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Subsea

Cranking up the power

Critical electrical component testing on the SpecTRON 45.

on connectors Images from Siemens.

Siemens is putting a 45Kv wet components both in the subsea factory connectors for such environments. of the future or in enabling technologies Siemens’ goal is to create a subsea power mate connector designed for such as subsea power grids, but, along grid (SPG)—a complete power supply up to 3000m water through its with harnesses, they are also a crucial and distribution system for large-scale component, responsible for delivering subsea processing or for what Statoil paces. went to Elaine Maslin reliable, high voltage power to multiple calls the “subsea factory,” (OE: April learn more at the ? rm’s plant in consumers on the sea? oor. 2014), complete with subsea mateable

Ulverston, Cumbria, England.

The number of consumers, and the connectors. Siemens is currently in the power they require, is increasing. Subsea ? nal stages of the ? ve-year SPG program n picturesque Cumbria, northwest boosting and separation technologies are which will be completed next year, at

England, a series of torture chambers increasing in use, as is subsea metering. which time Siemens will be ready for

I have been created to put the next Subsea gas compression is coming closer a full-scale subsea pilot project. The generation of subsea connectors through to commercial reality, more and more system, and all its components, is being the worst conceivable conditions they electrical submersible pumps are being quali? ed to work in 3000m water depth, might need to survive and operate at high used, and more complex wells are requir- at up to 200km step out distance. voltage in. ing instrumentation. In 2012, former Tronic, a leading subsea

Testing varies from putting up to The challenges today’s connectors face connector specialist in the industry, are being able to operate at the depths, are being able to operate at the depths, 200Kv through the latest subsea connec- 200Kv through the latest subsea connec- are being able to operate at the depths, was acquired. Since then, development was acquired. Since then, development temperatures, and the pressures into temperatures, and the pressures into tors to exposing them to sud- temperatures, and the pressures into tors to exposing them to sud- temperatures, and the pressures into temperatures, and the pressures into temperatures, and the pressures into temperatures, and the pressures into tors to exposing them to sud- tors to exposing them to sud- temperatures, and the pressures into work at Ulverston is focusing on a 45Kv, work at Ulverston is focusing on a 45Kv, which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. den temperature drops—or which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. den temperature drops—or which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. 1000amp wet mate connector, which today’s subsea ? elds are moving. 1000amp wet mate connector, 1000amp wet mate connector,

Connectors also need to be able to ef? - Connectors also need to be able to ef? - Connectors also need to be able to ef? - Connectors also need to be able to ef? - increases. Connectors also need to be able to ef? - Connectors also need to be able to ef? - increases. Connectors also need to be able to ef? - which was initiated to which was initiated to ciently and reliably transfer increasingly ciently and reliably transfer increasingly ciently and reliably transfer increasingly ciently and reliably transfer increasingly Connectors might ciently and reliably transfer increasingly ciently and reliably transfer increasingly Connectors might ciently and reliably transfer increasingly serve as the dis-serve as the dis- higher levels of power. higher levels of power. be one of the higher levels of power. higher levels of power. be one of the higher levels of power. tribution tribution smaller smaller Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence Siemens’ Subsea Connector Excellence

Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con-Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con-Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con-Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con-Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con-Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con-Center, a state-of-the-art subsea con- nector facility in Ulverston, nector facility in Ulverston, nector facility in Ulverston, nector facility in Ulverston, nector facility in Ulverston, nector facility in Ulverston, nector facility in Ulverston,

Cumbria, is creat-Cumbria, is creat-Cumbria, is creat-Cumbria, is creat-Cumbria, is creat- ing and then ing and then

SpecTRON 45 Wet mateable plug (left) and “torturing” “torturing”

Receptacle (right).

the latest the latest

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