SUBSEA CABLE/UMBILICAL

& L AY I N G M E T H O D S AT
OFFSHORE
Prepared& presented: ANAND

Drop
From
The
Ocean

What is Submarine Cable?

Submarine Power cables are cables for
Electrical Power running through the sea below
the surface
Both AC & DC Submarine cables are used at offshore.
No Two Submarine power cable projects are ever identical.
Each power cable has to be designed to fulfill its purpose considering the
following,
Transmission Distance
Below surface depth
Sea currents
Sea Bed conditions
Risks of Damage
Type of Voltage AC or DC

Classification of Submarine Cables

Submarine Power Cables are broadly classified into
Self contained fluid filled cables for AC or DC
Mass Impregnated Paper cables for DC
Extruded XLPE cables for AC

Self Contained Fluid Filled Submarine Cables

Oil-filled cables can be manufactured up to 600 kV rated 1000 MW for DC

applications and 500 kV rated 1000 MVA for AC.

Mass Impregnated Submarine Cables

Mass-Impregnated HVDC cables have been manufactured for 500 kV

and 800MW and cables up to 600 kV and 1000 MW are under progress.

Extruded XLPE Submarine Cables

XLPE-insulated HV AC cables can be manufactured for the following,

System requirements of 170 kV and 300 MVA for submarine applications

System requirements of 525 kV and 1200 MVA for land applications
For DC voltages up to 150 kV and 500 MW

APPLICATIONS OF SUBMARINE CABLES

Onshore to offshore power transmission and distribution
Offshore to onshore power transmission and
distribution
Offshore Wind farms grid interconnectivity
Offshore Oil and Gas industry
ROV operation in sub sea
Communication and Data transfer
Power and communication interconnectivity between lands through sea
Electrical submersible Power Systems, Pumps & Compressors
Seismic cabling

ONSHORE to OFFSHORE

OFFSHORE to ONSHORE

WITHIN OFFSHORE PLATFORMS

OFFSHORE GENERATION to ONSHORE

FPSO to DEEP
SEA WELL

FPSO to SUBSEA WELLHEAD SYSTEM

FPSO to SUBSEA WELLHEAD SYSTEM

SUBSEA POWER SYSTEM

SUBSEA POWER REQUIREMENT (TYPICAL FEEL)

SUBSEA POWER SYSTEM

SUBSEA POWER SYSTEM

MULTI PHASE PUMP

FOR ELECTRICAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS

OFFSHORE WIND FARMS

SATELITE LAUNCH SYSTEM

The history of undersea cable systems started right after the

invention of electrical communications.
In the mid-1840s, experiments were made to lay cables
undersea for telegraph communication
Commercial telegraph service via undersea cable began
in 1851 across the Strait of Dover
In the history of Sub sea HV power cable laying 400kv AC
transmission was made in the year 1952 by ABB.
Since then Technology for laying subsea cables has erupted in very orderly
fashion and made laying easier and reliable.
Latest technology involves remote operated vehicles in the field of Sub Sea
for cable laying and various activities.
Sub sea communication cable has been laid twice the size of the world.
The History makes us to feel and understand the cable laying technology has
a BOOM in the future world.

1849 - A telegraph cable between the UK and France (Broke down 8 days later)
1868 - The first commercially successful transatlantic telegraph cable
1884 - San Francisco-Oakland cable telephone service started
1952 - Worlds first 400 kV-transmission, LPFF
1954 - Worlds first HVDC-transmission,
1956 - TAT-1 (the first transatlantic cable)
1964 - TPC-1 (the first transpacific cable)
1973 - World's first HV extruded submarine cable transmission, XLPE
1973 - Worlds first 400 kV submarine cable transmission, LPFF
1974 - Worlds first 500Kv oil filled cable- HITACHI JAPAN
1988 - TAT-8 (the first system that deployed optical fiber)
1989 - TPC-3 (the first transpacific optic cable system)
1989 - World's first 400 kV HVDC submarine cable transmission,
1994 - World's first 450 kV HVDC submarine cable transmission,
1996 - Europes first 420 kV XLPE
2002 - Worlds first extruded HVDC submarine transmission, HVDC Light

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF INSTALLATION OF SUBMARINE CABLES

Planning
Planning Stage
Stage

Desktop
DesktopStudy
Study
Selecting
Selectingthe
theroute
route
Route
RoutePermission
Permission

Route
Route
Design
Design

Select
Selectcable
cable
types
types

Route
Route Survey
Survey

Seabed
SeabedProfile
Profile
Obstructions,etc.
Obstructions,etc.

