JDR marks deployment of major subsea umbilical contract for China National Offshore Oil Corporation

JDR, a leading provider of technology connecting the global offshore energy industry, has deployed a range of dynamic subsea production umbilicals and ESP[1] power cables for the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in their Liuhua 4-1 field subsea tieback project.

JDR designed and manufactured over 42 kilometres of ESP power cable, each incorporating nine power cores, delivered in three 14 kilometre lengths.  The order also included a 14 kilometre main production control umbilical and a bridging manifold control umbilical.  These umbilicals are operating in the South China Sea, at depths from 260m to 300m.

Paul Gahm, JDR VP sales and marketing, commented: CNOOC has utilised the full range of JDR's capabilities in subsea umbilical design and manufacture to deliver against their objectives on this major project.  We are one of the only companies capable of delivering such a complex project, due to our specialist engineering team and strategic investment in large-scale umbilical manufacture at our UK plant in Hartlepool.

He continued:  "We designed CNOOC's umbilicals to maximise reliability, minimise project cost and provide the customer with future-proofing options.  For example we produced the ESP power cables on our vertical lay-up machine (VLM) in Hartlepool.  This enables us to provide ultra long length electric power cores, which significantly reduces the number of core splices required.  And the design approach we have taken will support future field expansion, with the ability to serve up to four additional wells.  We loaded out the project, via transpooling, straight onto a heavy lift vessel via the deepwater port alongside our Hartlepool plant."

The main production umbilical is thermoplastic, designed for dynamic subsea environments.  It incorporates a hydraulic control system to control subsea trees and deliver injection chemicals into the wellstream to reduce hydrate formation.  Each ESP power cable includes three 3-phase power circuits, capable of serving three identical ESPs in this eight well field.
Source: JDR Cables