Project Background
In Q3 2021, a UAE-based petrochemical giant initiated a $500 million reactor upgrade in Abu Dhabi, requiring high-temperature-resistant steel for a 10,000-barrel unit handling corrosive hydrocarbons at 500°C. The client, under pressure from ADNOC regulations, needed materials compliant with NACE MR0175 for sour service and a 3-month shutdown timeline to minimize production losses.
Previous suppliers provided non-compliant Inconel, leading to 22% rejects and 4-week delays. SHH STEEL was awarded the contract after a tender, supplying 2,200 tons of steel. The project supported UAE’s 10% petrochemical growth (ICIS 2021), addressing regional demand for efficient processing.
Materials Provided
SHH STEEL supplied 2,200 tons of Inconel 625 nickel alloy plates (ASTM B443) and stainless-clad carbon steel (ASTM A265), with thicknesses from 20mm to 80mm and dimensions up to 2,000mm x 8,000mm. The Inconel 625 offered tensile strength of 827 MPa at 650°C and yield of 414 MPa, with chemical composition of 58% nickel, 20-23% chromium, and 8-10% molybdenum. The clad plates had 3mm Inconel cladding on A516 Gr.70 base, with bonding strength >200 MPa per ASTM A265.
Ultrasonic testing per ASTM A435 Class 1 confirmed no defects, and MTCs verified NACE MR0175 compliance for sour service. Heat treatment at 980°C ensured hardness <35 HRC.
| Property | ASTM B443 Inconel 625 Requirement | SHH STEEL Supplied Value | Test Method | Benefit for Client |
| Yield Strength (MPa) | 414 min | 420-430 | ASTM E8 | High-temperature stability |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 827 min | 840-860 | ASTM E8 | Superior corrosion resistance |
| Elongation (%) | 30 min | 32-35 | ASTM E8 | Ductility for forming |
| Hardness (HRC) | 35 max | 30-34 | ASTM E18 | Reduced cracking risk |
| Chemical Composition (Ni %) | 58 min | 58-60 | ASTM E350 | Enhanced sour service |
Packaging used VCI and steel crates per IMDG Code, preventing oxidation during 25-day transit to Dubai.
This supply ensured the reactor’s 20-year lifespan, with Inconel reducing pitting by 50%.
Successful Delivery Result
The 2,200-ton shipment departed Shanghai on July 1, 2021, arriving at Jebel Ali port on July 26, 2021, within 25 days, via a direct bulk carrier. Plates passed UAE customs and NACE inspections with 100% compliance, with no holds. On-site, the client integrated the Inconel 625 plates into the reactor shell, with hydrostatic testing at 15,000 psi showing no leaks, thanks to the plates’ 840-860 MPa tensile strength.
The upgrade was completed 8% ahead of schedule, with 97% material utilization. Photos of the loaded vessel and reactor assembly in Abu Dhabi highlighted the steel’s quality. Client metrics reported 100% weld efficiency per ASME Section IX, saving 10% on fabrication costs ($5 million).
This led to a follow-on order for 1,000 tons for a second reactor.
Client Feedback
“SHH STEEL’s Inconel 625 and clad plates arrived on time, passing NACE audits with ease. Their quality ensured a smooth upgrade and saved us 10% on costs,” – Operations Manager, UAE Petrochemical Giant.
