What are API 5L Pipes?

API 5L Pipes:

Manganese sulphides are typical inclusions in all manganese alloyed steels. Because they tend to segregate resulting in reduced impact strength, sulphure content needs to be minimized. We specify maximum 0.007%.

Gas, water and oil transportation – preferred in long pipelines due to inexpensiveness
Pipeline steel – resistance to crack propagation
Line Pipe / Sour Service Line Pipes

The American Petroleum Institute specification API 5L addresses seamless and welded steel line pipe for pipeline transportation systems in the petroleum and natural gas industries.  API 5L is suitable for conveying gas, water, and oil.  

Specifications for API 5L adhere to the International Organization for Standardization ISO 3183, standardizing pipeline transportation systems within the materials, equipment and offshore structures for natural gas, petroleum, and petrochemical industries.  When authoring the standards, the technical committee recognized that there are two basic Product Specifications Levels (PSL) of technical requirements and therefore developed PSL 1 and PSL 2.  PSL 1 is a standard quality for line pipe where PSL 2 contains additional chemical, mechanical properties, and testing requirements. 

Grades covered by this specification are A25, A, B and “X” Grades X42, X46, X52, X56, X60, X65, X70, and X80.  The two digit number following the “X” indicates the Minimum Yield Strength (in 000’s psi) of pipe produced to this grade.