layer | Single layer: Pure epoxy powder coating |
| Mechanical Resistance | Excellent: Resistant to scratches, impacts, and dragging | Moderate: Brittle, prone to damage during handling |
| Corrosion Life | 30–50 years: Dual protection with superior anti-permeation | 20–30 years: Chemical corrosion protection only |
| Suitable Environment | Harsh terrain: Gobi, mountainous areas, rock backfill zones | General conditions: Soft soil, flat seabed |
| Field Joint Difficulty | High: Complex 3PE field joint requires heat-shrink sleeves | Low: Easier field joint application |
| Operating Temperature | Typically ≤ 70°C (special types up to 80°C) | Can withstand higher temperatures (up to 100°C) |
| Cost | Higher (multi-layer process) | Lower (single-layer spray process) |
Test and inspection of API 5L X70 PSL2 3PE Pipeline
1. Charpy V-notch (CVN) Impact Test
-Measures the microscopic toughness index of "absorbed energy"
Test Principle: A standard-sized specimen (typically 10mm x 10mm x 55mm) is cut from a steel pipe, with a V-shaped notch cut in the middle. The testing machine uses a heavy pendulum to break the specimen. The energy absorbed by the specimen during fracture (unit: Joules J) is calculated by the difference in the height of the pendulum's return.
Why test it?
It simulates the pipe's ability to resist crack initiation when subjected to a sudden impact force.
Key points in API 5L:
PSL2 Mandatory Requirement: Unlike PSL1, PSL2 requires the CVN test.
Temperature Control: Typically conducted at 0°C or lower (e.g., -10°C, -20°C). This is crucial for high-altitude regions in South America or deep-sea projects, as steel becomes brittle at low temperatures.
2. DWTT (Drop Weight Tear Test)
-A macroscopic fracture performance indicator for measuring crack arrest capability
Test Principle: DWTT uses a much larger specimen than the Charpy test (typically full wall thickness, approximately 300mm in length). The testing machine drops a hammer weighing several hundred kilograms or even tons from a height, directly breaking the notched specimen.
Why test it?
DWTT primarily observes the percentage of shear area on the fracture surface. Its core purpose is to assess whether the pipe material can prevent large-scale crack propagation after fracture.
In simple terms: If a pipe bursts, a pipe that meets the DWTT standard will quickly stop cracking; if it doesn't, the crack may tear for kilometers like a zipper (i.e., "long-distance tear").
Key points in API 5L: Typically for large-diameter (≥NPS 16) and high-pressure gas transmission pipelines.
The PSL2 standard typically requires that, at a specified temperature, the average shear area of the fracture surface reaches more than 85% (representing ductile fracture).
packaging and shipping of API 5L X70 PSL2 3LPE pipe
3PE Coating Full Body Protection:
- Pre-installed Nylon Slings: High-strength nylon slings are pre-installed on each pipe or bundle. This ensures that port workers in South America do not need to use steel wire ropes to directly contact the pipe body during unloading, preventing damage to the 3PE layer from the outset.
- Rubber Gaskets/Straw Rope Wrapping: Thick rubber gaskets or multiple layers of straw rope are wrapped around the pipe at three-thirds of the sea level to prevent pipe-to-pipe friction caused by swaying within the ship's hold.
- Double End Protection: Heavy-duty Steel-Plastic Composite Protectors: For X70 high-grade steel pipes, the beveling is crucial. We strictly prohibit the use of cheap plastic caps, replacing them with heavy-duty protectors reinforced with steel rings to ensure they can withstand stacking pressures of several tons without deformation.
- Anti-rust Varnish: The exposed metal portions (approximately 50mm-100mm) at both ends of the 3PE pipe must be coated with a high-grade environmentally friendly varnish to prevent corrosion from 50 days of salt spray across the Atlantic.
Logistics Excellence:
- Vessel Selection: Under-Deck Stowage: Install the X70 3PE pipe in the bilge of the bulk carrier, not on deck (On-Deck). This avoids direct equatorial UV radiation (to prevent PE layer aging) and direct wave erosion.
- Dunnage & Lashing: ISPM 15 Fumigated Timber. Soft Contact Reinforcement: All wire bindings must be padded with recycled rubber or thick cardboard to achieve "zero metal contact".
Stock Ready: API 5L X70 PSL2 + 3LPE Coating for immediate shipment to Santos and Georgetown. Get a VIP quote within 12 hours.
API 5L X70 PSL2 3PE Anti-corrosion Pipe Cases
1. China-Kazakhstan East Route Natural Gas Pipeline
Public reports indicate that this project used over 200 kilometers of Φ1422mm×30.8mm X70 psl2 straight seam welded pipe, maintaining excellent crack arrest performance even at -40℃. The steel pipe employs UOE forming + internal coating and external coating process, achieving a transmission pressure of 12MPa.
2. Deep-Sea Oil and Gas Development
A South China Sea gas field project used X70 psl2 straight seam pipe as riser. Through optimized Ni-Cu-Mo alloy system design, it met the S-N curve fatigue resistance requirements at a water depth of 1500 meters. It is worth noting that the subsea pipeline required additional full-scale burst testing for verification.
3. Polar Pipeline Construction
In the Alaska oil pipeline upgrade project, X70 psl2 welded pipes, by adding 0.02% Ti element to inhibit austenite grain growth, stabilized the CVN impact energy at -60℃ at over 240J.
FAQ
API 5L X70 is a high carbon version pipe grade that has good corrosive properties in several atmospheres. API 5L x70, which has solid chemical properties, contains carbon up to 0.22-0.28 per cent, manganese up to 1-1.2 per cent, phosphorus up to 0.03 per cent, sulphur, nickel, chromium, and copper in precise amounts.
What is the difference between API 5L X65 and X70?
Below is a comparison of the weldability of API 5L X65 and X70 steels. API 5L X65: Minimum yield strength of 65,000 psi (448 MPa). API 5L X70: Minimum yield strength of 70,000 psi (483 MPa).
What is the tensile strength of X70?
Grade X70 means 70000 PSI minimum yield strength and 82000 PSI minimum ultimate tensile strength.
What is the carbon content of API 5L X70?
Carbon is the primary alloying element in steel and is responsible for enhancing its strength and hardness. In API 5L X70 steel, the carbon content typically ranges between 0.06% and 0.15%.
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