Russian pipe producer Vyksa Steel Works (Vyksa), a part of Russia's United Metallurgical Company (OMK), has started production of new medium diameter pipes for oil and gas pipelines according to American standard API-5L, which are intended for sale to the export markets.
A trial batch of pipes with 508 mm (20″) diameter, 7.9 mm wall thickness and in the X60 strength category was produced in December 2007. In 2008, Vyksa plans to produce about 20,000 metric tons of pipes with 508 mm (20″) diameter and wall thickness of 9.8 mm. Also starting from May of 2008, Vyksa plans to start production of 406.4 mm (16″) diameter pipes.
The implementation of the current project required about Ruble 155 million ($6.32 million) in investment. The main equipment for the production of 508 mm diameter pipes was supplied and installed jointly by Vyksa's subsidiary VMZ-Techno and by German metallurgical equipment producer S+C MARKER GmbH. Meanwhile, the main equipment suppliers for the production of 406.4 mm diameter pipes are Moscow-based Electrostalskiy Plant for Heavy Machine-Building and S+C MARKER GmbH.
The introduction of the new pipes in Vyksa's production mix will allow the company to enter export markets which use measurement systems other than metric.