What is KOC-MS-018？

The Kuwait KOC-MS-018 standard steel pipe plays a crucial role in the oil and gas industry. As a key standard developed by Kuwait National Oil Company (KOC), KOC-MS-018 specifies low requirements for the production, inspection, and marking of seamless steel pipes used in oil and gas pipelines and related facilities. This article will delve into various aspects of KOC-MS-018 standard steel pipes, including their application scope, material requirements, manufacturing processes, performance testing, and precautions in practical applications.

1、 Application scope

KOC-MS-018 standard steel pipes are mainly used in pipeline systems for oil/gas, seabed, land, and water areas, as well as other related facilities such as storage and collection centers, pressure regulating stations, and tank farms. These steel pipes can withstand extreme environmental conditions, including sandstorms, chemical pollutants, and extreme temperature changes (-3 ℃ to+55 ℃). On exposed metal surfaces, solar radiation can even reach up to 85 ℃. It is worth mentioning that this standard also specifically considers applications in acidic environments, such as fluid environments containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2), which place extremely high demands on the corrosion resistance of steel pipes.

2、 Material requirements

The KOC-MS-018 standard has strict regulations on the material of steel pipes. Firstly, all steel pipes must adopt seamless manufacturing technology, and the steel grade must be fine-grained killed steel to obtain good impact toughness. For steel pipes with a wall thickness greater than 20 millimeters, vacuum degassing technology must also be used to reduce internal defects. In addition, the chemical composition of steel pipes also needs to be strictly controlled to ensure their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. For example, the carbon content must not exceed 0.20%, the phosphorus content must not exceed 0.025%, the sulfur content must not exceed 0.015%, and specific carbon equivalent limits must also be met to evaluate the overall performance of the steel pipe.

3、 Manufacturing process

In terms of manufacturing process, the KOC-MS-018 standard requires steel pipes to undergo a series of strict procedures. This includes inspection and preparation of raw materials, forming and welding of steel pipes (although welding is not necessary for seamless steel pipes, attention should still be paid to avoiding any form of defects during the manufacturing process), heat treatment, and final inspection and testing. Specifically, for steel pipes of X56 and above grade, quenching and tempering processes must be used to improve their strength and toughness. All steel pipes must undergo a hydrostatic test after manufacturing to evaluate their sealing and pressure bearing capacity.

4、 Performance testing

The KOC-MS-018 standard also has detailed provisions for the performance testing of steel pipes. These tests include chemical composition analysis, mechanical performance testing (such as tensile testing, impact toughness testing, and hardness testing), hydrostatic testing, and non-destructive testing. Chemical composition analysis is used to verify whether the raw materials of steel pipes meet the standard requirements; Mechanical performance testing is used to evaluate key performance indicators such as strength and toughness of steel pipes; Hydraulic pressure test is used to check the sealing and pressure bearing capacity of steel pipes; Non destructive testing is used to detect any defects inside and on the surface of steel pipes.

5、 Special requirements for acidic environments

In acidic environments, such as fluids containing high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, the KOC-MS-018 standard has stricter requirements for steel pipes. In addition to meeting general material requirements and manufacturing processes, these steel pipes must also have the ability to resist sulfide stress corrosion (SSC). This is usually achieved by selecting steel with specific chemical composition and microstructure, and verifying it through rigorous corrosion testing. In addition, for specific application scenarios such as subsea pipelines, additional anti-corrosion measures such as coatings or cathodic protection need to be considered.

6、 Precautions in practical applications

In practical applications, steel pipes that comply with the KOC-MS-018 standard need to pay attention to the following aspects. Firstly, it is necessary to purchase from a production plant that holds a valid API certificate and meets the requirements of this standard, in order to ensure the quality and performance of the steel pipes. Secondly, measures should be taken to prevent damage or corrosion to the steel pipes during transportation and storage. Afterwards, during installation and use, operation and maintenance should be strictly carried out in accordance with relevant specifications and standards to ensure the safe and stable operation of the pipeline.

(Note: Parameters may be adjusted due to engineering requirements;)