Route
Route Position
Position List
List
&& Straight
Straight Line
Line
Diagram
Diagram
Geographic
Geographicpositions
positions
Cable
Cablelengths
lengths&&
design
designslacks
slacks
Repeaters,
Repeaters,Joint
Jointbox,
box,
etc.
etc.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF LAYING SUBMARINE CABLES

Pre-Lay
Pre-Lay
Grapnel
Grapnel Run
Run
(PLGR)
(PLGR)
Removal
Removalof
of
Obstructions,
Obstructions,
Fish
Fishtraps,
traps,
Debris
Debris
Route
Route
clearance
clearance

Cable
Cable Loading
Loading
Repeater
RepeaterStacks
Stacks
Tank
Tank Plan
Plan
Bight
Bight
Arrangement
Arrangement

Cable
Cable Laying
Laying

Surface
SurfaceLay
Lay
Burial
Burial&& Lay
Lay
Monitoring
Monitoring
Tension,Slacks
Tension,Slacks
Power
PowerFeeding
Feeding

SCOPE OF LAYING AND THE ACTIVITIES IN DETAIL

Survey, Planning & Route selection
Laying Simulation with software
Laying plan
Towing
Floating
Bottom deployed
Plowing
Trenching
Burial
Laying Completion
Testing

SURVEY PLANNING & ROUTE SELECTION

Pre-survey planning and route selection processes comprise three main elements:
Preliminary Planning
Landing Site Selection
Desk Study
Preliminary planning procedures will typically include:
Preliminary examination of available charts and literature pertaining to the
landing sites and possible cable routes between the landing sites.
Determination of political constraints to cable routing for example international
boundaries and disputed territorial claims.
Determination of physical constraints to cable routing and installation, for
example rock and coral outcrops, seismic activity, excessive sea bed slopes, sand
waves, coastline stability etc.
Determination of way and rights of way at the landing sites and the availability of
land for terminal station construction.

DESK STUDY
The desk study should address the following key objectives:
Preliminary system design and configuration parameters to be
confirmed and refined.
Identify and fully define physical conditions along the preliminary
cable route that may impact system design
Identify and fully define political and environmental constraints that
may impact system design.
Enable the route survey scope and procedures to be correctly defined

SURVEY OBJECTIVES
The most fundamental data components of a cable route investigation are:
Bathymetry
Seabed imagery
High resolution seismic reflection
profiling
Seabed soils data
Submarine geology
Electronic burial and plough assessment
Oceanography

SURVEY
Detailed surveys of sub sea power cables allow
engineers to design,

Cost-efficient
Practical and safe installation routes.
Hydrographic surveys using bathymetry systems
Using stowed sensors,
Multi beams and side scan systems
Topographic charting
Seafloor morphology
Identification of wrecks and other obstructions.
Character and structure of the seafloor for burial and trenching assessment.

Where cable burial is mandatory , certain companies like Fugro , Makai has developed
systems such as the GAMBAS seismic reflection and ROBAS resistivity systems to provide continuous
detailed information on the depth and thickness of sediment layers and soil characteristics.
Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) system provides measurements of sediment types, stratification, density
and soil shear strength in water depths to 2000m.

ADVANCES IN ROUTE SELECTION & SURVEYING ROUTE SELECTION

Data sets of the sea are available in many Global public and private domain data
bases available on the Internet or other electronic media, residing with national and
international institutions, and government agencies.
The range of data available includes:

Ocean basin geology and tectonics

Sea bed and ocean floor sediment distribution and thickness

Physical and chemical oceanography

Territorial delimitations

Shipping activity

Fishing activities

Bathymetry

LAYING PLAN
Good lay planning became increasingly critical for
three reasons:

To minimise the risk of failure on todays high

capacity subsea cables

As newer cable types tended to be of smaller

diameter, a greater emphasis is placed on
resistance to chafe and high tensions

The boom in the cable installation market left

many of the better cables routes full and hence
less benign routes had to be used

Modes of Motion, Surge, Sway and Yaw (Courtesy of KongsbergSimrad)

Modern day computer assisted lay planning techniques improves cable security by enhanced
planning and real time monitoring of the lay

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURING overview

INSULATION OF PAPER TAPES

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURING overview Contd..

