Boulogne-Billancourt, France-based tubular producer Vallourec announced on February 15 that it will build a new small diameter rolling mill in Youngstown, Ohio, US to support the long-term development of gas production in the US which is driving increased demand for small diameter OCTG tubes.
According to a company press release, the new mill, which will initially produce 350,000 mt of seamless pipes per year, will eventually reach an annual nominal capacity of 500,000 mt. The project also includes heat treatment and threading facilities.
The investment will amount to $650 million, with operations expected to start by the fourth quarter of 2011. The project will create around 350 new direct jobs.