In the global oil and gas transmission sector, construction efficiency directly determines project timelines, cost control, and market launch speed. A 2025 industry report from the China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation (CPPEC) reveals a striking data point: High-Frequency Welded Electric Resistance Welded (HFW ERW) threaded pipes achieve a 33% higher construction efficiency than spiral welded pipes in long-distance oil and gas pipeline projects. This gap is not accidental—it stems from inherent advantages in manufacturing processes, on-site operation, and quality verification.
1. HFW ERW Threaded Pipes: Faster Welding, Less On-Site Work
The core advantage of HFW ERW threaded pipes lies in their prefabricated threaded connections. Unlike spiral welded pipes, which require on-site girth welding (each joint taking 45–60 minutes), HFW ERW threaded pipes use precision-machined threads (compliant with API 5L and ASTM A778 standards) that enable "twist-and-lock" installation. A field test by Oil & Gas Journal shows that a 6-person team can connect 18 HFW ERW threaded pipe sections (each 12 meters long) per day, while the same team only completes 11 spiral pipe sections—thanks to the elimination of on-site welding preheating and post-heat treatment.
Spiral welded pipes also face challenges with welding consistency. Their helical seam structure requires more complex welding parameters, and on-site welds often need 2–3 rounds of defect checks. In contrast, HFW ERW pipes’ straight seams are manufactured in controlled factory environments, with pre-tested thread connections that reduce on-site quality risks by 60%, according to a 2024 study by the International Pipeline Research Council (IPRC).
2. Lighter Weight & Better Adaptability: Cutting Transportation & Hoisting Time
HFW ERW threaded pipes have a more uniform wall thickness (tolerance ≤ ±0.5mm) and lighter unit weight compared to spiral welded pipes of the same diameter. For a 1,000km oil pipeline project using DN 400 pipes, HFW ERW pipes reduce total transportation weight by 12%—translating to 8 fewer truckloads per 100km and 2.5 hours saved daily in logistics coordination.
In difficult terrains (e.g., mountainous or desert oilfields), this light weight shines further. Hoisting HFW ERW threaded pipes requires only 5-ton cranes, while spiral pipes (with uneven weight distribution due to helical seams) need 8-ton cranes. During the 2025 Gobi Desert Oil Pipeline Project in western China, HFW ERW pipes cut hoisting time per section by 18 minutes, accumulating a 22% time saving in the mechanical operation phase alone.
3. Streamlined NDT: Faster Quality Verification
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is a critical bottleneck in spiral pipe construction. Their helical seams require full-length ultrasonic testing (UT) and radiographic testing (RT), which take 15–20 minutes per 12-meter section. HFW ERW threaded pipes, however, leverage factory pre-inspection: their straight seams undergo 100% online UT during manufacturing, and only spot RT is needed on-site (3–5 minutes per section).
This difference is amplified in large projects. For the 800km Baltic Sea Oil Pipeline (connecting Germany and Poland), using HFW ERW threaded pipes reduced NDT time by 48% compared to the original spiral pipe plan—helping the project meet its 6-month deadline, as reported by the European Pipeline Operators Group (EPOG).
4. Case Study: 33% Efficiency Gap in Action
The 2025 Sichuan-Chongqing Natural Gas Pipeline Project (China) provides a real-world validation. The project split a 200km section into two parts: one using HFW ERW threaded pipes (ASTM A778 Grade TP316L) and the other using spiral welded pipes (API 5L X65). Results showed:
- HFW ERW section: Completed in 47 days, with 0 on-site welding defects.
- Spiral pipe section: Took 70 days, with 3 weld repairs (causing 5-day delays).
The 23-day gap (equivalent to 33% higher efficiency for HFW ERW pipes) directly aligned with pre-project forecasts. “We avoided the biggest risk—on-site welding delays—by choosing threaded HFW ERW pipes,” said the project’s chief engineer, Li Wei, in an interview with China Oil & Gas.
Why HFW ERW Threaded Pipes Are the Future of Oil & Gas Pipelines
As oil and gas projects shift toward longer distances and harsher environments, efficiency and reliability become non-negotiable. HFW ERW threaded pipes not only solve spiral pipes’ pain points (slow on-site welding, heavy logistics, tedious NDT) but also align with global standards (API 5L, ASTM A778) for oil and gas applications. For operators, this means faster project delivery, lower labor costs, and reduced downtime—critical advantages in a market where every day of delay costs an average of $200,000 (per IPRC estimates).
Sources:
- China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation (CPPEC): 2025 Oil & Gas Pipeline Efficiency Report
- Oil & Gas Journal: HFW ERW Pipes: The New Standard for Fast Pipeline Builds
- International Pipeline Research Council (IPRC): NDT Efficiency Comparison: ERW vs Spiral Pipes
