Northwest Pipe Company, an industry leader of engineered welded steel pipe and tube products, has recently completed the American Petroleum Institute's audit for 5CT at its Houston facility.

The Houston facility, which manufactures Electric Resistance Welded steel pipe for the Company's Tubular Products Group, has an estimated capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year. With the addition of the API license, the facility can now begin production of API grade 2 3/8 and 2 7/8 inch tubing. In addition, the facility will continue to supply green tubes suitable for upgrade to a select group of customers.

Mr Scott Montross COO of Northwest Pipe Company said that "The achievement of API 5CT status at our Houston facility is the next step in the planned expansion of our OCTG product offerings to our API customers."