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United Kingdom |
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New electrical connectors shorten topsides installation time
The nature of the Clair reservoir with a difficult geology of fractured sandstone meant the costs of recovery made the field unviable. However, a review by Mustang Engineering, on behalf of the Clair partners, revealed that Phase 1 of the field could be made an economic proposition if specific, recently learned best practices were used.
As part of an initiative to reduce offshore man-hours, the Clair field project reviewed the scope of work involved in making electrical cable connections. After the heavy-lift vessel had completed installation, these connectors connect the modules to the deck.
Traditionally, topside modules are hard-wired and spliced using terminal boxes and long cable runs. This work is normally done offshore by large teams of electricians who must be accommodated for extended periods in hired accommodation modules. The project sought an alternative approach using robust hazardous area connectors.
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Over 200 of these connectors shortened module installation time on Clair field.
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Wellhead Electrical of Aberdeen was asked to produce a specification for a new connector. This called for connectors that were suitable for both control and power cabling, and fit for purpose over the 25-year design life of the platform. Connectors were required to handle many different cable diameters, core sizes, voltages and currents. After careful evaluation of connectors from several manufacturers, these requirements were best met by Hawke International, which supplied over 200 BASEEFA certified ATEX IP66 EExd IIC T5 connectors, made in 316SS grade.
The connectors were installed onshore at the AMEC site in Wallsend, Heerema yard in Hartlepool, and at the Leirvik Module Technology site in Norway, by engineers from Wellheads Electrical who supplied technical backup for Hawke. The team assembled the connectors onto the cabling, then tested and certified them, before transferring modules for accommodation, living quarters, utilities, helideck and drilling to the platform. As a result of using these connectors, most of the cable connections in the offshore hook-up became simply “plug-and-operate” – resulting in a considerable savings in time and money. 
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