OCTG Pipe Procurement Guide: What Information Should You Provide When Requesting a Quote?

Buying OCTG involves more than asking for a size and price. The material has to match the well design, grade, weight, connection, required specifications, quantity, delivery schedule, and intended application.

The more complete the information provided upfront, the more accurately a supplier can evaluate available inventory, mill options, processing requirements, lead times, and pricing.

Whether you are sourcing casing or tubing for an upcoming drilling program, completion activity, production operations, or field inventory, a clear request for quote can reduce unnecessary back-and-forth and help identify the best option quickly.

At Speartip Tubular, we work with upstream operators to source OCTG based on the realities of the job: correct specifications, dependable availability, competitive pricing, and material delivered when and where it is needed.

Here is the information we recommend including when requesting an OCTG quote.

1. Start With the Basic OCTG Specification

The first step is providing a clear description of the material you need.

At a minimum, include:

• Outside Diameter (O.D.)

• Weight per foot

• Grade

• Connection

• Range or length requirement, if applicable

• Total footage or quantity required

For example, instead of requesting “5-1/2-inch casing for an upcoming well,” provide the complete requirement:

5-1/2" 20# HP-P110 BTC R3 – 18,000 feet

Those details allow an OCTG supplier to quickly evaluate available inventory, identify potential mill or processing options, and provide more accurate pricing and lead times.

If a specification is still being finalized, an experienced OCTG supplier can also help identify commercially available options. Small changes in weight, grade, connection, or range can significantly affect availability, lead time, and cost.

Understanding those options early can help purchasing and engineering teams avoid specifying material that is difficult to source when a more readily available alternative may meet the same application requirements.

2. Specify the OCTG Grade

Grade matters because it determines important mechanical properties and whether the pipe is appropriate for your application.

Your quote request should identify the required grade, such as J55, L80, HCL80, UCL80, P110, HCP110, HPP110 or another specified grade.

Do not leave grade requirements open-ended when the well program already establishes them. Substituting one grade for another may affect performance, compliance, pricing, and availability.

If your engineering or drilling team has established a specific grade requirement, include it in the original RFQ.

3. Include the Connection or Thread Requirement

The connection is another critical part of an OCTG pipe quote.

Tell your supplier exactly what connection is required, whether it is API or a semi-premium/premium/proprietary connection specified by your project.

For example, your RFQ might call for: 5-1/2-inch, 20 lb/ft, HPP110, Semi-Premium 18,000 feet.

That information gives the supplier a much clearer picture of the material you actually need.

Connection requirements can significantly affect availability, processing, and pricing, so they should never be treated as an afterthought.

4. State the Quantity and Length Requirements

Quantity is one of the biggest factors affecting an OCTG quote.

Provide the total footage required and, when possible, the number of joints. If your project requires specific length ranges, include those as well.

For example: 10,000 feet total, 31–34 ft range, approximately 320 joints.

Also let your supplier know whether the requirement is for one shipment or multiple deliveries.

A supplier may have enough total inventory to fulfill an order but may need to coordinate material from multiple locations to meet your required delivery schedule.

5. Tell Your OCTG Supplier Where and When You Need It

Price without delivery information is only part of the equation.

Your quote request should include:

• Delivery location

• Required delivery date

• Jobsite or yard requirements

• Whether partial shipments are acceptable

• Preferred shipping method, if applicable

A pipe quote for Houston is not necessarily the same as a quote for a remote drilling location in the Permian Basin, Mid-Continent, or another U.S. basin.

Likewise, needing pipe in three weeks is very different from planning an order six months from now. Give your OCTG Suppliers the timeline upfront so they can quote against a real requirement.

6. Identify Any Inspection, Testing, or Documentation Requirements

If your project requires specific inspection or documentation, include those requirements with the RFQ.

Depending on the application, this could include documentation such as mill test reports, traceability information, inspection requirements, or other project-specific quality documentation.

The goal is simple: don't discover a documentation requirement after the pipe has already been processed or shipped.

If your end customer, operator, or engineering team has specific requirements, provide them at the beginning of the procurement process.

7. Ask About Availability (Besides Asking for the Price)

The lowest quoted price doesn't necessarily deliver the best procurement outcome. When evaluating OCTG Suppliers, ask:

• Is the material physically available?

• Where is it located?

• What is the realistic lead time?

• Does the quoted material meet every specification?

• Can it be processed and delivered within the required schedule?

These questions matter because a $1-per-foot savings means very little if the material arrives after the rig or completion schedule moves.

At Speartip Tubular, availability and execution are part of the conversation, besides just the price.

8. Give Your Supplier the Complete RFQ

A strong OCTG quote request should give the supplier enough information to answer five basic questions:

• What pipe do you need?

• How much do you need?

• What specifications must it meet?

• Where does it need to go?

• When do you need it?

A complete RFQ could look like this:

Product: OCTG casing

Size: 5-1/2 inch

Weight: 20 lb/ft

Grade: HPP110

Connection: Semi Premium

Quantity: 18,000 feet

Length: 41–44 ft

Delivery: Midland, TX

Required date: October 15

Documentation: MTRs and required traceability

Additional requirements: Confirm availability and processing lead time, ERW or SMLS, Domestic vs Import

That is the kind of RFQ an experienced supplier can act on immediately.

Why the Right OCTG Supplier Matters

The right partner understands that your procurement decision is tied to drilling schedules, completion schedules, inventory planning, transportation, processing, and ultimately your operating costs. Speartip Tubular approaches OCTG procurement with that reality in mind.

We help customers source the right material, evaluate availability, coordinate processing, and move pipe where it needs to go. Whether you're planning a single requirement or managing ongoing field demand, our goal is straightforward: get you the pipe you need, to spec, on schedule, without unnecessary friction.

Ready to Request an OCTG Pipe Quote?

Don't send an RFQ with half the information and spend the next several days answering follow-up questions. Provide your size, weight, grade, connection, quantity, delivery location, timeline, and any inspection or documentation requirements upfront. Then let an experienced OCTG Suppliers partner do the work of finding the right solution.

At Speartip Tubular, we move fast, communicate clearly, and build our sourcing strategy around your actual requirements.

Need OCTG pipe for an upcoming project? Send Speartip your specifications and request a quote. Let's get the pipe sourced and moving.