Horizontal Clamp-Connection System - Light (HCCS-L) Cast-Iron

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

The Horizontal Clamp-Connection System-Light (HCCS-L) Cast-Iron project aims to offer a simpler, lighter and cheaper solution with respect to existing horizontal connection systems, by use of a cast-iron termination, which is the outboard side of the connection, i.e. flow-line side. As current connection systems are typically made out of standard piping and/or plates, existing configurations typically have multiple parts, either welded or bolted, adding complexity and cost, while limiting geometry possibilities when intricate features are required. The cast-iron termination solution will have all required interfaces for thermal insulation, installation and retrieval tool with damping system, all in a single and optimized cast-iron part, reducing weight, manufacturing operations, cost and carbon footprint of the overall system. Additionally, part of the project's budget will be dedicated for developing a design methodology for using cast-iron in subsea applications. BH's Materials department will work with other private and governmental entities for the inclusion of cast-iron in the Material Appendix (C) of NORSOK's U-001 (Subsea Production Systems) standard, based on, among others, DNVGL-ST-0361 (Machinery for wind turbines), already applicable in offshore wind-power. Due to varying mechanical properties of cast iron, which depend on wall thickness that may vary within a single part, a methodology for defining design specifications, such as utilization factors for structural integrity validation, needs to be developed. The prototype under fabrication for system validation will cover connection of pipes between 4" and 6", but the casting solution can be applied to bigger systems covering up to 18" pipe.