In a March 29 statement, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) stated Pittsburgh-based US Steel is considering a multi-million dollar investment at two Ohio facilities: $400 million is being considered for designation to an unnamed plant, while another $250 million is being considered for investment in Lorain Tubular Operations. The latter would be due to increased demand for seamless tube related to energy exploration products.
Lorain Tubular Operations, located approximately 30 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio, manufactures seamless pipe for customers in the construction and oil and gas exploration and production industries. The facility has an annual production capability of 780,000 net tons, and major product lines include oil country tubing, casing and drill pipe; standard and line pipe; and coupling stock. The facility consists of two pipe mills, No.3 and No. 4. The No. 3 pipe mill manufactures seamless pipe with outside diameters from 10.75 inches to 26 inches, while the No. 4 mill produces seamless pipe with outside diameters from 1.9 inches to 4.5 inches.
The other $400 million investment could potentially be utilized to fund a steel-coating line, according to a March 30 report by The Morning Journal. The projects are currently being reviewed by environmental regulators.