Releasable Mooring System Handles Rough Seas
As governments around the world steadily increase environmental and safety regulations, venturing into new or changing markets has been ever more difficult. With shallow-water drilling fields being further explored every day and the constant threat of storms and ice floes, the call for an easy, all-in-one mooring system has never been stronger. The new MOOR-Max releasable mooring system from Delmar has answered that call.
The MOOR-Max is an inclusive all-in-one controlled mooring release system featuring preset mooring designs and installations with quick disconnect capability. It also better enables DP/moored vessels to drill in shallow water, where DP systems can’t maintain acceptable watch circles. The crown jewel of the MOOR-Max is the new RAR PlusTM, a proven quick-release technology with 35 years of field experience, now featuring a mechanical backup in addition to the acoustic release. The RAR allows for quick disconnect even under load, which both reduces risk and drastically saves on critical path time.
DP/moored semisubmersible rig fleets, especially, have found a beneficial use of this system. Historically, DP vessels evade extreme environmental conditions in which they are not designed to operate. In the past, mooring has been required in shallow water for station-keeping and systems were expected to stay on location during extreme events. To accomplish this, stronger mooring systems of 12 or 16 lines were required, which increased rig move duration times and costs.
With the MOOR-Max system, a DP vessel can use a simple 8-line mooring system and leave the location without increasing T-time if a storm or ice floe requires evasion. Perhaps most importantly, the MOOR-Max increases a DP/moored vessel’s efficiency and flexibility for mixed shallow-water and deepwater programs. By drastically reducing mooring risks, the system provides an easy path to regulatory approval for 8-line MODU systems in regions that have historically required more time-consuming mooring spreads.
Even when storm evasion is not needed, operators and drilling contractors find that the use of the MOOR-Max system saves significant time and, therefore, money. This is due to many factors including flexible mooring line and anchor configurations, the best available equipment, and highly trained personnel. But the most important factor to efficiency is the RAR Plus. On average, the inclusion of the RAR into a mooring system can save 90 hours of critical path time during disconnection operations compared to a traditional preset mooring design. These significant time savings not only reduce cost, but also allow for tighter time windows during rig moves and increase the safety and reliability of the whole process.
Each MOOR-Max system can be fully customized to rig and location using two phases: design and operation. The design phase includes equipment selection, a mooring pattern that is analyzed and optimized for the location, and assurance that the design meets the region’s codes and standards.
The operations phase begins during the design phase as the operations and design teams work together. The operations team develops a comprehensive operational procedure, prepares class-certified equipment inventory, and gives vessel-type and installation equipment recommendations. Once the mooring design has been thoroughly reviewed and approved, the MOOR-Max mooring system is installed and the vessel is connected with the RAR system. Every phase and every piece of equipment is owned and controlled by Delmar Systems, resulting in a drastic decrease in miscommunication errors.
Above all, Delmar’s MOOR-Max releasable mooring system offers peace of mind and an assurance of smooth sailing. It is designed to reduce risk, which in turn makes it easier to gain regulatory approval. And it is the only available system that combines proven mooring release technology with efficient proprietary methodologies that come from completing over a thousand rig moves. The development of the MOOR-Max system represents exciting new technology and innovation aimed at perfecting efficiency and reliability in offshore mooring.
New Silicone Rubber Insulation Available For Subsea Flow Assurance Applications
As oil and gas operations move into deeper waters, there is a rising need for more reliable, cost-efficient and lower-risk subsea wet installation systems. Today, subsea production and tieback systems must handle higher material temperatures and pressures, as well as meet critical performance specifications for deepwater equipment. Such steps can help subsea systems avoid issues and failures caused by joint separation, cracking, degradation, hydrostatic crushing or improper application.
Applicators are seeking out robust, easier-to-apply insulation to help structural and thermal integrity, consistent processing, and quality control for the expected 20- to 25-year lifespan of oil fields. To extend cooldown times and achieve excellent flow assurance, Dow Oil, Gas & Mining has integrated existing HYPERLAST? Technology with Dow Corning? brand silicone solutions to offer new XTI-1003 RTV Silicone Rubber Insulation.
Silicone Rubber Insulation Performance
As the first solid, non-syntactic, two-part silicone rubber system for subsea flow assurance applications, this technology offers both performance advantages and application benefits for a growing number of projects involving harsh subsea environments and equipment.
Performance advantages include thermal stability across a wide temperature range, good insulating properties for longer cooldown times, increased joint strength, high heat capacity, long-term flexibility, and resistance to extreme pressures. Easily mixed and applied using standard cast-in-place equipment and processes, the technology cures to a high-strength silicone rubber.
Success Story: Erha North
Subsea7 turned to Trelleborg Offshore’s advanced silicone insulation system, Vikotherm S1, which uses XTI-1003 RTV Silicone Rubber Insulation as a core raw material for their Erha North (Nigeria) subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines contract.
This material was selected because of its strong performance in HP/HT environments. In fact, the Vikotherm S1 system can effectively operate in depths of 3,000 m and in temperatures in excess of 135 degrees Celsius.
On insulation projects that are completed or in progress, Vikotherm S1 is used on components such as tapered stress joints, manifolds, pipeline end terminations, pipeline end manifolds, vertical connection systems, and subsea pump stations.
Leaders In Flow Assurance
With more than 530 completed pipeline projects over 30 years, Dow has established a reputation as a global flow assurance technology leader for both onshore and offshore options. Our advanced line of products now include HYPERLAST? Glass Syntactic polyurethane materials and HYPERLAST? FJ rigid polyurethane foam systems.
Dow’s systems and technologies for flowline insulation and subsea equipment are complemented by a comprehensive network offering customers global expertise and technical support.
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