Subsea connector with u-shaped configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10985544-B2
Application number	US-201816197579-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Nov 27, 2017
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

A subsea connector ( 20 ) is provided for joining a first cable ( 2 ) having a first minimum bending radius (MBR) and a second cable ( 3 ) having a second minimum bending radius (MBR). The subsea connector is arranged with a first joint device ( 21, 53 ) for connection with the first cable and a second joint device ( 22, 54 ) for connection with the second cable ( 3 ). The subsea connector comprises a conductive member ( 25, 57 ) for transfer of electric power between the first and the second cable ( 2,3 ), the conductive member having, in an installed position, a U-shape configuration and the radius of curvature of the subsea connector is less than or equal to the first and second minimum bending radii such that at least a portion of the first cable ( 2 ) extending from connection with the first joining device ( 21,53 ) is arranged essentially parallel with at least a portion of the second cable ( 3 ) extending from connection with the second joint device ( 22,54 ). The invention also concerns a cable arrangement, a junction box and a method for assembly and installation of a flowline arrangement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A subsea connector for joining a first cable having a first minimum bending radius and a second cable having a second minimum bending radius, wherein the subsea connector is arranged with a first joint device for connection with the first cable and a second joint device for connection with the second cable said subsea connector positioned as a separate element between, and connected to both, said first and second joint devices, said subsea connector comprises:
a conductive member for transfer of electric power between the first and the second cable, the conductive member being U-shaped with a radius of curvature less than or equal to the first and second minimum bending radii, such that at least a portion of the first cable extending from connection with the first joining device is arranged essentially parallel with at least a portion of the second cable extending from connection with the second joint device.

2. Subsea connector according to claim 1 , wherein the first joint device has a first end connection portion for connection with an end portion of the conductive member and a second end connection portion for connection with an end portion of the first cable.

3. Subsea connector according to claim 1 , wherein the second joint device has a first end connection portion for connection with an end portion of the conductive member and a second end connection portion for connection with an end portion of the second cable.

4. Subsea connector according to claim 2 , wherein the first end connection portion has an insert section for accommodation of the end portion of the conductive member.

5. Subsea connector according to claim 2 , wherein the second end connection portion has an insert section for accommodation of the end portion of the first cable.

6. Subsea connector according to claim 4 , wherein the insert section is arranged for establishing a compressive connection for accommodation of the end portion of the first cable.

7. Subsea connector according to claim 4 , wherein the insert section is arranged for establishing a compressive connection for accommodation of the end portion of the conductive member.

8. Subsea connector according to claim 4 , wherein the insert section is arranged for establishing a threaded connection for accommodation of the end portion of the cable.

9. Subsea connector according to claim 4 , wherein the insert section is arranged for establishing a threaded connection for accommodation of the end portion of the conductive member.

10. Subsea connector according to claim 2 , wherein the first end connection portion is arranged for attachment of the end portion of the conductive member by fastening means.

11. Subsea connector according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive member comprises a solid conductor preformed into a U-bend.

12. Subsea connector according to claim 11 , wherein the solid conductor comprises a copper bolt device.

13. Subsea connector according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive member is provided with a layered arrangement comprising at least one layer of semi conductive tape and at least one layer of insulating tape arranged in layers where the at least one layer of insulating tape superposes the at least one layer of semi conductive tape.

14. Subsea connector according to claim 13 , wherein the layered arrangement comprises
a first layer of semi conductive tape in a wrap around the conductor member,
a first layer of insulating tape around the layer of semi conductive tape,
a second layer of semi conductive tape around the first layer of insulating tape,
a second layer of insulating tape around the second layer of semi conductive tape.

15. Subsea connector according to claim 14 , wherein the layered arrangement is surrounded by a wrap tape layer and a heat shrink sleeve is arranged around the wrap tape layer.

16. Subsea connector according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive member comprises a stranded conductor made up by plural cables.

17. Subsea connector according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second minimum bending radii are within a range of 1.5-3 m.

18. Subsea connector according to claim 17 , wherein the radius of curvature of the conductive member of the subsea connector is substantially in a range of 0.1 meter relative to the first and second minimum bending radii, said radii being within the range of 1.5-3 m.

19. A cable arrangement for installment on a flow line comprising:
the subsea connector according to claim 1 ,
the first cable comprising a piggyback cable arranged for attachment to the flowline, the piggyback cable has one end portion connected to the first joint device of the subsea connector and the other end portion electrically connected to the flowline,
the second cable comprising a retrievable cable has one end portion connected to the second joint device of the subsea connector and the other end portion of the retrievable cable is arranged for releasable attachment to the flowline,
wherein the U-shaped conductive member of the subsea connector in the installed position on the flowline provides for a cable connecting arrangement where at least a portion of the piggyback cable and at least a portion of the retrievable cable extends in a an essentially parallel pattern from the subsea connector.

20. A junction box comprising a cable arrangement which comprises
the subsea connector according to claim 1 ,
the first cable has one end portion connected to the first joint device of the subsea connector and the other end portion is arranged in a connecting arrangement for supply of electric power from a power source,
the second cable has one end portion connected to the second joint device of the subsea connector and the other end portion of the second cable is arranged in a connecting arrangement supplying electric power to a cable arranged for heating a flowline, wherein the U-shaped conductive member of the subsea connector in the installed position provides for a cable connecting arrangement where at least a portion of the first cable and at least a portion of the second cable extends in an essentially parallel pattern from the subsea connector.

21. Method for assembly and installation of a flowline arrangement, the flow line arrangement comprises a flowline, a first cable having a first minimum bend radius and a second cable having a second minimum bend radius for transfer of electric energy to the flowline, wherein the method comprises the following steps of
assembling the flow line arrangement by
connecting one end of the first cable to a subsea connector which is installed on the flowline, the subsea connector comprises a U-shape conductive member for transfer of
electric power said subsea connector positioned as a separate element between, and connected to both, said first and second cables,
connecting one end of the second cable to the subsea connector,
arranging the other end of the second cable releasably attached to the flow line,
wherein
at least a portion of the first cable and at least a portion of the second cable extends in an essentially parallel pattern from the subsea connector,

laying the assembled flowline arrangement and continuing the flowline with the first cable extending along the flowline to a designated installation point,
releasing the other end of the second cable from attachment with the flowline and establish connection with a topside power supply for electric power transfer to the first cable.

Assignees

• Nexans

Inventors

• Iversen Oyvind
• Kalheim Bjorn Willy

Classifications

• H02G1/10 Primary

  in or under water · CPC title

• H02G15/14

  specially adapted for submarine cables · CPC title

• H01R13/523

  for use under water · CPC title

• H02G9/02

  laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title

• H02G15/08

  Cable junctions (for gas or oil filled cables H02G15/24) · CPC title