API 5L Line Pipe

API 5L Line Pipe Grades

The API 5L specification covers seamless and welded pipes to convey oil, gas, water in the natural oil & gas and petrochemical industries. API 5L line pipes are available in multiple carbon steel grades, designated as Grade B, X42, X46, X52, X56, X60, X70, X80, and in PSL1 or PSL2 specification levels.

API 5L PSL1 VS. API 5L PSL2

API 5L PSL1 and PSL2 are two specification levels that differ in terms of chemical composition and test requirements. The differences between PSL1 and PSL2 are outlined in the two tables below:

PSL GRADE	C, a	Mn a	P	S	Si	V	Nb	Ti	Other	CEIIW	CEpcm
1	0.24	1.4	#####	######	0.45	0.1	0.05	0.04	b,c	0.043	0.025
2	0.28	1.4	0.03	0.03	–	b	b	b	–	–	–

Test Requirement	API 5L PSL1	API 5L PSL2
Charpy test	None required	Required for all grades
Seamless NDT test	Only if purchaser specifies SR4	SR4 mandatory
Certification	Certificates when specified per SR15	Certificates (SR 15.1) mandatory
Traceability	Traceable only until all tests are passed, unless SR15 is specified	Traceable after completion of tests (SR 15.2) mandatory
Hydrostatic Test	Required	Required

Introduction to Seamless Steel Pipe Manufacturing

How are seamless steel pipes made? In general, there are three steps involved in making a seamless steel pipe. First is to convert the raw material into workable form. Next, to form the shape of the pipe in a production line. Third, the pipe is cut and modified to meet the customer’s needs.

In the first step, the round billet is heated to a certain degree in a rotary hearth furnace, then got transferred to the piercing mill to be pierced through the center to form a hollow shell. During the next step, the hollow shell will be rolled by a mandrel mill to reduce the outside diameter and wall thickness which could elongate the pipe. In the stretching mill, the elongated tube will be reheated and further reduced to specified dimensions. At last, the pipe will be thoroughly quenched, cut, and subjected to final inspection.

API 5L PIPE PSL1 Chemical and Mechanical Properties

API 5L PIPE PSL1		Chemical Composition				Mechanical Property
		C (Max)	Mn (Max)	P (Max)	S (Max)	TENSILE ( Min )		YIELD ( Min )
						Psi X 1000	Mpa	Psi X 1000	Mpa
Grade A25	CL I	0.21	0.6	0.03	0.03	45	310	25	172
	CL II	0.21	0.6	0.03	0.03
Grade A		0.22	0.9	0.03	0.03	48	331	30	207
Grade B		0.26	1.2	0.03	0.03	60	414	35	241
Grade X42		0.26	1.3	0.03	0.03	60	414	42	290
Grade X46		0.26	1.4	0.03	0.03	63	434	46	317
Grade X52		0.26	1.4	0.03	0.03	66	455	52	359
Grade X56		0.26	1.4	0.03	0.03	71	490	56	386
Grade X60		0.26	1.4	0.03	0.03	75	517	60	414
Grade X65		0.26	1.45	0.03	0.03	77	531	65	448
Grade X70		0.26	1.65	0.03	0.03	82	565	70	483

API 5L PIPE

Chemical Composition

Mechanical Property

PSL2

C

Mn

P

S

Tensile

Yield

C. E. IMPACT ENERGY

(Max)

(Max)

(Max)

(Max)

Psi x 1000

Mpa

Psi x 1000

Mpa

PCM

IIW

J

FT/LB

Grade B

0.22

1.2

0.025

0.015

60 – 110

414 – 758

35 – 65

241 – 448

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X42

0.22

1.3

0.025

0.015

60 – 110

414 – 758

42 – 72

290 – 496

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X46

0.22

1.4

0.025

0.015

63 – 110

434 – 758

46 – 76

317 – 524

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X52

0.22

1.4

0.025

0.015

66 – 110

455 – 758

52 – 77

359 – 531

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X56

0.22

1.4

0.025

0.015

71 – 110

490 – 758

56 – 79

386 – 544

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X60

0.22

1.4

0.025

0.015

75 – 110

517 – 758

60 – 82

414 – 565

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X65

0.22

1.45

0.025

0.015

77 – 110

531 – 758

65 – 82

448 – 565

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X70

0.22

1.65

0.025

0.015

82 – 110

565 – 758

70 – 82

483 – 565

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30

Grade X80

0.22

1.9

0.025

0.015

90 – 120

621 – 827

80 – 102

552 – 705

0.25

0.43

T/L 27/41

T/L 20/30