Subsea Safety
Breakaway Coupling The balanced safety breakaway coupling from secc for subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines.
Subsea technology for the
21st Century and beyond
As global environmental pressures and regulations become increasingly severe on Oil and Gas companies, subsea exploration and production moves to ever more remote, deeper and inhospitable regions; secc have developed a subsea breakaway coupling* that not only protects the significant investments made in production infrastructure, but provides a solution with zero spillage (during coupling separation) and crucially minimises production down time and environmental damage to the surrounding area.
The secc subsea safety breakaway coupling separates at a pre-determined axial break load setting, preventing damage to subsea production systems, FPSO loading systems and lateral tie-in’s.
The secc – Subsea Safety Breakaway Coupling prevents damage to subsea production infrastructure systems caused by external forces, such as mud-slides, subsea earthquakes, dragging anchors and storms acting on subsea pipelines, production platforms and FPSO vessel pipelines.
The ‘Breakload’ setting at which the coupling will separate can be very accurately defined for any application criteria.
The coupling’s totally enclosed valve system ensures that there is 100% shut-off of product media during coupling activation by an axial load, thereby preventing environmental marine damage in the event of a separation.
The secc technology provides a coupling where no internal separation forces are created when the pipeline is internally pressurised, therefore making it possible for the first time to have a truly balanced pipeline safety breakaway coupling at any water depth. There are no requirements for additional systems to balance the internal pressures and external water pressures.
The secc – subsea safety breakaway coupling is a self contained unit, which can be easily installed by ROV. A simple external frame allows an ROV to not only initially install the coupling, but also to re-install a separated (after coupling activation) SECC – subsea safety breakaway coupling, without the need to bring it back to the surface and have it re-furbished. A secondary removable pin protects the shear pin against axial tension forces, providing for easy installation. This pin is removed by ROV (or diver) after installation of the pipeline is complete.
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
The secc – subsea safety breakaway coupling has been designed in accordance with the requirements of: - API 6H / API 17D / ASME Pressure Vessel Code VIII – Division 2 / Norsok Standards / European Pressure Equipment Directive
The material of manufacture can be A350 LF2 Carbon steel / Duplex / Super duplex / 6MO / Titanium. A range of internal pipeline coatings is available.
Separation of coupling at a pre-set axial load which is completely independent of either:
I/D of pipeline.
Internal product media pressure.
Pipeline depth – capable of working in any depth of seawater.
No separation forces acting on internal mating faces of the coupling:
Coupling is always perfectly internally balancedand therefore not affected by the internal product media pressure or pressure fluctuations.
Self seal on coupling separation:
100% shut off of product media by internal coupling valves before coupling separates to atmosphere.
No requirement for upstream or downstream Shut-off valves.
Single shear pin used:
Breakload settings can be very accurately defined for any application criteria.
Shear pin easily changed with coupling ‘in-situ’ to give different ‘Breakload’ settings.
Shear pin can be easily changed by ROV.
Easy coupling installation:
Coupling can be easily installed by an ROV.
Easy coupling re-set in location:
Coupling can be easily re-set by an ROV.
No requirement for the coupling to be brought to the surface for re-setting.
No requirement for coupling to be returned to the manufacturer for re-setting.
Size Range:
Standard nominal bore sizes 1” to 18” – larger sizes on request.
Pressure ratings:
Standard pressure range on all nominal bore sizes: 15,000 psig (1,034 bar) – higher ratings on request.
Operating temperature range:
Minus 29º C to plus 170º C (minus 20º F to plus 338º F).
End connections:
Weld-neck, hammer-union and flanged (API, ANSI, ISO) – End-user defined.
Materials:
Carbon steel (LF2), duplex steels, Hastelloy & Titanium trim available
Download