Subsea Umbilical Termination (SUT) Design Recommendations

API TECHNICAL REPORT 17TR10 FIRST EDITION, DECEMBER 2015

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iii

1. Scope 1

2. References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations 1

   1. Terms and Definitions 1

   2. Abbreviations 7

4. UTA Configuration 8

   1. General 8

   2. Mechanical Considerations 8

   3. Controls Services 10

   4. Controls Components 12

5. Structural Design Requirements 15

   1. UTA Structural Design Basis 15

   2. Loads and Load Combinations 16

   3. Umbilical Equipment Considerations 17

   4. Structural Design Features 18

   5. Structural Design Considerations 19

6. Geometry 20

   1. General 20

   2. UTA Categories 20

   3. Current UTA Convention 21

   4. Umbilical Interface 23

   5. UTA Functionality 23

   6. Subsea Structure Layout 24

   7. Installation Equipment 24

   8. Manufacture/Assemble/Test 24

   9. Subsea Operability (Onward Connections) 24

   10. Mounting/Installation Subsea 24

   11. Interfaces 25

7. Hoses and Tubing 27

   1. Thermoplastic Hoses 27

   2. Steel Tubing 28

8. Electrical/Optical Design Requirements 29

   1. Electrical Connectors 29

   2. Optical Connectors 29

   3. Cable Termination 30

   4. Oil-filled Boxes/Junction Boxes 30

   5. Cable Management 30

   6. Mounting—Connectors 31

9. Installers’ Handling Requirements 31

   1. General 31

   2. Storage Systems and Load Out 31

   3. Installers’ Transport and Storage Systems 31

   4. Laying Systems 34

   5. Loadout and Transport 39

   6. Packing 40

      v

      
      

   7. Installation Sequence and Considerations 40

   8. Handling Requirements for Structures 46

   9. Lifting and Handling 47

   10. Installation Aids 48

   11. Bend Restrictors and Bend Stiffeners 49

Appendix A (informative) Responsibility Matrix 50

Bibliography 52

Figures

1. SUT Illustration 7

2. Indirect and Direct Cable Terminations 13

3. Closed Tensioner Opening 21

4. Geometric Sketch of Five Faces of the UTA 22

5. SUT Illustration 25

6. Umbilical Reel Packing 32

7. Umbilical Vertical Carousel Packing 33

8. Umbilical Basket Carousel Packing 33

9. Umbilical Under Deck Carousel 34

10. Horizontal Tensioner and Over Boarding System 35

11. Horizontal Tensioner and Over Boarding System 35

12. Horizontal Tensioner with Vertical Over Boarding System (May also be through a Moon Pool 36

13. Closed Vertical Lay System 36

14. Closed Vertical Lay System Showing Tensioner Opening 37

15. Illustration of Open Vertical Lay System (VLS) 37

16. Side View of Open Vertical Lay System (VLS) 38

17. Open Vertical Lay System 38

18. Rigid Pipelay Vessels 39

19. Below Deck Storage (with Vertical Lay System) 40

20. Transfer of UTS Over Gutter into VLS Tensioners 41

21. Closed Tensioner System—Maximum Cross Section Opening 41

22. Second End UTA Transfer and Hang-off in VLS System 42

23. Second End UTA lowering Through VLS—Landing at Deck Level 43

24. Height Restrictions for Typical Closed VLS Systems 44

25. Closed for Use Tensioner Mode 45

26. Open for Product Tensioner Mode 45

27. UTA Deployment Clear of Open Tensioner VLS System 46

28. Locating Umbilical into Open Tensioner System While Taking UTA Weight 46

29. Open Tensioner Now Closed for UTA Deployment 47

30. Deck Handling and Transfer of Umbilical Catenary with UTA 48

Tables

1 Height Restrictions 43

0 Introduction

General

This document was generated, by means of the UMSIRE Joint Industry Project (JIP) in response to the increasing difficulties in installation of high-functionality Subsea Umbilical Terminations (SUTs), due to their increasing size. The JIP committee comprised a representative cross section of experienced industry personnel from engineering, installation and operational organizations.

