Subsea connector specialist, First Subsea’s automatic release clamp (ARC) connector technology for bend stiffeners has been used to successfully attach six Technip bend stiffeners for lift and production flexible risers, to the Glas Dowr FPSO in the Kitan oil field.
Designed for riser and umbilical bend stiffener connections where external intervention is difficult, First Subsea’s automatic release clamp eliminates the need for a ROV and diver during termination head connection. The ARC connector was used to connect 2 inch gas lift risers, and 6 inch production risers to the FPSO’s I-Tubes.
The ARC connector comprises a male Ballgrab ball and taper component attached to the riser. This self-energising and self-aligning connector is pulled into the pre-machined, compact female receptacle attached to the FPSO’s tube, giving a grip that increases in direct proportion to the load applied.
Located in permit 06-105 of the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA), the oil field is some 500 km off the Australian coast in water depths of approximately 320m, in the area of the Timor sea jointly administrated by Timor-Leste and Australia.
Kitan is operated by Eni (40%) in permit JPDA 06-105, with INPEX Timor Sea, Ltd. (35%) and Talisman Resources (JPDA 06-105) Pty Limited (25%) as joint venture partners.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , March 29, 2012; Image: Bluewater/First Subsea