API 5L X52 (L360) medium-high strength pipeline steel: key features and engineering applications

Concept

API 5L X52 (ISO standard L360) is a medium-high strength pipeline steel in the API 5L standard, with a minimum yield strength of 360MPa (52ksi). As the mainstream choice for oil and gas pipelines, it balances strength requirements and economy and is widely used in various medium and high pressure transmission systems.

Features

Strength advantage:

Yield strength 360-530MPa

Tensile strength ≥460MPa

Process performance:

Optimized carbon equivalent design (0.38-0.42)

Good welding performance, suitable for automatic welding process

Reliability:

Excellent low temperature toughness (-30℃ impact energy ≥40J)

HIC/SSC resistance meets NACE standards

Economic efficiency:

Compared with higher steel grades, it can reduce costs by 5-8%

More optimized wall thickness design

Delivery status

Thermomechanical rolling (TMCP): mainstream process, accounting for 80%

Normalizing state (N): special specification requirements

Controlled rolling state (CR): specific project requirements

Welded pipe form (SAW/ERW): common product form

Typical applications

High-pressure natural gas trunk line (7-10MPa)

Cross-regional crude oil pipeline

Offshore platform process pipeline

Large gas storage connection pipeline

High-pressure chemical medium transportation