Subsea Umbilical Coupling Method for Laying Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea umbilical laying techniques are complex, expensive, and require large and heavy Subsea Umbilical Termination Assemblies (SUTAs), leading to handling difficulties, increased vessel requirements, and safety concerns during operations like load out and installation, with multiple mobilizations and special tools needed, and involving wet storage and rerouting of umbilical ends.
Innovation Solution
Mechanically coupling the ends of two umbilicals together using shackles, bolts, or pins, allowing them to be deployed and connected as a single unit, either on a lay vessel or pre-coupled in a factory, to simplify the laying process and reduce vessel duration and mobilizations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional separate umbilical laying procedures are used, then each umbilical can be installed independently, but the process requires multiple mobilizations, wet storage, and rerouting of umbilical ends increasing complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple umbilical installation operations into a single integrated procedure. Umbilicals are pre-assembled with termination assemblies on the lay vessel, then deployed together in one operation, eliminating the need for separate laying, wet storage, and rerouting operations that characterize traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The termination assemblies are pre-installed on the umbilicals while on the lay vessel before deployment. This preliminary action allows the umbilicals to be ready for immediate connection upon reaching the subsea structure, eliminating the need for subsequent rerouting and reducing the overall installation timeline.
2Adaptability or versatility
If larger and heavier SUTAs are used to provide more services, then functionality increases, but handling difficulties and safety concerns increase during load out and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the umbilical installation into separate modular components: the umbilical itself and the termination assembly. This segmentation allows the termination assembly to be designed with appropriate weight and size for safe handling, while still providing the required functionality through its modular design that can be configured with or without additional services.
3Reliability
If multiple separate procedures are scheduled for laying and connecting umbilicals, then each task can be completed thoroughly, but vessel duration and mobilization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate installation procedures into a single integrated operation. By pre-assembling umbilicals with termination assemblies on the lay vessel and deploying them together, the method combines laying, positioning, and connection preparation into one continuous process, eliminating the time losses associated with multiple mobilizations and sequential operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea umbilical laying method includes mechanically coupling an umbilical termination assembly at an end of a first umbilical to an umbilical termination assembly at an end of a second umbilical, and subsequently deploying the mechanically coupled ends of the first and second umbilicals together in a subsea umbilical laying process.