Spooling of Cable

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURING overview Contd..

Poly ethylene Jacketing of Cable

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURING overview Contd..

Tensioning of Cable and Umbilical

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURING overview Contd..

Cable stored wound in a Turn table

SUBMARINE CABLE LOAD OUT FROM YARD

SUBMARINE CABLE STORED IN THE TURN TABLE IN THE BARGE

SUBMARINE CABLE READY FOR LAYING THROUGH CABLE WAY/STINGER

SUBMARINE CABLE DROPPED TO SEA THROUGH STINGER

ROV (REMOTE OPERATED VEHICLE) FOR SEA BED HYDRO JETTING

SUBEA PLOUGH

ROV (REMOTE OPERATED VEHICLE) FOR SEA BED PLOUGHING

ROV PLOUGHING ANIMATION

ROV DREDGING REAL TIME REPORT

TRENCHING, PLOWING, HYDRO JETTING & SELF DEPLOYMENT

3D VIEW OF
TRENCHING

PLOW DEPLOYED
INTO THE SEA

ROV (REMOTE OPERATED VEHICLE) FOR SEA BED TRENCHIING

TRENCHING, DREDING & CLAY CUTTING

SAIPEM PLOW MAKES 5m wide 2m
deep trench cut

SEA BED AFTER CLAY

CUTTING

CABLE LAYED AFTER

DREDGING

REEL LAY METHOD:

Submarine cable is spooled onto a large diameter reel while at the land
base.

After the cable loaded onto the reel, the ship proceeds to the laying
area.

The cable is unreeled and takes down to the sea bed by ROV.

The ship proceeds ahead slowly unreeling the cable assembly. This is
usually done at about one knot depending on weather conditions.

Reel barges are currently divided into two classes horizontal reel and
vertical reel.

For a horizontal reel, the axis of rotation is vertical with respect to the
barge deck.

For a vertical reel, the axis of rotation is horizontal.

The vertical reel barge is versatile and can lay cable in shallow water as
well as in very deepwater.

Since bending stresses are minimized by the vertical reel method, a

stinger is not needed.

For the horizontal reel method, a stinger is needed in other than shallowwater cable laying operations.

The greatest advantage of the reel method is the speed with which the
cable can be laid.

CATENARY CURVE METHOD

This laying method used is by having the cable hanging in a catenary curve from
laying vehicle to the seabed and normally the cable is left on the seabed with a
tension

S-LAY METHOD
The traditional method for installing submarine
cables in relatively shallow water is commonly referred
to as the S - lay method .
As the submarine cable assembly moves across the
stern of the lay barge and before it reaches the ocean
floor, it is supported by a stinger a truss-like structure
is equipped with rollers and is known as a stinger.
The purpose of a stinger is to minimize curvature,
and therefore the bending stress, of the assembly as it
leaves the vessel.
Deeper water depths will result in a steeper lift-off
angle of the suspended cable span at the stinger tip,
requiring the stinger to be longer and/or more curved to
accommodate the greater arc of reverse curvature in the
over bend region

J-LAY METHOD
J-lay method are used for installing submarine cable in
deeper water
The method was so-named because the configuration of
the cable as it is being assembled resembles a J.
The cable is unwound and tagged with regular intervals
perfectly. Then the string is lowered to the ocean floor.
The J-lay method is inherently slower than the S-lay
method and is, therefore, more costly.
The J-lay method offers an alternative to the conventional
lay barge in that the stinger requirements for deepwater
are greatly reduced.
Bending stresses are low in this method.
The J-lay method is difficult to use in water depths as
shallow as 200-500 ft .

