A knowloedge of the residual stress distribution at circumferential welds can increase the prediction accuracy of a fracture assessment in pipe lines. In this study, in order to predict the residual stress distribution in the circumferential butt-welded pipes were measured, using the hole-drilling strain gauge method. Their practical applications were performed in to two kinds of pipes. As the results, the following characteristics were found. On the inner surface of pipes, the circumferential and axial residual stresses were both tensile near the center line of welding and both of them changed from tensile to compressive as the distance from the center line increased. On the outer surface, however, the circumferential residual stress was shown to be tensile wile the axial residual stress was compressive near the center line of welding, and later they were revered at the region far away from the centerline.