Subsea Manifolds & Flowlines

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Subsea Architecture
Manifold Subsea Trees

Courtesy of Cameron

Umbilicals
With the exception of vertical jumper connections, flowlines and
umbilicals are normally laid directly on the seabed.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Subsea System Elements

Courtesy Norwegian Technology Standards institution

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Bundled Subsea Flowlines

Courtesy Statoil

• Bundled flowlines for Gullfaks South.

• Heated with hot water to avoid hydrates and wax deposition during shutdown.
• 3MW of waste heat is available from the gas turbines on Gullfaks A platform.
• Fabricated by Rockwater on railway tracks in Scotland.
• Making the flowline out of stainless 13% chrome steel reduced the need for
chemical corrosion inhibitors.
• Bundled concept can also be used for steel catenary risers.
 Subsea Flowline Connections

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Subsea Pipeline and Flowline Tie-Ins
– initiate the pipe lay within a target area at the start end
– lay away and terminate in a similar target area
– the pipeline ends are in the form of pipeline end modules
(PEM’s)
– PEM’s are skids with or without termination valves, etc.
– the pipeline ends are tied in using rigid or flexible
jumpers or spools ( to risers, templates, etc. )
– prior to tie-in, the site is subject to a 3D survey to
determine relative distances, angles, etc…
– spools and jumpers can be prefabricated onshore ready
for installation by divers or ROV’s

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Flowline Connection Methods
• Typically three methods are employed to make remote,
diverless flowline connections:
1. The "pull-in" method where the flowline is attached to a sled
and pulled to the connection hub by cable and surface vessel
winch.
2. The "lay-away" method where the flowline is lowered
vertically on guide wires, connected and then laid away from
the well.
3. The "spool piece” or “jumper” tie-in where a pre-fabricated
spool, with connectors on either end, is lowered vertically
and stabbed into receptacles at either end.
• Connection orientation is usually horizontal for pull-in
and lay away, vertical for jumper or spool piece.
• Safety, water depth, visibility, subsea topography, seabed
conditions and cost are just some of the factors that
influence which method is chosen in a particular case.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Pull-in Connection Lay-away Connection

The pipeline is being laid from a Here the pipeline is being laid
stationary semi-submersible rig and away from the wellhead by a DP
winched in to the host platform. semi submersible rig.

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Connection Types
• Orthodox flanges and bolts, made up by divers.
– API 6B low pressure flanges, designed for working pressures
from 2,000 to 5,000 psi.
– API 6BX high pressure flanges, designed for working pressures
from 5,000 to 20,000 psi.
– Proprietary flange designs that allow for a certain amount of
misalignment between pipe axes.
• Clamps, activated by ROV rotating tools.
– Clamps are typically rated from 5,000 to 15,000 psi
– Some designs seal on smooth pipe, others on machined ends.
• Collet activated by ROV hydraulic pump systems.
– Collet connectors are manufactured by all the major wellhead
service companies.

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Collet Connectors

Cameron Model 70 Collet Connector

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Collet Type Connectors
Courtesy Oil States MCS Courtesy Oil States MCS

Courtesy Oil States MCS

Courtesy Oil States MCS

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Rigid Jumper with Collet Connections

Courtesy Oil States

Courtesy Oil States

Courtesy Oil States

• As-laid subsea pipeline end modules are carefully surveyed prior to

final
Courtesy welding
Oil States MCS of the jumper spool piece on the lay barge. Courtesy Oil States MCS
• Depending on the field conditions, divers can be used to position and
then activate connections in accessible shallow-water locations.
• The trend is towards using remote-operated vehicles for this purpose as
on grounds of safety, utility and cost.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Jumper Tie-ins

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Typical Jumper Connection

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Testing a Pipeline End Terminal Connection
Courtesy of BP

A connection between a jumper and pipeline end terminal (PLET) for

BP’s Mardi Gras Field being tested prior to installation.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Mid Line Tie-in Sled

Courtesy Oil States Hydrotech

• “Wye” pieces may be welded into a pipeline to allow the tie-in of a

branch pipeline at some future date. Courtesy Oil States MCS

• Ideally two tensioners are required on the lay barge, one on each side of
the tie-in sled, to allow the “Wye” to be welded into the line.
• The mud mats are installed once the sled clears the tensioners.
• The tie-in is made with a collet connector, activated with ROV assistance.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 16” Wye Sled for the Mardi Gras Field.

Courtesy of BP

• A vertical jumper will be used to connect up the planned branch line.

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Installation of a Mid Line Tie-in Sled

Courtesy Oil States Hydrotech

Courtesy Oil States MCS Courtesy Oil States MCS

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

All photographs courtesy of Oil State Hydrotech
 Subsea Manifolds and Templates
Courtesy of BP

Photo shows a 400 ton subsea manifold intended for BPs’ Bombax
Pipeline Development
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Subsea Production Manifolds
• Manifolds gather formation fluids from a number of subsea
wells (or other manifolds) and direct the flow to multi
phase in-field pipelines or risers.
• They are basically the “Clapham Junctions” of the oilfield.
• Manifolds are equipped with interconnected pipe work and
hydraulically actuated valves and chokes to regulate and if
required isolate production from, or injection to, one ore
more wells tied in to the system.
• Manifolds may also segregate high pressure systems from
low pressure systems.

© The Robert Gordon University 2007

 Positioning Manifold Ready for Lowering .

Courtesy of BP

Manifold is shown being positioned under the semi-submersible MSV

Q4000 prior to lowering to the seabed.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Subsea Manifold Being Deployed.

Courtesy of BP

Acoustic transponders mounted on the manifold are used to aid in the

accurate positioning of the manifold on the seabed.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Troika Subsea Manifold

This manifold is an eight slot manifold tied back to Shell’s Bullwinkle

“Hub” Platform 14 miles away.
© The Robert Gordon University 2007
 Combined Drilling Template and Manifold

Courtesy Statoil Courtesy Statoil

• An 8 – Slot combine drilling template and manifold for the Ormen Lange
Field, Norwegian North Sea.
• The template weighs 1,150 tons and contains flow bases and manifolding for
the 8 subsea well to be drilled by Smedvig’s West Navigator ram-rig drillship.
• Positioned using Sonardyne’s wide band acoustics.

© The Robert Gordon University 2007