What is SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe?
SSAW (Spiral Submerged Arc Welded Pipe) is a type of large-diameter steel pipe manufactured by spirally forming steel strips and then performing double-sided submerged arc welding.
“High Wall Thickness Pipe” typically refers to steel pipe products with wall thicknesses significantly greater than those of conventional structural pipes.
Common wall thickness ranges:
- SCH 40 / SCH 80 / SCH 120 / XXS
- Custom engineering ranges: 6 mm – 40 mm+, and even higher
Steel pipes with a wall thickness of 20 mm or greater are classified as heavy-wall steel pipes. They are not used for ordinary transport purposes but are instead employed in high-pressure structural applications or specialized engineering projects.
SSAW Pipe Specifications
Standard Specification Range of SSAW Pipe
- Outer Diameter (OD): 219 mm – 3500+ mm
- Wall Thickness (WT): 20 mm – 40+ mm (customizable up to 50 mm)
- Length: 6 m / 12 m / custom lengths
- Standards: API 5L / EN 10219 / ASTM A252
SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe Size Chart (OD × WT × Weight)
NPS / OD / WT / Weight Chart (8"–26")
| NPS | OD (mm) | Wall Thickness WT (mm) | Theoretical Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8″ | 219.1 | 6 – 12 | 31 – 60 |
| 10″ | 273.0 | 6 – 14 | 40 – 85 |
| 12″ | 323.9 | 6 – 16 | 48 – 110 |
| 14″ | 355.6 | 6 – 18 | 55 – 135 |
| 16″ | 406.4 | 6 – 20 | 65 – 165 |
| 18″ | 457.0 | 8 – 22 | 85 – 200 |
| 20″ | 508.0 | 8 – 24 | 95 – 240 |
| 22″ | 559.0 | 8 – 26 | 110 – 280 |
| 24″ | 610.0 | 8 – 28 | 125 – 320 |
| 26″ | 660.0 | 8 – 30 | 140 – 360 |
Large Diameter Pipe Size Chart (28"–80"+)
| NPS | OD (mm) | Wall Thickness WT (mm) | Application Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28″ | 711.0 | 10 – 32 | Medium–High Pressure Transmission |
| 30″ | 762.0 | 10 – 34 | Oil & Gas Pipeline |
| 32″ | 813.0 | 10 – 36 | Offshore Structures |
| 34″ | 864.0 | 10 – 38 | Piling Engineering |
| 36″ | 914.0 | 10 – 40 | High Load Structures |
| 40″ | 1016 | 10 – 40+ | Long Distance Oil & Gas |
| 42″ | 1067 | 10 – 40+ | Subsea Pipelines |
| 48″ | 1219 | 12 – 45 | Deep Burial Projects |
| 60″ | 1524 | 12 – 50 | Piling / Bridge Construction |
| 80″+ | 2032 – 3500+ | 14 – 50+ | Ultra-Large Engineering Projects |
SSAW Pipe Application Size Quick Guide
| Application | Recommended Size |
|---|---|
| Oil Long-Distance Transmission Pipelines | 24″ – 48″, WT 10–30 mm |
| Subsea Pipelines | 30″ – 60″, WT 15–40 mm |
| Piling Engineering | 36″ – 80″+, WT 20–50 mm |
| Urban Water Supply | 12″ – 36″, WT 6–20 mm |
SAW High Wall Thickness Pipe Manufacturing Process
- Hot-rolled steel coil selection
- Material systems: API 5L / EN 10219 / EN 10217
- Spiral angle control
- Forming diameter range (DN200 – DN3500+)
- Internal welding + external welding
- Double-sided submerged arc welding process
- This process is a key guarantee of SSAW pipe strength
- Heavy wall uniformity control
- NDT inspection (UT/RT)
SSAW vs LSAW vs ERW Pipe Comparison
| Item | SSAW Pipe (Spiral Submerged Arc Welded) | LSAW Pipe (Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welded) | ERW Pipe (Electric Resistance Welded) |
| Manufacturing Process | Spiral forming + double-sided SAW welding | Steel plate forming + straight seam SAW welding | High-frequency electric resistance welding |
| Outer Diameter Range | Large to ultra-large (219–3500+ mm) | Large (406–1422 mm) | Small to medium (21–660 mm) |
| Wall Thickness Capability | Medium–High (6–40+ mm) | High (up to 50 mm+) | Medium (usually ≤20 mm) |
| Pressure Capacity | Medium–High | High | Low–Medium |
| Cost Level | ⭐ Most cost-effective | Medium–High | Low |
| Weld Type | Spiral weld seam | Longitudinal weld seam | Longitudinal weld seam |
| Main Applications | Oil & gas transmission, water pipelines, piling | High-pressure oil & gas trunk lines | Structural use, low-pressure fluid transport |
| Production Efficiency | High | Medium | Very High |
- SSAW:Best suited for large-diameter pipelines, long-distance transmission, and cost-sensitive engineering projects.
