secc have recently produced a design for a twin configuration stern-mounted 3 1/8;" N/B (API) Hot-Make, Hot-Break Full Bore Safety Breakaway Coupling for the vessel of a subsea a well production testing/intervention company based in the Middle East.

The couplings will be mounted in parallel at the stern of the vessel and will capable of take pressures of up to 15,000 psi on both the  in-put and out-put flow lines from the subsea/offshore well that is undergoing flow testing.

In the event that the vessel needs to quickly move away from the area because of an emergency, both hoses can be quickly jettisoned over-board by means of a hydraulic release system with no loss of product into the surrounding marine area due to the two internal slide valves in each coupling, which give a 100% dry break during the disconnection of the coupling.

When the emergency is over the vessel can quickly retrieve the two hoses with the male coupling ends fitted and because of the couplings unique “Hot-Make, Hot-Break” pressure balanced design, these two coupling ends can be quickly re-assembled into the fixed female ends of the stern of the vessel without the need to dump the line pressure on either side of the coupling.

secc expect this new coupling design will be of great interest to the well testing/well intervention industry as it offers a number of huge advantages over existing “breakaway” technology.