High performance material for coiled tubing applications and the method of producing the same

• US 9,803,256 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenaris Coiled Tubes, LLC (Tenaris SA)
• Original Assignee: Tenaris Coiled Tubes, LLC (Tenaris SA)
• Inventors: Valdez, Martin, Gomez, Gonzalo, Mitre, Jorge, Reichert, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Katz, Vera
• Application Number:
  US14/190,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20140272448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/08 Making tubes with welded or soldered seams with helically arranged seams B21C37/122
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/22 Martempering
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 2211/008 Martensite
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 8/10 during manufacturing of tubular bodies
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 8/105 of ferrous alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/08 for tubular bodies or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/085 Cooling or quenching
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/14 wear-resistant or pressure-resistant pipes
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/50 for welded joints
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/505 Cooling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12333 Helical or with helical component

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to coiled steel tubes and methods of manufacturing coiled steel tubes. In some embodiments, the final microstructures of the coiled steel tubes across all base metal regions, weld joints, and heat affected zones can be homogeneous. Further, the final microstructure of the coiled steel tube can be a mixture of tempered martensite and bainite.

Claims

1. A coiled steel tube having improved yield strength and fatigue life at weld joints of the coiled tube, the coiled steel tube comprising:

a plurality of strips welded together end to end by a bias weld and formed into a coiled steel tube, each of the plurality of strips having base metal regions, bias weld joints, and heat affected zones surrounding the bias weld joints, each of the plurality of welded strips comprising;

a yield strength greater than about 80 ksi;

a composition comprising iron and;

0.17-0.35 wt. % carbon;

0.30-2.00 wt. % manganese;

0.10-0.30 wt. % silicon;

0.010-0.040 wt. % aluminum;

up to 0.010 wt. % sulfur; and

up to 0.015 wt. % phosphorus; and

wherein the coiled steel tube has a final microstructure formed from a full body heat treatment applied to the coiled steel tube;

wherein the final microstructure comprises a mixture of tempered martensite and bainite;

wherein the final microstructure of the coiled steel tube comprises more than 90 volume % tempered martensite in the base metal regions, the bias weld joints, and the heat affected zones;

wherein the final microstructure across all base metal regions, bias weld joints, and heat affected zones is homogeneous; and

wherein the final microstructure comprises a uniform distribution of fine carbides across the base metal regions, the bias weld joints, and the heat affected zones.

2. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises:

up to 1.0 wt. % chromium;

up to 0.5 wt. % molybdenum;

up to 0.0030 wt. % boron;

up to 0.030 wt. % titanium;

up to 0.50 wt. % copper;

up to 0.50 wt. % nickel;

up to 0.1 wt. % niobium;

up to 0.15 wt. % vanadium;

up to 0.0050 wt. % oxygen; and

up to 0.05 wt. % calcium.

3. The coiled steel tube of claim 2, wherein the composition comprises:

0.17 to 0.30 wt. % carbon;

0.30 to 1.60 wt. % manganese;

0.10 to 0.20 wt. % silicon;

up to 0.7 wt. % chromium;

up to 0.5 wt. % molybdenum;

0.0005 to 0.0025 wt. % boron;

0.010 to 0.025 wt. % titanium;

0.25 to 0.35 wt. % copper;

0.20 to 0.35 wt. % nickel;

up to 0.04 wt. % niobium;

up to 0.10 wt. % vanadium;

up to 0.0015 wt. % oxygen;

up to 0.03 wt. % calcium;

up to 0.003 wt. % sulfur; and

up to 0.010 wt. % phosphorus.

4. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the tube has a minimum yield strength of 125 ksi.

5. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the tube has a minimum yield strength of 140 ksi.

6. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the tube has a minimum yield strength of between 125 ksi and 140 ksi.

7. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the final microstructure comprises at least 95 volume % tempered martensite in the base metal regions, the bias weld joints, and the heat affected zones.

8. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the tube has a final grain size of below 20 μ

m in the base metal regions, the bias weld joints, and the heat affected zones.

9. The coiled steel tube of claim 8, wherein the tube has a final grain size of below 15 μ

m in the base metal regions, the bias weld joints, and the heat affected zones.

10. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the fatigue life at the bias welds is at least about 80% of the base metal regions.

11. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein a percent hardness of a bias weld joint, including its heat affected zone, is 110% or less than a hardness of the base metal.

12. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the coiled steel tube passes method C of NACE TM0177 for resistance to SSC cracking.

13. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein a final length of the coiled steel tube is between 10,000 feet and 40,000 feet.

14. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, a fatigue life that is at least 100% greater than an equivalent grade steel which has not undergone the fully body heat treatment.

15. The coiled steel tube of claim 1, wherein the coiled steel tube has a reduced segregation band as compared to the equivalent grade steel which has not undergone the full body heat treatment.