Pipe Terms Glossary

A106 ASTM Grades of seamless carbon steel pipe.
A106B ASTM Grades of seamless carbon steel pipe.
A500 Grade B ASTM Grade of steel tube.
A53A ASTM Grades of ERW and SMLS carbon steel pipe.
A53B ASTM Grades of ERW and SMLS carbon steel pipe.
A53F ASTM Grades furnace butt welded carbon steel pipe.
AISI American Iron & Steel Institute
ANSI American National Standards Institute (Formerly ASA)
API American Petroleum Institute
API5L API standard for seamless line pipe.
ASA American Standard Institute (Now known as ANSI)
ASM American Society for Metals
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM American Society for Testing Materials
Bales Banded bundles of pipe.
Bevel The angle formed between the prepared edge of the pipe and a plane perpendicular to the surface. Standard line pipe bevel is 30 degrees.
BLK Black. Term used when O.D. surface of pipe is protected with varnish type oil.
BPE Black plain end.
Briggs Standard A standard of thread dimensions. It is the same as American Standard.
BTU British Thermal Unit
BW Butt Weld Pipe
Casing Pipe used as a structural retainer for the walls of a water, gas, or oil well.
CD Cold Drawn. Drawing pipe or tubing through a die to reduce diameter and wall to obtain closer tolerances, a better finish, or higher physical properties.
Chamfer A beveled surface to eliminate an otherwise sharp corner. A finishing operation prior to threading.
Conduit Pipe serving as a duct for electrical wiring. Usually supplied in 10 foot length threaded and coupled. Pipe used is normally galvanized, slightly lighter than standard weight with a smooth interior surface.
CPLG Coupling. Threaded sleeve used to connect two length of pipe.
Cut Length Pipe cut to a specific length as ordered.
DRL Double Random Length (35’ minimum average)
Ductility The ability of a material to deform plastically without fracturing. Measured by elongation in a tensile test.
ERW Electric Resistance Weld Pipe
GALV Galvanizing. Coating pipe with zinc to provide corrosion resistance.
GPE Galvanized Plain End
Grade Designations used to indicate minimum yield and tensile strengths of steel in seamless and welded pipe.
GTC Galvanized Threaded and Coupled End
Hydrostatic Testing High pressure water test to determine pressures as required by specifications.
ID Inside Diameter. The O.D. measurement less double the wall thickness is the I.D. measurement of a pipe or tube.
IPS Iron Pipe Size. Same as nominal size from 1/8” to 12”.
Joint Term used to refer to one length of pipe.
NBS National Bureau of Standards
Nipple Short length of pipe normally threaded both ends.
NPS Nominal Pipe Size. Non-dimensional measurement system used to classify pipe size.
OD Outside Diameter
PE Plain Ends
Protector Threaded plastic sleeve to protect pipe threads.
PSI Pounds per Square Inch
R/L Random Length. Varying lengths of pipe.
Range Allowable lengths in oil field casing and tubing. Expressed as Range 1 (20’ R/L), Range 2 (30’ R/L), and Range 3 (40’ R/L).
Schedule ANSI numbers assigned to pipe to designate wall thickness.
SMLS Seamless. Pipe without a seam or weld in the circumference.
SRL Single Random Lengths. Usually 16’ to 22’. Minimum average of 17’-6”.
STD Standard. Same as Schedule 40, NPS 1/8” to NPS 10”.
Stencil Identification painted on pipe. Specification, size, wall, grade, test pressure, method of manufacture, and mill identification are usually indicated.
T&C or TC Threaded and Coupled
TBE Thread Both Ends
Tensile Strength Ultimate bursting strength to resist being pulled apart. Expressed in P.S.I.
TOE Threaded One End
Uncoated Pipe without black varnish, galvanized or other finish.
XH Extra Heavy (Extra Strong)
XXH Double Extra Heavy (Double Extra Strong)
Yield Strength The tensile stress required to deform a pipe to the point it won't return to it's original shape.