- LSAW:Preferred for high-pressure oil & gas trunk pipelines where higher structural strength is required.
- ERW:Commonly used for small to medium diameter applications, structural purposes, and low-pressure systems due to its low cost.
Advantages & Limitations of SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe
SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe combines large-diameter production capability with cost efficiency, making it widely used in oil & gas transmission, water pipelines, and foundation engineering.
✔ Advantages
- Large diameter range (up to 3500+ mm)
- Cost-effective compared to LSAW pipes
- Suitable for long-distance and large-scale projects
- Good structural strength with thick wall design (6–40+ mm)
⚠ Limitations
- Spiral weld structure is less suitable for ultra-high pressure pipelines compared to LSAW
- Requires strict NDT inspection (UT/RT) for weld quality control
- Handling and installation of heavy wall pipes require higher construction capacity
Applications of SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe
SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe is primarily used in engineering applications that require high strength, high pressure resistance, and corrosion resistance, typically in energy transmission, offshore engineering, and large-scale infrastructure projects.
Oil & Gas Transmission Pipelines
In the oil and gas transportation sector, these pipes are commonly used in long-distance transmission pipelines and subsea gathering and transportation systems.
For such projects, ALLLAND Steel Pipe provides SSAW thick-walled steel pipes compliant with the API 5L standard, along with support for customized wall thicknesses and engineering-grade testing to meet the quality and delivery requirements of EPC projects.
Offshore & Marine Engineering
In port construction, offshore platform projects, and breakwater projects, SSAW thick-walled steel pipes are commonly used as structural support materials, such as steel pipe piles and load-bearing foundation structures.
Water Transportation Systems
Used in urban water supply trunk networks and interregional water transmission projects, with a strong emphasis on balancing durability and cost control.
Structural & Foundation Engineering
In bridge foundations, large-scale buildings, and heavy-load structures, thick-walled SSAW steel pipes are primarily used in structural systems designed to carry axial loads and resist impact.
SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe by ALLLAND Steel Pipe
As a supplier of industrial piping, ALLLAND Steel Pipe specializes in the manufacture of large-diameter SSAW thick-walled steel pipes, offering:
- API 5L standard pipeline steel
- Custom wall thickness solutions
- Engineering-grade quality inspections (UT/RT/MTC)
- Global project supply capabilities
Suitable for procurement needs in the oil and gas, infrastructure, and large-scale engineering sectors.
FAQ
Q1: What is SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe?
SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe is a spiral submerged arc welded steel pipe with increased wall thickness, designed for medium-to-high pressure applications such as oil & gas transmission, water pipelines, and structural engineering.
Q2: What is the typical wall thickness range of SSAW pipes?
The wall thickness generally ranges from 6 mm to 40+ mm, and can be customized based on project requirements and engineering design standards.
Q3: What standards are used for SSAW pipes?
Common standards include:
API 5L
EN 10219
ASTM A252
Q4: What are the main applications of SSAW High Wall Thickness Pipe?
It is widely used in:
Oil & gas transmission pipelines
Offshore and marine engineering
Water transportation systems
Steel pipe piling and foundation structures
