Nippon Steel Receives Gas Pipe Order for Mediterranean Line

Nippon Steel Corporation announced on Monday the firm accepted the order of high strength UO pipes for deep-sea, welded and large sized steel pipes, for natural gas pipeline from Algeria to Spain at about 50,000 tonnes in cooperation with Mitsui Corporation. The pipeline will be laid deepest in the world and this is the first time that X70 grade UO pipes are adopted in super deep sea. The pipeline will be total 226 kilometers long. The construction starts in 2007 and will finish in the first half of 2009, which is expected to supply natural gas in mid 2009. Approximately 90,000 tonnes of UO pipes will be used for the project. Nippon Steel accepted 50,000 tonnes of X70 grade pipes, some of which will be laid in the deepest area. Main size is 24 inch external diameter and less than 30 millimeters thick. Nippon Steel produces the pipes at Kimitsu works and will start shipment in April 2007. The pipeline’s laying situation is severe. The sea depth reaches maximum 2,160 meters. UO pipes are needed with both high strength against super pressure and toughness against low temperature.