Wet-Mate Subsea Cable Repair for Faster Integrity Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining or restoring the integrity of subsea cables, particularly medium or high voltage cables, is challenging due to damage or failure, especially when there are no planned service intervals for the electrical equipment connected to these cables, requiring costly and time-consuming retrieval and replacement processes.
Innovation Solution
A subsea cable repair system using wet mate connectors, oil-filled hoses, and a removable stroking tool to quickly restore cable integrity by mating connector parts subsea, reducing the need for long contingency cables and field repair splices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dry mate connectors are used for subsea cable repair, then cable integrity can be restored, but the repair process becomes time-consuming and costly due to the need for dry chambers and complex procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating environment parameter from dry to wet conditions by using wet-mate connectors that are specifically designed to mate underwater. This eliminates the need for dry chambers and allows repair operations to be performed directly in the subsea environment, significantly reducing repair time while maintaining cable integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces oil-filled hoses as an intermediary medium between the electrical connectors and the surrounding water. These hoses provide electrical insulation and protection while allowing the connectors to mate in wet conditions, enabling wet-mate connectivity without direct water contact with the electrical components.
2Reliability
If contingency cables are used to reach the seabed for repair, then cable integrity can be restored, but the system requires long contingency cables and significant capital expenditure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the repair system into modular components: wet-mate connectors that can be attached to existing cable ends, oil-filled hoses for insulation, and stroking tools for positioning. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single long contingency cable, as repair components can be independently deployed and assembled at the fault location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching wet-mate connectors and oil-filled hoses to cable ends before deployment. This preparation allows for quick assembly at the seabed without requiring long contingency cables to be spooled out during the repair operation, reducing both cable quantity and capital expenditure.
3Reliability
If field repair splices are performed on subsea cables, then cable integrity can be restored, but the repair process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex field splice operation and replaces it with a simpler wet-mate connector assembly process. Instead of performing intricate splicing operations on the cable itself, the system uses pre-fabricated wet-mate connectors that attach to cable ends through simpler termination processes, reducing repair complexity while restoring integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable or replaceable wet-mate connector assemblies that can be quickly deployed and discarded after use. These connectors are designed for single-use repair operations, eliminating the need for complex, reusable repair equipment and simplifying the overall repair process.
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
The system efficiently restores cable integrity with reduced operational costs and time, minimizing the need for contingency cables and capital expenditures, while maintaining electrical connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
separate lengths of oil filled hose attached to one end of each of the first and second connector parts
Data Source
AI summary
A subsea cable repair system comprises a first wet mate connector part (11) and a second wet mate connector part (14). The first and second wet mate connector parts comprise a receptacle and a plug. Separate lengths of oil filled hose (12) are attached to one end of each of the first and second connector parts (11, 14) and a cable termination (13) is attached to the other end of each of the separate lengths of oil filled hose.