DEVELOPMENT OF MICROALLOYED STEELS FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Microalloying, in combination with thermomechanical controlled processing (TMCP), is a cost effective method of producing steels for a wide range of applications where improved mechanical properties, namely strength, formability and toughness coupled with weldability, are required. This paper reviews the efforts undertaken at the University of Alberta aimed at improving the above mentioned mechanical properties in microalloyed steels used in the transmission of oil and gas (i.e., pipelines). Topics that will be reviewed include the characterization of precipitates, the effect of processing conditions on precipitate evolution, and the effect of pipe forming and subsequent low temperature heat treatment on tensile behaviour and the use of Genetic Algorithm optimization of the laminar cooling system to produce a uniform through thickness microstructure.