Before cable laying a trial navigation will carried out in the proposed cable
route On the propose cable route under the same procedure and conditions
of cable laying work.
Why Trial Run

To train all crew to enable the laying vessel to maintain on the proposed route.
To check all facilities and equipment are working properly as intended.
To check speed of lay.
To check all communication equipment and procedures are working as planned.
The plan shall be modified, if necessary, according to the trial navigation result.

STARTING FROM ONE PLATFORM

LEADING
THE VESSEL
THROUGH
DIFFERENT
METHODS

END OF LAYING WITH OTHER PLATFORM

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CABLE LAYING

During cable laying the cable laying tension shall be controlled by using the
following equipments to avoid the kink and bridge.
1. Laying Tension control
Hauling Machine
Cable laying Speed
2. Back Up
Hand Brake for Emergency
3. Back Tension for Cable Reel
Band Brake
4. Tension measuring
Tension meter
5. Length Measuring
Length meter and Length mark

BATHYMETRY OF THE SEA FOR CABLE LAYING Contd

BATHYMETRY OF THE SEA FOR CABLE LAYING Contd

BATHYMETRY OF THE SEA FOR CABLE LAYING Contd

REAL TIME INPUT FROM AUV DURING CABLE LAYING

CABLE PROTECTION

CONCRETE BLOCK MATRESSES

SAND/CEMENT BAGS
CAST IRON SHELLS
JETTING MACINE FOR BURIAL
URADUCTS
POLYSPACE
POLYMATS
SPIRAWRAPS

CABLE PROTECTION BY URADUCTS

Patented product by CRP Marine
Universal protection system for
Cables, Umbilicals, flexible line, rigid
lines and hoses.
Comprises cylindrical half shells
moulded
from
marine
graded
polyurethanes.
Internal diameter range from 15mm
to 650mm

URADUCT RETROFIT RISER SYSTEM

Comprises of Uraduct and dedicated
locating clamps.
Cost-effective solution where access to
a platform is not possible via existing J
or I tubes.
The securing clamps for this system are
designed to withstand the extreme
conditions experienced on offshore
installations.
Alternative designs are available for
single or twin clamps where multiple
cables are to be installed.
The clamp bodies are manufactured
from a high performance, rigid, marine
grade polyurethane elastomer

No special hyperbaric welding equipment is required as the

clamp bases are secured by means of a Poly loop high
strength Kevlar/EVA coated strap and highly corrosion
resistant
metallic
tensioning
assembly,
typically

To maintain a positive
clearance between cables and
existing pipelines at crossing
points.
Cost-effective and less time
consuming.

URADUCT POLY MATS

ROV Installable mat.

Poly mat incorporates a
barytes infill that provides
additional weight to aid product
stability on the seabed.
Each heavy duty, high density
Polymat is circa 2.3m long x
1.5m wide x 25mm thick

OVER VIEW

SPIRA WRAPS
Discrete cylindrical sections formed from a
continuously wound helix.
This can be done on site without the need for
specialist tools.
Spirawrap is particularly suited to installation
by diver and is also suited to providing
temporary protection

TOP SIDE TERMINATION AT PLATFORM

TOP SIDE TERMINATION AT PLATFORM (Contd..)

TOP SIDE TERMINATION AT PLATFORM (Contd..)

PULL HEAD:
To enable safe installation of cable to platform or the
riser deck.
It Connects directly on to the cable Armor.
All mechanical forces associated with pulling the cable
via J or I tube are borne by the armor.
Minimal transference of strain to the internal cable .

HANG OFF CLAMP :

Once installed at the Top of the J-tube
cable is mechanically secured by
installation of Hang off clamp.
The cable Armor is terminated within
clamping arrangement

AS LAID SURVEY
For sea lines , As-laid survey data will be typically obtained using ROV operated
from the Construction Support Vessel.
This ROV shall be equipped with
Central and Dual boom video-cameras
Gyrocompass
HD sonar
Bathy-system
Dual head
Scanning Sonar
Pipe tracker

ROV will be positioned using USBL system.

INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM SURVEY

Position of the cable using USBL system.
Continuous video recording of the cable using
central cameras.
Line profile from bathy-system .
Line cross-profile from DHSS.
Obstruction position from HD sonar.
Free span position/ length and height from
DHSS and dual zoom video cameras.
Events position (anodes, joints, defaults,)from real-time video.
Flying leads and Jumpers shall be inspected and positioned directly upon
completion of their installation.

EXTERNAL AGGRESSION FAULTS ON SUBMARINE CABLE

STANDARDS FOR SUBMARINE CABLE

IEC 228 Conductors of insulated
Cables
IEC 502 Extruded solid dielectric
insulated power cables for rated voltages
from 1 KV to 30 KV
IEC 811 Common test method for
insulating and sheeting materials or
electric cables
IEC 885 Electrical test methods for
electrical cables
ICE 704 Optical Fibre Cables Part 1:
Generic specification
ISO 4406 Hydraulic Fluid Power Fluids-Method of coding level of
contamination by solid particles

DATA
SHEET

DATA
SHEET
(Contd..)

DATA
SHEET
(Contd..)

TYPICAL CROSS SECTION

OF SUBMARINE CABLE

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURERS

SUBMARINE CABLE MANUFACTURERS

SUBMARINE CABLE LAYING COMPANIES

SUBMARINE CABLE LAYING COMPANIES

UMBILICAL
Umbilical are composite structures made
up of components of steel, polymer and
other materials.
To define perfectly, umbilical are,
underwater composite cables as used
by the offshore oil and gas industry for
the purposes of transporting gas and
control fluids with or without elements
for optical signals and/or elements for
transmission of electric power and
signal

A TYPICAL UMBILICAL

APPLICATION OF UMBILICALS
Umbilical have inarguably become the backbone of Oil and Gas Industry for all the offshore
applications. Subsea production systems have become an industry standard for the
development of new oil and gas discoveries. These systems are remotely operated from a
host facility through umbilical. Few include
Offshore Power Transmission and Distribution.
Power management and Advanced Control systems.
Well platform to a subsea well interconnections.
Well platform to a process platform interconnection.
Shore to sub-sea for the cause of process or chemical services.
Intervention systems for subsea wells

ADVANTAGES OF UMBILICAL

Water sealing of electric cable, conductors and process lines.

High resistivity towards subsea corrosive environments.
Multiple services of utility pipelines, signals, chemical lines and electric power.
Application at high Pressure environments up to 15000 psi.
High differential pressure withstanding capability.
Good Electric isolation for high voltages.
Good electric current capacity. Low loss (DR)
Good thermal capacity, electrical and mechanical.
Long time stability, design life >30 years.
Easy to assemble, install and retrieve.
Great mechanical strength with multiple armours.
Increased reliability and compactness.

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON VIRTUE OF ITS REQUIREMENT

ELECTRIC
POWER

CHEMICAL
LINES

FIBER OPTICS
UMBILICALS

HOSES &
PROCESS LINES

UTILITY LINES

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON VIRTUE OF ITS DESIGN

STEEL TUBE UMBILICAL:
Contains steel tubes for conveying
Hydraulic fluid
Service lines
Chemical Injections
Used in in deep water & High pressure subsea
tieback applications.
Tube material ranges from coated carbon steel, SS316 & Super Duplex

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON VIRTUE OF ITS DESIGN contd

THERMOPLASTIC UMBILICAL:
Contains Thermo plastic hoses
Bore sizes to 2 Dia.
Hose working pressures (3,000 15,000 PSI)

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON VIRTUE OF ITS DESIGN contd

HYBRID UMBILICAL:
Combination of Thermoplastics and Steel tubes
Steel tubes for Methanol, chemical injection, etc..
Integrated Service Umbilical (ISU) containing a flexible
flow line, electric cables, steel tubes and thermoplastic
hoses are also available for dynamic applications

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON VIRTUE OF ITS DESIGN contd

UMBILICAL ELECTRO HYDRAULIC:

