Glossary
ALLOY STEEL
Steel is considered an alloy when it contains alloying elements of at least 1.65% manganese, .60% copper, and .60% silicon.
ANNEALING
Heating to a temperature above or below the critical range, followed by controlled cooling to below the critical range. This process changes the metal’s microstructure. Depending on the process, this can harden or soften the metal, as well as remove stresses, and change other properties.
API
American Petroleum Institute. A trade association founded in 1919. Developed standardized testing of drill equipment. API licenses the use of its logo to companies willing to adhere to API minimum standards or specifications. Works closely with ISO
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
ASME
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM
American Society for Testing Materials
BARLOW’S FORMULA
An equation which shows the relationship of internal pressure to allowable stress, nominal thickness, and diameter.
BEND TEST
Tests used to determine ductility of steel subjected to bending.
BEVEL
The angle between the prepared edge of the end of a pipe and the plane perpendicular to the surface.
BILLET
A semifinished round or square solid that has been hot worked.
BRUSH ROLL & SPRAY
A cleaning process by which used or surplus pipe has the OD brushed to remove any scale, rolled in order to cover all surface area, and sprayed with a protective lacquer coating.
BURST TEST
A destructive test by which hydraulic pressure is used to determine actual yield strength.
CARBON STEEL
A metal alloy formed by combining iron and carbon.
CHARPY TEST
The method used to measure the amount of energy absorbed by a notched specimen during fracture as a result of an impact load.
COATING
The process of covering the steel with another material to protect against corrosion
COUPLING
Threaded sleeve used to connect two lengths of pipe
CONTINUOUS WELD
Method of pipe production in which the material is furnace welded in continuous lengths, and later cut to length. Normally seen for sizes ½” OD to 4” OD
CRA
Corrosion Resistant Alloys.
DRL
Double Random Length. 35 feet minimum average.
DRIFT
The measure of roundness or eccentricity of the inside wall of pipe
EDDY CURRENT TESTING
Nondestructive method of testing where eddy current flow is included in the tested object. Changes in flow of current are analyzed.
ERW
Electric Resistance Weld. Pipe manufactured by rolling steel into the desired tube size and welding the seam. Usually for sizes 2 3/8” OD to 22” OD
FLD
Full Length Drift.
FRACTURE TEST
A test by which a piece of metal is broken to examine the fracture and determine the crystalline structure or carbon content.
FULL BODY NORMALIZING
Heating the pipe past the critical point, and cooling at room temperature. This process helps create uniform hardness.
GALVANIZING
The process of coating iron or steel in a protective layer of zinc
GRADE
Used to identify the different types of steel based on carbon content or other properties.
HARDNESS
Resistance of a metal to plastic deformation, usually indentation. Sometimes refers to stiffness or temper.
HEAT ANALYSIS
The chemical analysis representative of a heat of steel, determined by analyzing a test sample obtained during the pouring of the steel.
HEAT TREATMENT
Combination of heating and cooling applied to metals or alloys in their solid state to create a desired property.
HIC TEST
Hydrogen Induced Cracking. Used to evaluate the resistance of pipeline and pressure vessel plate steel to cracking caused by hydrogen absorption from aqueous sulfide corrosion.
HIGH FREQUENCY WELDING
Welding technique used during ERW.
HYDROSTATIC TEST
Mill test where the pipe ends are sealed, and high pressure water is introduced at predetermined pressures.
ID
Internal diameter, the measured size of the only hole you should find in your pipe.
IMPACT TEST
Test to determine behavior of materials when subjected to high rates of loading, typically from bending, tension, or torsion.
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
Joint
A single piece of Pipe. Typically used as a substitute to Footage in reference to QTY.
KSI
Kilopounds per square inch. A measurement used to define Tensile and Yield strength, equivalent to 1,000 lbs. Example: N-80 grade tubing has 80 KSI minimum yield, 110 KSI max yield, and 100 KSI minimum tensile strength.
LINE PIPE
Manufactured for the conveyance of oil and gas in transmission lines, distribution main lines, and offshore pipeline systems.
MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION
Testing method which utilizes iron powder and electromagnetic current to detect cracks and other problems on or near the surface of ferromagnetic materials. Nondestructive.
MAOP
Maximum Allowable Operations Pressure.
METALLURGY
The science related to extraction of metals from ore and the adaptation and/or application of the metals.
MILL FINISH
Surface finish produced on sheet and plate steel, with characteristics of the ground finish on rolls used to fabrication
NDE
Non Destructive Examination.
NOMINAL
Standard pipe size designation
NORMALIZING
Heating material to at least 100f above the critical temperature and cooling over time at room temperature. This process recrystallizes and refines the grain structure, as well as provides uniformity of hardness to the product.
OCTG
Oil Country Tubular Goods.
OD
Outer Diameter. This is the first term generally used when describing pipe.
PE
Plain End. Pipe that has not yet been threaded.
PESC
Plain End Square Cut
PICKLING
The process by which surface oxide and scale is removed by an acid wash process. Sulfuric acid is typically used for carbon and low-alloy steels.
PILING
Steel, timber, or concrete piles set closely together to resist lateral pressure from land or water.
PLATE
Carbon steel plate or flat rolled finished products
PSI
Pounds per Square Inch. Used in measuring pressure.
PSL
Product Specification Level
PPF
Pounds Per Foot. A typical unit of measure to express the wall thickness and weight of a length of pipe. Pounds Per Foot is calculated as 10.69 * (OD – Wall Thickness) * Wall Thickness = PPF
QTY
Quantity.
QUENCHING
Heating the material and cooling rapidly in air or liquid to produce a desired crystalline structure.
RL
Random length
SC
Square Cut
SCALE
Iron oxide (rust) that builds up on the surface of steel
SCHEDULE
ANSI numbers used to define pipe wall thickness
SMLS
Seamless. Pipe which has been extruded from a billet, rather than rolled and ERW from a coiled sheet.
SMTS
Specified Minimum Tensile Strength
SMYS
Specified Minimum Yield Strength
SRL
Single Random Length
STENCIL
Identifying information painted onto the OD of pipe
STD
Standard
STRUCTURAL STEEL
Either mill new pipe that has been shaped to specification, or used OCTG which is still structurally sound and can be cut and welded to the desired shape.
SURFACE INSPECTION
Testing done to determine if the pipe has any external defects such as bad welds or burns.
TBE
Thread Both Ends
T&C
Threaded and Coupled
TENSILE STRENGTH
The value obtained by dividing the maximum load observed during tensile straining until breakage, by the specimen cross-sectional area prior to straining.
TOUGHNESS
The property of absorbing energy before fracturing
TRL
Triple Random Length
UT
Ultrasonic Testing. A nondestructive method of detecting, locating, and measuring both surface and subsurface defects in metals using high-frequency sound.
WALL
The thickness of the pipe body