Umbilical End Termination With Integrated Pressure Boosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea umbilicals face challenges in ultra-deep water environments due to increased pressure drops in chemical injection lines, leading to complex and costly modifications, such as larger umbilical sizes or separate chemical injection systems, which increase CAPEX and OPEX.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure boosting system within the umbilical end termination, powered by hydraulic or electrical pumps, to enhance the pressure of fluid lines, allowing for efficient chemical injection without the need for larger umbilical diameters or separate modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the umbilical size is increased to overcome pressure drop in chemical injection lines, then the pressure delivery capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The umbilical system is segmented into functional modules, with a dedicated pressure boosting system integrated at the end termination. This separates the chemical injection function from the main umbilical structure, allowing the umbilical to maintain its original size while achieving enhanced pressure delivery through the modular pressure boosting component.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure boosting system acts as an intermediary component between the chemical source and the injection point. This intermediary device increases fluid pressure without requiring the entire umbilical to be oversized, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving the required pressure delivery capability.
2Stress or pressure
If a separate chemical injection system with storage tanks is provided, then the pressure boosting capability is improved, but the installation complexity and CAPEX increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure boosting system is merged with the umbilical end termination, combining two previously separate functions (chemical storage/injection and pressure boosting) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate storage tanks and reduces installation complexity while maintaining pressure boosting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The umbilical end termination is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the connection point for the umbilical and as the housing for the pressure boosting system. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions, reducing the overall system complexity and installation requirements.
3Length of stationary object
If larger umbilical dimensions are used to reach longer tie-backs, then the pressure delivery distance is improved, but the installation cost and equipment capability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure boosting system is pre-integrated into the umbilical end termination during manufacturing, rather than being added as a separate field installation. This preliminary action allows the umbilical to be installed at standard dimensions, and the pressure boosting capability is activated later, avoiding the need for specialized heavy-lift equipment during installation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables effective pressure boosting of fluid lines in subsea umbilicals, reducing complexity and costs by integrating the pressure boosting system within the umbilical end termination, thus maintaining performance and safety without increasing umbilical size or installation complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure boosting system is internally powered by the subsea umbilical. The subsea umbilical comprises at least one hydraulic conduit, and the hydraulic conduit powers the pressure boosting system
Implementation Method 2
The pressure boosting system comprises one or more of the group comprising; hydraulic pumps, electrical pumps, and a combination of same
Data Source
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AI summary
An umbilical end termination for a subsea umbilical comprising a plurality of functional elements and including at least one fluid line, wherein the umbilical end termination includes a pressure boosting system in line with the at least one fluid line.