Offshore Cable Conduit With Embedded Strength Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore oil and gas equipment umbilicals or cables face damage due to harsh environments and handling challenges, requiring a ruggedized cable assembly solution.
Innovation Solution
A conduit assembly with embedded longitudinal strength members and end fittings that include a mounting flange, insert extension, and cover member to securely terminate the conduits, along with a retaining wrap and bonding section to protect and secure cables, and clamps to bundle conduits, enhancing durability and ease of installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional conduit assemblies are used in offshore environments, then the cable assembly can be installed, but the cables and hoses are susceptible to damage from tensile loads, abrasion, and mechanical damage due to harsh environment and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit body is constructed as a composite structure combining a flexible base material with embedded longitudinal strength members (such as steel wires or aramid fibers). This composite construction provides tensile strength while maintaining flexibility, protecting cables from damage during handling and installation in harsh offshore environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit body is designed with inherent cushioning and protection features before cables are exposed to harmful conditions. The embedded strength members and robust conduit construction provide preemptive protection against tensile loads, abrasion, and mechanical damage that cables would otherwise encounter during offshore operations.
2Ease of operation
If conventional end fittings are used to terminate conduits, then the assembly can be completed, but installation and maintenance are difficult due to the weight and complexity of traditional components
Solution Approach 1:
The end fitting is divided into separate modular components: a mounting flange for attachment to structures, an insert extension that terminates inside the conduit body, and a cover member that protects the termination point. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently and assembled in a straightforward sequence, reducing overall complexity and facilitating maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert extension acts as an intermediary element between the mounting flange and the conduit body interior. It provides a transition structure that simplifies the termination process, allowing cables to be securely ended while distributing mechanical loads away from the conduit body, thereby easing installation and maintenance operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cables are secured inside the conduit body, then cable position is maintained, but traditional methods lack adequate protection against cable movement and damage during handling
Solution Approach 1:
A bonding section is applied to the inner surface of the conduit body before cables are installed or positioned. This bonding layer provides cushioning protection and secures cables in place, preventing movement and damage during handling and operation while maintaining stable cable positioning throughout the conduit length.
Data Source
AI summary
A conduit for an offshore cable assembly that includes a conduit body that has at least one longitudinal strength member embedded therein. The at least one longitudinal strength member extends the length of the conduit body. A plurality of cables, hoses, or a combination are received inside of the conduit body.