Before we start to use API 5l steel pipe, we should always carry out inspection of steel pipe for damage before the actual installation. This is largely because API steel pipe may have cuts, gouges, scratches, splits, or other signs of damage due to improper handling or storage. If such minor flaws are found, they should not be used at all. Damaged sections on lengths of API 5l steel pipe can easily be cut out as long as we use proper techniques for cutting steel pipe. The piping products can be painted if it is necessary for aesthetic purposes even though only water-based paints are recommended. This is because the use of oil-based paints may result in damage according to inspection of steel pipe. The API 5l steel pipe can be cleaned with a mild soap and water mixture prior to the painting process.
Accounting aberrations are known for the API 5l steel pipe industry in the U.S. since the exported pipes will be then immediately registered in a foreign country. In most cases, these pipes are not reported in trade statistics while the military used API steel pipe is officially never exported. Thus, those pipe products often become obsolete and are scrapped outside the nation. Exports of API 5lsteel pipe scrap are likely to be larger than reported due to inventory manipulation, speculation, and black market trading. In fact, these are common practices for continuous production at large scale. In the present work, we need to propose a framework for API steel pipe resource cycles that includes all relevant stocks and flows of metallic iron.
