EXPANSIBLE SEAMLESS STEEL PIPE FOR USE IN OIL WELL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

An expansible seamless steel pipe for use in oil well, which contains C: 0.010 % or more and less than 0.10 %, Si: 0.05 to 1 %, Mn: 0.5 to 4 %, P: 0.03 % or less, S: 0.015 % or less, Al: 0.01 to 0.06 %, N: 0.007 % or less, O: 0.005 % or less, Nb: 0.01 to 0.2 %, and contains one or more of Nb, Mo and Cr in the range that Nb: 0.01 to 0.2 %, Mo: 0.05 to 0.5 %, and Cr: 0.05 to 1.5 %, with the proviso that the formulae of Mn + 0.9xCr + 2.6xMo >= 2.0 and 4xC - 0.3xSi + Mn + 1.3xCr + 1.5xMo <= 4.5 are satisfied; and a method for producing the steel pipe. The pipe preferably has a structure wherein ferrite is contained in 5 to 70 vol % and the balance consists substantially of a low temperature transformation phase. The above pipe is produced by a method comprising one or more of the conditions that (a) the temperature at the completion of rolling in the formation of the pipe is 800°C or higher, (b) the pipe is subjected to a normalizing treatment and (c) the pipe is formed, then is held in a two-phase region for five minutes or longer, and thereafter is air cooled. The above pipe exhibits high strength of a tensile strength (TS) of 600 MPa or more and also excellent expandability to a tube expanding of an expanding ratio exceeding 30 % even when it is subjected, after rolling, to no further treatment or only to a non-refining heat treatment not requiring a high cost.