We all know the importance of crude oil. Crude oil is what powers the modern world. From power generation to fuel generation, you will find crude oil in almost every aspect of life. Besides, multiple industries rely on crude oil.
Crude oil extraction is a complex procedure. Hence, you require a reliable and safe piping solution to extract crude oil. For example, seamless tubes are the ideal tubing solution that you can use for the extraction of crude oil.
Formerly, the crude oil industry relied on other types of pipes. For instance, they chose welded or forged pipes to extract crude oil. However, once the industry realized the advantages of seamless piping solutions, they have not used any other piping solution. Let us find out the applications of seamless tubing solutions in crude oil extraction.
What seamless tubing solution is:
Before we explore the applications of seamless tubing and piping systems, let us understand what these piping solutions are. The name ‘seamless’ speaks for itself when we use it in naming the pipes and tubes. These tubes and pipes are cylindrical hollow tubular metal bars.
However, they differ from any other type of pipe in their structure. The pipes do not have any seams or welded joints. Seamless tube manufacturers choose superior stainless or carbon steel billets to build these pipes. They heat the billets to the extent that these become easy to pierce using a mandrel.
To achieve accurate dimensions and wall thicknesses, pipe fabricators use rolling machines, heat treatment, cold drawing processes, etc. Since these pipes do not have any joints, they are more reliable than the ones that have joints. Joints make piping solutions weak.
Besides, welded joints can crack and cause the crude oil to leak. Crude oil has harmful chemicals that can cause environmental damage if it leaks. Hence, seamless pipes and tubes are ideal for extracting crude oil.
Applications of seamless piping solutions in crude oil extraction:
You are partially correct if you think that stainless steel seamless tubes are only responsible for extracting and transporting fluids. Indeed, the crude oil extraction industry transports crude oil using seamless tubing solutions. However, there are also some other uses for these pipes and tubes. We will explore those as well.
Also Read: Why Square Seamless Tubes Are Becoming Popular
Wall casings and liners:
The first step of crude oil extraction is to construct a well through which extractors can initiate the drilling process. A well through which they will extract oil must be strong enough to withstand the pressure. Also, since they will dig the well underground, they need to stop the well wall from collapsing.
Oil extractors use seamless tubing solutions to line the well and create a well casing. The pipes ensure that crude oil does not seep through any cracks into the soil. In addition, seamless tubes can also resist the pressure the crude oil extraction process involves. Their corrosion resistance prevents the material from decaying even when exposed to crude oil.
Production tubing:
Most of you may already have an idea about production tubing. The crude oil extractors use production tubing to transport crude oil. They need a tubing solution with a smooth surface finish since they transfer the oil from its reservoir to the surface. What can be more apt than seamless tubing solutions?
The smooth inner surface allows an uninterrupted flow of oil. As a result, there is hardly any loss of crude oil in the extraction process. Besides, since stainless steel seamless tubes do not have any joints, they do not store oil, which can cause the pipes to decay.
Downhole equipment:
apart from creating well casing and transportation pipes, pipe suppliers also produce downhole equipment from seamless piping solutions. Crude oil extractors can use these tools to produce drill pipes that they use to drill underground. They need drill pipes that can withstand the constant underground pressure. Hence, they choose seamless pipes.
On the other hand, they also use the pieces of equipment for their rotational force, which is only achievable by using seamless pipes. They need these pipes to have torque apart from strength, which they already have. The pipes last in trying environments because of their advantages, such as corrosion resistance, robustness, and seamlessness.
The final thoughts:
There is no doubt that seamless tube manufacturers have brought a revolution in the crude oil extraction industry. Prior to using seamless pipes and tubes, the industry relied on welded and forged pipes. While those pipes got the job done, extractors needed to change the pipes and tubes constantly. They would store crude oil in their welded edges. As a result, the pipes would start to develop scaling and pitting.
However, since the time crude oil extractors started implementing seamless pipes and tubes, they do not need to spend on replacing and repairing the tubes as often. The seamless design of the tubes offers a smooth flow of fluids. On the other hand, their robustness makes them ideal for underground well casing and drilling. Crude oil extractors even rely on tools that have seamless pipes because of how they optimize crude oil extraction.
