Corus Tubes has won a contract for the supply of 45 000 tonnes of three layer polypropylene coated, high grade, sour service linepipe and bends for the world's most prestigious and technically challenging pipe-lay contract – Bluestream. Corus Tubes' Energy Business starts delivering in January 2001 to its client Saipem S.p.A. for use in this project, which will supply gas from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea.

Bluestream Pipeline Co. BV, a joint venture between OAO Gazprom of Russia and Snam S.p.A. of Italy, is the ultimate Customer on the trans Black Sea project - the deepest offshore pipe-lay project ever realized at 2150m. Pipelay will commence in 2001 and first gas is expected in April 2002. The pipeline has an expected capacity of 16 billion m3 per year.

Corus Tubes worked closely with Saipem S.p.A. of Italy in a two-year trial and development process. Corus developed a steel chemistry which balances the need to work in the external 'sour' environment of the seabed (resisting both hydrogen induced cracking and sulphur stress corrosion cracking), with the requirement for high fracture resistance properties.

Europe's Leading Deepwater Pipe Mill

Corus Tube's Hartlepool mill, the most powerful UOE mill in the world, had proved its ability to roll thick walled, large diameter, high grade pipe in extensive trials for the aborted Oman – India pipeline project.

"Our Hartlepool 42" mill is Europe's leading deep water pipe mill as a consequence of its immense strength and ability to manufacture thick walled pipe to close tolerances. In fact, with the Bluestream pipe being 610mm OD by 31.8 mm thick we are working within ourselves compared with the Oman-India pipe which was 26" and 28" diameter by 44mm thick, in grade X70," explains Tom Murie of Corus Tubes.

Corus Tubes will supply 12.2 m lengths of single pipes; then Saipem will assemble such pipes in quadruple joints of total 48.8 m length in its on-shore base close to the Black Sea. Finally, the quadruple joints will be transported on-board the S7000 vessel to be welded and installed using the J-lay method.

The pipes supplied will be protected against external corrosion with a minimum 4 mm thick three layer polypropylene coating applied at Corus Tubes' joint venture, sub-contract partner - BSR Pipelines Services Ltd. on the same Hartlepool site.

The Energy Business of Corus Tubes specialises in Project Managed Pipeline supply. Corus Tubes offers a total line pipe package solution, which can include pipe-in-pipe, technical and design support and a full project-management package. The company will co-ordinate material procurement, pipe manufacture, bend and spool fabrication, corrosion coating, qualification testing and delivery logistics.

For further information please contact:

Corus Tubes, Energy Business
Addr: PO Box 101, Weldon Road, Corby, Northants NN17 5UA
Tel. 01536 402121
Fax. 01536 404004
Email.
WWW. http://www.corusgroup.com