Pipe Weight

Engineering fundamentals for structural and logistics calculations

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Pipe Weight Calculator

1. Weight Calculation

Pipe weight depends on material density, outside diameter, and wall thickness. For steel pipe, the standard formula calculates weight per unit length.

Basic Formula

Pipe weight per foot: W = 10.69 × (D - t) × t Where: W = Weight (lb/ft) D = Outside diameter (inches) t = Wall thickness (inches) Derivation: Cross-sectional area = π/4 × (D² - d²) = π × (D - t) × t Steel density = 490 lb/ft³ = 0.2833 lb/in³ W = 0.2833 × π × (D - t) × t × 12 in/ft W = 10.68 × (D - t) × t ≈ 10.69 × (D - t) × t

Alternative Formulas

Using inside diameter: W = 10.69 × t × (D - t) [same formula] Metric (kg/m): W = 0.0246615 × (D - t) × t Where D and t in mm Plain-end weight factor: API 5L specifies ±3.5% tolerance on weight

Material Densities

Material Density (lb/ft³) Density (kg/m³)
Carbon steel 490 7,850
Stainless steel (304/316) 500 8,000
Duplex stainless 489 7,820
Aluminum 169 2,710
Copper 559 8,960
PVC 87 1,400
HDPE 60 960

2. Standard Pipe Weights

Common Carbon Steel Pipe (per API 5L / ASME B36.10)

NPS OD (in) Std (Sch 40) XS (Sch 80) 0.250" wall 0.375" wall
2" 2.375 3.65 5.02 5.67 8.02
4" 4.500 10.79 14.98 11.35 16.56
6" 6.625 18.97 28.57 17.02 25.03
8" 8.625 28.55 43.39 22.36 33.04
10" 10.750 40.48 54.74 28.04 41.56
12" 12.750 49.56 65.42 33.38 49.56
16" 16.000 62.58 82.77 42.05 62.58
20" 20.000 78.60 104.13 52.73 78.60
24" 24.000 94.62 125.49 63.41 94.62
30" 30.000 118.65 — 79.43 118.65
36" 36.000 142.68 — 95.45 142.68

Weights in lb/ft. Schedule 40/80 per ASME B36.10; plain-end weights (no coupling).

3. Coating and Insulation Weight

External coatings and insulation add significant weight, especially for subsea or buried pipelines.

Coating Weight Formulas

Coating weight per foot: W_coating = π × (D_o + t_c) × t_c × ρ_c / 144 Where: D_o = Pipe OD (inches) t_c = Coating thickness (inches) ρ_c = Coating density (lb/ft³) Simplified (thin coating): W_coating ≈ π × D_o × t_c × ρ_c / 144

Typical Coating Weights

Coating Type Thickness Density (lb/ft³) Typical lb/ft (12" pipe)
FBE (Fusion Bonded Epoxy) 14–25 mil 87 0.3–0.5
3LPE (3-Layer Polyethylene) 80–120 mil 60 1.5–2.5
3LPP (3-Layer Polypropylene) 80–120 mil 56 1.4–2.3
Coal tar enamel 125 mil 75 2.5–3.5
Concrete weight coating 1.5–4 inches 140–190 50–200+

Insulation Weight

Insulation Type Density (lb/ft³)
Calcium silicate 11–14
Mineral wool 8–12
Fiberglass 3–6
Polyurethane foam 2–4
Cellular glass 7–9

4. Contents Weight

For operating and test conditions, include the weight of pipe contents.

Contents Weight Formula

Weight of contents per foot: W_contents = 0.3405 × d² × ρ_f / 62.4 Where: d = Inside diameter (inches) ρ_f = Fluid density (lb/ft³) For water (ρ = 62.4 lb/ft³): W_water = 0.3405 × d² [lb/ft] For hydrotest: Typically use specific gravity 1.0 (fresh water)

Common Fluid Densities

Fluid Density (lb/ft³) SG
Fresh water 62.4 1.00
Seawater 64.0 1.03
Crude oil (light) 50–55 0.80–0.88
Crude oil (heavy) 55–62 0.88–1.00
Diesel 53 0.85
Natural gas (500 psi) 1.5–2.5 —
Propane (liquid) 31 0.50

5. Applications

Total Installed Weight

W_total = W_pipe + W_coating + W_insulation + W_contents Design cases: - Empty (installation): W_pipe + W_coating - Hydrotest: W_pipe + W_coating + W_water - Operating: W_pipe + W_coating + W_fluid - Flooded (subsea): W_pipe + W_coating + W_seawater

Application Examples

Application Weight Components Needed
Pipe support design Pipe + coating + insulation + contents + valves/fittings
Crane/lifting capacity Empty pipe weight × safety factor (typically 1.5)
Buoyancy control (subsea) Pipe + coating + concrete - displaced seawater
Transportation/trucking Bare pipe weight × number of joints
Foundation design Maximum of hydrotest or operating weight

Example: Total Weight Calculation

Given: 16" × 0.500" carbon steel, 3LPE coating (2.5 mm), 2" calcium silicate insulation, crude oil (SG = 0.85)

Pipe weight:
W_pipe = 10.69 × (16 - 0.5) × 0.5 = 82.9 lb/ft

Coating weight:
t_c = 2.5 mm = 0.098 in
W_coat = π × 16 × 0.098 × 60 / 144 = 2.1 lb/ft

Insulation weight:
W_ins = π × (16+2) × 2 × 12 / 144 = 9.4 lb/ft

Contents (crude oil):
d = 16 - 2×0.5 = 15 in
W_oil = 0.3405 × 15² × 0.85 = 65.1 lb/ft

Total operating: 82.9 + 2.1 + 9.4 + 65.1 = 159.5 lb/ft

References

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