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TMK launches production of super-chrome steel VIT

TMK, a leading global manufacturer of tubular products for the oil and gas industry, has shipped the first pilot batch of vacuum insulated tubing (VIT) made of 13CrS steel (super-chrome steel) for Gazprom’s Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field on the Yamal peninsula. The quantity is about 500 running meters.

VIT are tubes with increased thermal insulation properties, intended for operation as the upper section of the tubing string in oil and gas fields in the Far North. The VIT structure is a prefabricated structure formed by two tubes, one of which is placed in the other. A multilayer screen insulation is located in the annular space and a deep vacuum is created to reduce heat loss. It helps provide the necessary thermophysical characteristics and prevent thawing of permafrost soils around the well, which can lead to the curvature of its shaft.

For the first time in Russia, the production of VIT was mastered in 2011 at the Sinarsky Pipe Plant (SinTZ), the part of TMK, under the Technical Cooperation Program between TMK and Gazprom for 2012-2015. Specialists from the sectoral research institute RosNITI, TMK-Premium Service and Gazprom VNIIGAZ took an active part in the project. The first pilot batch of VIT was shipped to Gazprom’s Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field in early 2012, where it was successfully tested and run into the well.

In the first quarter of 2012, SinTZ began work on mastering the production of VIT made of 13CrS steel, which is highly resistant to aggressive environments. Part of the production operations was carried out in cooperation with TMK-INOX. The run of new products into the wells of the Bovanenkovo field will be accompanied by specialists from TMK-Premium Service.

 “When used in northern fields development, VIT contribute to greater energy efficiency and safety while reducing environmental impact and increasing wells’ life. The development and production of the new tubing is a good example of replacing imported products with those made domestically: previously, Russia had all these pipes supplied from abroad. Today, TMK is the only Russian company that has the technology in place to produce super-chrome steel VIT,” said Alexander Shiryaev, the Company’s CEO.