How PipeSearch helped keep a North American CCUS project moving by sourcing, modifying, and delivering a specialty alloy OCTG solution.
key takeaways
Project: North American CCUS horizontal CO₂ injection well
Application: 7-inch Super Duplex casing
Challenge: Highly specialized alloy requirement with aggressive project timeline
PipeSearch Solution: Located existing premium OCTG inventory, coordinated precision honing to customer specifications, and delivered through the customer’s established procurement channel.
The Challenge
A North American carbon capture and storage (CCUS) project required 7-inch Super Duplex casing for a horizontal CO₂ injection well. The material specifications were highly specialized, and the required quantity did not align well with standard mill production thresholds.
For traditional mills, an order of this size would potentially fall below minimum production quantities. Even if accepted, lead times could approach a year, creating unnecessary delays for a project operating on a much shorter schedule.
The engineering team understood exactly what material they needed. The challenge wasn’t determining the specification. It was finding the right asset quickly.
The PipeSearch Approach
Because of an existing industry relationship, the project team reached out to PipeSearch to explore available options. Rather than beginning with a new mill order, PipeSearch searched its Global Warehouse for immediately available inventory.
An existing 7-inch Super Duplex OCTG asset in Houston closely matched the project’s requirements. The only difference was wall thickness. Instead of asking the customer to coordinate additional processing after purchase, PipeSearch arranged for the material to be honed to the required lighter wall, delivering pipe that met the project’s specifications before shipment.
The material was ultimately supplied through the customer’s existing approved distributor, allowing the engineering company to maintain its preferred procurement process while still accessing the inventory identified by PipeSearch.
More Than Inventory
PipeSearch’s role extended beyond locating material.
The project combined several advantages that are difficult to achieve through traditional supply channels:
- Existing premium OCTG inventory already on the ground
- Market awareness to quickly identify a suitable asset
- Value-added processing to meet the customer’s exact wall thickness requirement
- Coordination between trading, operations, and distribution to simplify procurement for the customer
Rather than asking the customer to source material first and solve the machining separately, PipeSearch delivered a finished solution aligned with the project’s specifications.
The Result
PipeSearch delivered the completed solution in approximately six to eight weeks, compared with an estimated lead time of up to a year through conventional mill production. The project finished ahead of schedule and was completed under budget, with the availability of the right material at the right time contributing to the overall outcome.
More importantly, the project highlighted what sets PipeSearch apart. By combining real-time market awareness, industry relationships, and access to quality-verified premium OCTG assets, PipeSearch was able to identify an existing solution, tailor it to the customer’s specifications, and simplify the procurement process. Instead of waiting for new production, the customer received a ready-to-deploy solution that kept the project moving.
