API 5L Seamless and welded Line Pipe

API 5L also requires a monogram license for Manufacturer, and it maintains the Composite Index of approved Manufacturer. This means that, at the request of a potential manufacturer, API will send auditors to the mill to ensure that they have the capability to meet the requirements of the standard. This would be similar to a franchise, but API has no financial benefit from the mill, and does not accept any liability for the actions of the mill or the performance of the product.

API 5L does not have its own table of pipe dimensions. Rather, like the ASTM standards, it reverts to ASME B36.10 for the nominal pipe dimensions. Therefore, API 5L pipe products are often multi-certified to similar ASTM A53, A106 and A333 grades, where the requirements of all these specifications are met.

The American Petroleum Institute specification API 5L covers seamless and welded steel line pipe.

Specifications for API 5L adhere to the International Organization for Standardization ISO 3183, which standardizes pipeline transportation systems within the materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries. The technical committee authoring the standards recognized that there are two basic Product Specifications Levels (PSL) of technical requirements and therefore developed PSL 1 and PSL 2. PSL 1 is a standard quality for line pipe where PSL 2 contains additional chemical, mechanical properties, and testing requirements.

Grades covered by this specification are A25 ,A ,B (and the following “X” Grades), X42, X46, X52, X56, X60, X65, X70, X80. The two digit number following the “X” indicates the Minimum Yield Strength (in 000’s psi) of pipe produced to this grade.

API 5L Pipe (Seamless Steel Pipe) Specification

API 5L Pipe (Seamless Steel Pipe)
Technical parameters of API 5L seamless tube
Standard: API SPEC 5L
Material: API 5L GR.B, X42, X52, X60
Country of origin: China
Type: Seamless steel pipe
Application: Line pipe
Special pipe: Regular and special thick-walled steel pipe, maximum thickness of up to 60MM
Process: Hot rolled and hot expanded

API 5L Seamless Pipes in PSL-1 & PSL-2 line pipe.

Sizes (Seamless): 1/2″ NB – 60″ NB

Sizes (ERW): 1/2″ NB – 24″ NB

Sizes (SAW/LSAW): 16″ NB – 100″ NB

Wall Thickness available:
Schedule 20 – Schedule XXS (heavier on request) up to 250 mm thk

Chemical Properties %

 Mechanical Properties        

                                                                        API 5L PSL-1 X52                API 5L PSL-2 X52

Tensile strength, min /max, psi (MPa)         66,700(460)/ n/a                      66,700 / 110,200 

Yield strength, min /max, psi (MPa)            52,000 (300)/n/a                      52,000 / 76,900