Page 18: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2018)

Offshore

Synthetic RopeSynthetic Rope

Heneywell

Advantages in Deep-Water Ops

By Gregory Norton, Commercial Director, Honeywell

The tides are changing. Exploration and production in good bend-fatigue characteristics, is resistant to heat and, deeper water is increasing, and equipment is advancing. until the recent discussion surrounding steel prices, has been

New technologies need to offer greater support for changing economical. The main drawbacks associated with the use of marine activities, while also maintaining the consistent reli- wire rope, however, are maintenance and weight. ability that is crucial to operating in open waters. Wire rope requires frequent lubrication to prevent corro-

Offshore oil and gas is a prime example of work that is sion and to maintain performance. This level of upkeep takes moving into new depths. As these depths increase, perform- time and money, as well as increases risk when the wire rope ing subsea operations undoubtedly becomes more challeng- is not given the proper attention. For a winch to support wire ing. Applications such as pipe laying, the installation of rope, a signi? cant portion of the winch capacity must be subsea equipment, and anchor placement and retrieval all used solely for handling the weight of the wire. Because of require sophisticated lowering and lifting equipment to ? t this, both the wire rope and the winches are oversized, yield- the speci? c needs of the location and project. The winches ing an inef? cient use of power, deck space and ship-weight typically used to support these types of applications are of- capacity. ten large, cumbersome, and consume immense usable space. As oil exploration moves into deeper water, the need for

Winch systems, heave compensators, and tension members lightweight linear tension members is becoming more than also add substantial weight to a platform – and when work- just a preference. Some applications are beginning to require ing offshore, space and weight are precious commodities. lighter weight alternatives – an advantage only provided by

Traditionally, wire rope has been used as the linear tension synthetic linear tension members. Depending on ? ber type, member for lowering and lifting operations. Wire rope has synthetics measure to be at least ? ve times lighter than wire

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