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ExxonMobil Grants Nippon Steel First License for Patented Field Welding Technology
08/12/2011 - Exxon Mobil Corp. has granted Nippon Steel Corp. the world’s first license for patented field welding technology used to construct high-pressure pipelines made with X120 ultrahigh-strength steel linepipe.
Exxon Mobil Corp. has granted Nippon Steel Corp. the world’s first license for patented field welding technology used to construct high-pressure pipelines made with X120 ultrahigh-strength steel linepipe.
ExxonMobil pursued a comprehensive X120 development program to ensure that field welding technology would meet strength requirements and be compatible with conventional pipeline construction practices. The X120 welding technology uses the pulsed gas metal arc welding (PGMAW) process with a proprietary solid welding wire and argon-based shielding gas to achieve high-strength welds with high toughness. Welding is performed using standard automated and semi-automated welding tools familiar to pipeline industry welders.
The technology now licensed by ExxonMobil to Nippon Steel also includes the right to manufacture the proprietary welding wire. The signing of the license agreement makes Nippon Steel the world’s first and sole pipe manufacturer having available both a mill to manufacture X120 linepipe and ExxonMobil welding technology for pipeline construction.
X120 ultrahigh-strength linepipe was jointly developed by Nippon Steel and ExxonMobil’s Upstream Research Co. X120 linepipe is said to be 50% stronger than the strongest linepipe steel (X80) commonly used in gas transmission pipelines and is, according to the companies, a cost-effective and safe method of transporting natural gas from remote regions to urban customers using high-pressure, large-diameter pipelines.
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co. is the upstream research affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corp., a leading global oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals company with operations in nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide. ExxonMobil Upstream Research is charged with developing an industry-leading array of proprietary technologies that support the corporation's continued leadership position in exploration, development, production and gas commercialization.