Whilst there are universally accepted standards for the design of an SUT and its sub-systems, none of these standards specifically address the subject of the risks of installation, and the measures required to minimize these risks.

The UMSIRE deliverables are two API documents, 17TR9, Subsea Umbilical Termination (SUT) Selection and Sizing Recommendations (under development) and 17TR10, Subsea Umbilical Termination (SUT) Design Recommendations.

This document is intended to be used as a reference guide by operators, UTA and umbilical specifiers, installers and FEED companies. It is also intended to be used as a reference document to enable reviews to be undertaken to ensure that installation risk has been properly considered as part of SUT design and operation reviews.

Additionally, the document has been designed to be educational such that persons new to the industry, or, less experienced persons within the industry, can understand the implications of UTA design on installation feasibility.

The intent with describing these project stages (see Figure 0.1) is to clarify when within the umbilical project timeline each UMSIRE document should be referenced, and the interested parties that should be involved in discussions during each stage.

Use of the Document

The users of these Design Recommendation TRs are primarily intended to be operators, SUT designers, and FEED companies. Umbilical system design and manufacturing roles and responsibilities are defined in Annex A.

Applicability

Figure 0.2 and Figure 0.3 are pictorial examples of the equipment covered by this TR.

This Design TR aims at capturing the primary aspects impacting on the overall dimensions and weight of the UTA, and highlighting the consequences of design choices.

This document excludes multibore hub connection-type (MHC) UTAs which can connect the umbilical directly to other subsea hardware. Although MHC UTAs are out of scope, many of the guidelines in this document would apply.

Designers should be aware that integration of multiple distribution outlets leads to a significant increase in size and therefore weight of the UTA. For the purpose of reducing the size and weight of the UTA, this document discourages the use of multiple distribution outlets wherever possible.

It is however acknowledged that having a separate Subsea Distribution Unit (SDU) may have an impact on the overall cost. This decision should be made with consideration for the limiting dimension and weight of the UTA.

The document has an educational purpose and is intended to be descriptive rather than prescriptive. It is important to note that none of the following sections should be read in isolation.

Figure 0.1—Project Stage Chart

Figure 0.2—Steel Tube Umbilical or Thermoplastic Umbilical with Spool

Figure 0.3—Thermoplastic Umbilical

Subsea Umbilical Termination (SUT) Design Recommendations

1. Scope

   This document aims to provide best practice technical guidance for SUT design, in order to aid in making informed choices during the design phase.

   
   

   This document is intended to be read in conjunction with API 17TR9 (under development), which highlights technical and commercial risks associated with high functionality umbilical terminations, the implications of decisions made early in the umbilical and SUT planning, selection and design phases, and provides guidance on specification and sizing of SUTs.

   
   

2. References

   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 17A, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—General Requirements and Recommendations

   
   

   API Specification 17D, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems - Subsea Wellhead and Tree Equipment

   
   

   API Specification 17E, Specification for Subsea Umbilicals

   
   

   API Specification 17F, Specification for Subsea Production Control Systems

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 17H, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Interfaces for Subsea Production Systems

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 17P, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems - Subsea Structures and Manifolds

   
   

   ASME B31.3 1, Process Piping Guide

   
   

   ASME B16.5, Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings, NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard ASME B16.47, Large Diameter Steel Flanges, NPS 26 through NPS 60 Metric/Inch Standard DNV RP B401 2, Cathodic Protection Design

   DNV RP F112, Design of Duplex Stainless Steel Subsea Equipment Exposed to Cathodic Protection

   
   

   DNV RP H103 or DNV VMO (DNV-OS-H101 to H206), Modeling and Analysis of Marine Operations

   
   

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations

3.1 Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

1. ASME International, Two Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016-5990, www.asme.org.

2. Det Norske Veritas, Veritasveien 1, 1322, Hovik, Oslo, Norway, www.dnv.com.

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