Industries design and manufacture electro-hydraulic
umbilical containing low- and medium-voltage, electric
power cables and fiber optics for offshore platform-toplatform requirements, as well as for operation of subsea
multiphase pumps (electric submersible pumps) utilized
to boost well production on subsea field developments.
UMBILICAL HCR FLEXIBLE PIPES:
High Collapse Resistant (HCR) flexible pipes ranging in
bore sizes from to 2
Working pressures from 3,000 to 10,000 PSI
HCR Flexible Pipes are excellent for ultra deepwater
applications
Dynamic flexibility, high temperature applications, and
flexible jumpers for tie-in of subsea Umbilical and service
lines

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON VIRTUE OF ITS DESIGN contd

TYPES OF UMBILICAL ON BASIS OF THE TYPE OF APPLICATION

UMBILICAL ELECTRO HYDRAULIC:

Intervention Umbilical.
SSIV Umbilical.
Electrical/optical Umbilical.
Topside Wellhead control Umbilical.
Pile driving umbilical.
BOP Umbilical.

UMBILICAL END TERMINATION

PULL HEAD

JUNCTION BOX FOR UMBILICAL CONNECTIONS BELOW SEA

JUNCTION BOX FOR UMBILICAL CONNECTIONS BELOW SEA contd..

JUNCTION BOX FOR UMBILICAL CONNECTIONS BELOW SEA contd..

UMBILICAL SAMPLES USED IN VARIOUS PROJECTS

UMBILICAL SAMPLES USED IN VARIOUS PROJECTS

SUBSEA EQUIPMENT FALIURES

SUBSEA EQUIPMENT FALIURES

DATA
SHEET

DATA
SHEET
(Contd..)

UMBILICAL STANDARDS FOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE

CABLES:
IEC 228
IEC 502
IEC 811
IEC 885
ICE 704
ISO 4406

Conductors of insulated Cables

Extruded solid dielectric insulated power cables for rated voltages from 1KV to 30 KV
Common test method for insulating and sheeting materials or electric cables
Electrical test methods for electrical cables
Optical Fiber Cables Part 1: Generic specification
Hydraulic Fluid Power - Fluids-Method of coding level of contamination by solid particles

METAL TUBES AND FITTINGS:

ASME B31.3
ASME IX
ASME V
ASTM A450
ASTM G48
ASTM A789

Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping

Welding and brazing qualification
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Non-Destructive Examination
General Requirements for Carbon, Ferric Alloy and Austenitic Alloy Steel Tubes
Pitting and Crevice Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steels and Related Alloys by the Use of Ferric
Chloride Solution.
CIGRE Recommendation published in Electra no. 68

THERMOPLASTIC HOSES:
ISO 527
ISO 1402
ISO 3949
ISO 4080
ISO 4406
ISO 4671
ISO 7751
ISO 8308

Plastics, determination of tensile properties

Rubber and plastics hoses and hose assemblies - Hydrostatic testing
Plastics hoses and hose assemblies - Thermoplastics, textile-reinforced, hydraulic type
Rubber and plastics hoses - Determination of gas permanence
Hydraulic Fluid Power - Fluids - Method for coding level of contamination by solid particles
Rubber and plastics hose and hose assemblies - Methods of measurement of dimensions
Rubber and plastics hose assemblies - Ratios of proof and burst pressure to design working pressure
Rubber and plastics hoses and tubing - Determination of transmission of liquids through hose and
tubing walls

SUBSEA CABLE/UMBILICAL CABLE LAYING BARGES

MAERSK RELIANCE TS MARINE

CTC MARINE CABLE LAYING BARGE

SUBSEA CABLE/UMBILICAL CABLE LAYING BARGES

NORMAND CLIPPER CABLE LAYING BARGE

SCANDI PATGOAMIA CABLE LAYING BARGE

SUBSEA CABLE/UMBILICAL CABLE LAYING BARGES

SCANDI NAVICA CABLE LAYING BARGE

TOISA POLARIS

SUBSEA VIKING
CABLE LAYING BARGE

BADA BADARO 12500 TON CABLE

LAYING BARGE

THE TREND & FUTURE OF SUBSEA CABLE/UMBILICAL CABLE LAYING

Submarine cables/Umbilicals will continue to

provide a key, backbone and element of the
global infrastructure or next generation oil and
gas industry.
The technology will enhance the capability of
conventional and high capacity subsea power

The End

Thank You

UMBILICAL HISTORY