Sumitomo Metal Industries shipped 2,700 tonnes of high end steel plate with American Petroleum Institute grade 80 or 65 kilograms of tensile strength for major marine structure in Gulf of Mexico. The firm provided plate with maximum 3 inches thick for joint part of upper structure and lower structure of tension leg platform for oil drilling. The higher grade plate thickness is 25% thinner than normal plate with grade 60 or 50 kg tensile strength. The firm provides total 30,000 tonnes of plate for the structure. The firm tries to expand the high grade plate sales for energy industry.
The firm started the development of grade 80 products 10 years ago. Traditional thermo mechanical control process can make up to API grade 60 plate. But the grade 80 plate with 3 mm thick had lower weldability. The firm added copper in steel to improve the property. The firm succeeded in development of technology to make grade 80 plate with desirable properties in 2009. World energy industry has 26 of tension leg platform including under construction structures. Sumitomo Metals provides plate or pipe for 20 of the structures. The firm focuses on oil major led project in more than 10 years. The majors appreciate Sumitomo Metals’ technology. The firm added grade 80 on traditional grade 50 and 60. With the wider menu, the firm tries to expand the sales for the platform and other marine structures.