Umbilical cable floats are widely used in offshore oil and gas extraction
2025-03-28 10:28:42 0
The umbilical cable float is one of the key devices in the field of Marine engineering and is widely used in scenarios such as offshore oil and gas extraction, deep-sea observation, and offshore wind power. It is not only the "lifeline" connecting the buoyancy on the water surface with the underwater production system, but also the core technical equipment ensuring the safe and efficient development of deep-sea resources. With the global development of Marine resources advancing towards deep water and ultra-deep water, the design and application technology of Umbilical cable floats have also ushered in new challenges and breakthroughs.
一. Basic Structure and Function of Umbilical cable float
Umbilical cable is a kind of composite cable, usually integrating multiple functional units such as power cable, optical fiber communication line, hydraulic pipeline and chemical agent injection pipe, and wrapped with an anti-corrosion and high-voltage resistant sheath on the outside. The umbilical cable float is a key component that provides buoyancy for the cord cable. It is installed at specific positions on the cable through modular design to counteract the self-weight of the cable and external loads, ensuring its stable shape in complex Marine environments.
According to different application scenarios, umbilical cable floats can be divided into two categories:
1. Static cable float: It is used to fix the overhanging section of the umbilical cable (such as a "wavy" arrangement) to reduce friction on the seabed;
2. Dynamic cable float: It ADAPTS to the movement of the floating production system and alleviates cable fatigue through buoyancy adjustment.
二. Technical Challenges and Innovative Breakthroughs
The deep-sea environment imposes strict requirements on the umbilical cable floats:
Pressure resistance and corrosion resistance: In the sea area at a depth of 1,500 meters or more, the cable float needs to withstand a static water pressure of over 15MPa, while also resisting seawater corrosion and biological adhesion.
2. Dynamic fatigue management: The swaying of floating platforms and the impact of ocean currents can cause the cables to bend repeatedly.
3. Integrated design: Modern umbilical cable floats tend to be multi-functional integrated.
三. Application Scenarios and Typical Cases
1. Offshore oil and gas fields: The flexible riser system supported by umbilical cable floats has achieved dual-channel transportation of crude oil and natural gas, with a single cable length exceeding 30 kilometers.
2. Offshore wind power: Floating wind turbines need to transmit electrical energy through dynamic umbilical cables.
四. Conclusion
Although the umbilical cable float is small, it is an "invisible pillar" for deep-sea development. Driven by both technological progress and environmental protection demands, its design will become more precise and intelligent. In the future, China is expected to occupy a more important position in the global high-end Marine equipment market through independent innovation.
