Cortez Subsea, AFGlobal Team Up to Bring New Technology to Market

Cortez Subsea and AFGlobal have strengthened their strategic partnership to bring the Stinger Deployed Diverless Connector (SDDC) technology to the market, aimed at reducing cost and risk of pipelay operations.

The Stinger Deployed Diverless Connector has been developed to conduct pipeline tie-ins using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and, when coupled with other installation techniques, can offer cost savings of up to 30 per cent, the company said.

The technology will be deployed offshore Malaysia where Cortez Subsea won a contract with Vestigo Petroleum for pipeline installation in the Berantai field.

Alasdair Cowie, managing director of Cortez Subsea, said: “We pride ourselves in creative collaboration to provide the best possible service and utilize and develop state-of-the-art technologies for quicker, safer and cleaner solutions.

“We take each operational challenge and consult our collective technology toolbox to apply proven technology into new applications and frontiers in a drive towards greater efficiency and lower-carbon operations.

“Imagine shallow-water pipelay without welding, but with stronger joints, and pipeline connections without the need for divers, reducing the reliance on large vessels and crew.”

The solution is driven by the AFGlobal Retlock clamp technology.

Managing director of AFGlobal UK, Martyn Conroy, explained how this existing technology was transferred into a new application: “Our Retlock clamp is a two-bolt clamp which has the ability to connect mono and multi-bore. It is suitable for vertical and horizontal applications and has been proven effective in more than 1,600 offshore applications. A compact, lightweight design with continual leak-monitoring system, it was the ideal basis for the SDDC system.

“This is a perfect example of taking a proven technology and customizing it for a new application for operational efficiencies. Investment in research and development (R&D) is key in driving the sector forward but it’s also important that existing technology from both inside and outside the industry is optimized.

“Solutions, such as the SDDC, are being created and tested in response to the needs of the industry. This along with smart application is of absolute importance as we move into a new era of oil and gas exploration and production and to prolong the legacy of success of the energy sector.”