By Frank Esposito
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Published: September 11, 2014 1:51 pm ET
Updated: September 11, 2014 10:52 pm ET

Image By: Invista
Invista's new Raptor nylon pipe is aimed at the oil and gas industry.

New shale gas and oil production is leading Invista to enter the plastic pipe market with Raptor-brand nylon pipe.

Officials with Wichita, Kan.-based Invista said in a Sept. 10 news release that Raptor is the industry’s first homogenous, single-wall line pipe made from nylon 6/6. The pipe can withstand temperatures of up to 200° F and pressures of up to 500 pounds per square inch.

An Invista spokesman said that the firm currently is in commercial production of Raptor-brand pipe at a plant in the U.S. Midwest, but he declined to provide a more detailed location. He added that the firm is considering moving production to a different site, also in the Midwest, to serve customers in Texas and North Dakota, which are two of Invista’s largest sales regions.

The new pipe is expected to be used in oilfield applications, where officials said it will be able to withstand corrosive liquids, impacts, abrasions, high temperatures and daily wear and tear.

“We discovered a strong market signal for a line pipe that was tough enough to handle the oil patch and (that could) perform daily under rugged conditions, but could be installed quickly,” technology vice president Vikram Gopal said in the release.

Company officials added that Raptor performs two to five times better than steel pipe in abrasion resistance, and has better impact strength than fiberglass, high density polyethylene and composites.

“With shale gas production increasing across North America, we expect our new line pipe offering will bring a new solution to the wellhead for the transportation of oil, gas and water,” Gopal added.

Invista ranks as the world’s largest nylon 6/6 resin maker and also produces nylon and polyester fibers. The firm employs 10,000 in 20 countries worldwide.

In late 2013, Invista filed several patents for nylon 12 feedstock and announced plans to enter the nylon 12 resin market as well.