Why is carbon steel the best for pipe lines?

A typical pipeline carries several million barrels of oil or gas a day. Because pipeline operators prioritize the safe operation of their pipelines, most people are not even aware of their presence. Therefore, it is naturally obvious that a pipeline would be made out of the best material for the job, and that material is usually carbon steel. When you visit an oil pumping operation, there is a huge chance that everything from the injector to the line pipe that is carrying the oil itself, is made out of carbon steel. But why is that so? What are the unique properties of carbon steel, specifically in the use of pipes? Carbon steel has many unique properties that make it the top choice in the construction of modern pipelines around the world.

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Generally speaking, carbon steel is chosen as a material primarily because of three properties: resistance to corrosion, able to withstand high pressures, and it is very easy to solder this type of material. In short, carbon steel pipelines are best in the classes of safety, operations, and construction. And it is also extremely cost-effective to boot.


A pipeline is usually made out of carbon steel because it is easy to solder, thus making it very cost effective. A carbon steel pipe can also be used to upgrade an existing pipeline as well. Manufacturers also construct their carbon steel pipes to fit old standards, which also aids in its cost-effective properties.


A pipeline also needs to withstand high amounts of pressure. After all, millions of tons of barrels of oil are pumped through it at a fast rate, every day. The slurry from the material pumped into the ground is also pumped in at extremely high pressure as well. Carbon steel is a very good material to withstand that pressure and also extreme temperature to boot. This is another reason why carbon steel is a practical choice for pipeline construction and in industrial use in general.


And since carbon steel is also highly resistant to corrosion, this makes it ideal for pipelines as well. It does not have to be serviced regularly, in fact, it can be used for a lifetime as long as it is maintained in a proper manner. Carbon steel pipes are regularly tested, and they have been shown to be the most resistant to rust, corrosion from oil and a whole lot of other properties as well. In an industrial setting, wherein the pipeline could be exposed to a lot of wear and tear this is very crucial. If a single hole appears in your line pipe, then that could be disastrous. The use of carbon steel pipes could prevent that issue from arising.


Modern pipelines are built with the utmost precision and care by professionals around the world. And the material that those professionals choose to build their pipelines with is carbon steel. After reading this article, it should be apparent why that is so. So the next time you are wondering what all of those pipelines are made out of, you now know that the answer is carbon steel!