First Subsea Nets Ballgrab Order from CNOOC

First Subsea has received an order from China National Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to supply its Ballgrab subsea mooring connectors for a deepwater semi-submersible Floating Production Unit (FPU).

The order was booked in Q1 2019 and will be delivered later this year, the company wrote on its social media.

The semi-submersible production unit is intended for operation in a deepwater natural gas field in the western part of the South China Sea.

First Subsea’s Phil Day said: “The Ballgrab SMC is the connector of choice for FPU’s and we are pleased to add this project to our recent FPU track record, which also includes Shell Appomattox, Chevron Jack St. Malo, LLOG Exploration Company Delta House and BP Mad Dog.”

The Ballgrab SMC uses ball and taper technology to provide a two-part, male/female connection with a multi-point grip in direct proportion to the load applied. The SMC is self-aligning and self-energizing, enabling fast installation of mooring lines in both deep and shallow water.