Following the award in September 2011 by Nautilus Minerals Inc. of a multi-million dollar contract for the design and delivery of a subsea Rigid Riser System (RALS), GMC recently commenced design qualification testing of the innovative connection system prior to delivery.
The connector employed on this riser system is pivotal technology, which enables the riser to deliver superior fatigue performance in a harsh environment, where the vessel and operating conditions demand unparalleled performance. This system, when delivered to Nautilus Minerals, will form part of the key equipment packages required for delivering produced Seafloor Massive Sulphide (containing high grades of copper) ore from the seabed in water depths up to 2500 meters.
GMC’s scope is the turnkey supply of the Rigid Riser System including design, detailed engineering, procurement, QC, testing, commissioning and installation. The Rigid Riser System comprises of 1700 meters of standard and buoyant riser joints configured with a 12 inch central riser tube featuring 1 inch wall X80 seamless pipe, and two 8 inch X65 water delivery pipes. Additionally within the riser system are the inclusion of specialty joints and pups, for various operating conditions. At the heart of the riser system is a new mechanical connector that has been developed by GMC specifically for dynamic riser and pipeline applications. The riser system is delivered with a suite of tooling which has been specifically engineered for standard products, to meet the requirements of this project, which includes an integrated Spider and make up tool, along with a 10 degree high angle gimbal.
Kevin Chell, Chief Operating Officer commented: “The connector has been developed by GMC and is the first mechanical connector to be successfully tested to the ISO 21329 standard. The made up connector has fatigue capabilities in excess of 10 times higher than a Class C weld (typical offshore weld) and we believe it will have many applications in future offshore riser and pipeline systems.”
Company Profile GMC is a leading provider of integrated solutions to operators in the upstream oil and gas industry, delivering offshore and SURF (Subsea, Umbilical, Riser & Flowline) projects with innovative technical and commercial solutions. Its multi-discipline team has extensive experience in all aspects of offshore project delivery, including the design and installation of fixed and floating facilities, pipelines, risers, and subsea systems.
With over 21 years of experience of successfully delivering offshore projects in all major offshore basins, GMC creates value for customers through a unique blend of technical excellence and operational experience that delivers independent cost effective solutions.
‘GMC – Experience where it counts, innovation where it matters’
