The nonoriented multiple passageway flowline connection system

The remote diverless, simultaneous connection of multiple subsea flowlines has historically been a difficult and costly operation. Difficulties and in tensified operational activities stem from the need to orient the multiple flow paths prior to the final connection of the tubulars. This rotational o rientation has proven to be very difficult for randomly prelaid flowlines o r flowlines which must be rotated a relatively large amount prior to makeup . A new, innovative method has been developed whereby multiple flowlines ca rl be connected without the need To rotationally orient the multiple tubula rs. This new connection system technology has undergone full-scale subsea t esting and will be implemented irt a major development in the North Sea. Th e significance of this achievement is assessed in this paper with a focus o n the design philosophies used the principles of operation, the overall sys tem reliability the projected amount of operational cost reduction, and the full-scale testing results. Additional comments are made concerning the ap plicability of this technology in various other subsea applications. [S0195 -0738(00)00501-X].