Flowline Weak Links
Our flowline weak links offer a robust design and are especially suited to meet the challenges of drifting icebergs in Arctic regions.
Observations and scans of the seabed show that ice has left plow marks as deep as 750 m below surface. This has resulted in the requirement of weak links to be installed on all pipelines in the Arctic region.
We have developed, qualified, and delivered a considerable amount of standard flowline weak links in various size ranges for this market with a 100% success rate during installation.
The flowline weak links are highly customizable and easy to redesign, and a swivel version with an automatic released safety valve has also been developed. As an extra feature, a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) safety cover that can activate or deactivate the separation function can be mounted on the outside. The main purpose for this application is to be used as a safety feature on utility lines between subsea equipment and an installation vessel.
Features/Benefits
- Simple and reliable release mechanism
- Predetermined shear value
- Uses material properties instead of complex mechanical solutions
- Eliminates end-cap effect with unique design
- Completely locked/protected during installation; easy activation
- Highly customizable
- Easily adaptable to customer specifications
- Incorporation of a release safety valve and swivel
- ROV operated
- Size range: 3- to 12-in. inner bore
- Robust design
- Matches the design life of the subsea system
- Compact and protected design
- Corrosion-resistant system solutions
- Neutral to lay-down orientation
- Hub design to customer requirements
- Environmentally friendly
- Environmental protection, especially in Arctic regions
- Protects other vulnerable equipment from environmental spillage caused by drag loads on the pipelines
- Can be fitted with release check valves on both ends for spill prevention in case of separation
