Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd has celebrated its 30 anniversary of technical exchanges with ExxonMobil. To celebrate this occasion, 11 engineers from ExxonMobil recently visited Sumitomo Metals’ Corporate Research & Development Laboratories for discussion with their counterparts. The engineering materials that have been developed with the benefit of the exchange of technology have been used for many of Sumitomo’s products including oil country tubular goods (OCTG) and line pipe, with formidable results. Two meetings are held a year. Typically, about five engineers from both sides participate. The exchange arrangement at the present time is proving invaluable in the development of ultra-high strength oil pipe for sour environments and high-strength UO line pipe. The capability and competitiveness that Sumitomo Metals has demonstrated through its exchanges has resulted in the Company receiving contracts for supply of OCTG to ExxonMobil for more than 20 years.
