RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TITANIUM-ALLOY APPLICATION IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY

Recent advances in titanium alloy applications in the energy industry have been realized through the development and qualification of two co st/performance-optimized alpha-beta titanium alloys, Ti-6Al-4V-Ru and Ti-3Al-2.5V-Ru alloys; combined with the ability to manufacture lower- cost seamless pipes via high-yield hot-rolling processes and coiled tu bing products in titanium alloys. These new lower-cost/high performanc e alloy tubular products provide project cost savings and/or technolog y enablement, and have already been successfully utilized in geotherma l brine wells, offshore riser taper stress joints and deep water offsh ore drilling risers. Imminent large-volume applications include dynami c offshore risers for deep water production, deep sour gas well tubula r strings, lightweight, flexible drill pipe fdr special drilling opera tions and various subsea and downhole coiled tubing applications. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.