Offshore Power Cable

Offshore Cable is the type of Cable specifically designed for electrical power and instrumentation application on offshore units.

This Cable is used explicitly as a medium for supplying electric power and instrumentation.

As the offshore marine environment is quite harsh, it is essential to be both durable and robust.

These features help Cable to survive in harsh underwater conditions. Offshore Cable is not only water-resistant but also Mud resistant and halogen-free.

This protects them from drilling oils and hydrocarbons.

Figure 1: Offshore Cable

Offshore Cable and Normal Cable differentiate from each other starting at the fundamental point that is Offshore Cable is used in water, away from the shore.

In contrast, a standard cable is made to use in dry places.

Other than that, Offshore Cable has strong insulation cover on them to avoid water penetrating them, which is why they have a little thick diameter than standard cables.

Offshore cables are more robust and reliable than standard cables, but they still can’t be used for their specific purpose.

There are many specifications and features of Offshore Cable, which are briefly explained below:

The wire stranding of Offshore Cables are different, the strands are smooth, and each strand is tinned.

Proper wirings allow the Cable to flex easily, allowing it to survive on a moving, vibrating boat, while the tinned strands provide extra protection against rust.

Finally, the insulation is designed to stand on the water environment, containing oil, moisture, and heat resistance.

Figure 2: Specifications of Offshore Cables

The offshore power cable is also called the offshore electrical Cable.

It is manufactured following IEC 60092-353 / 354 standards.

High-quality offshore power lines are low smoke (IEC 61034); other than that, these are halogen-free (IEC 60754), flame retardant (IEC 60332-3-22), and meet high maritime standards.

Figure 3: Offshore Power Cable

BFOU Cable

It has a typical Conductor with Circular and tinned stranded copper, section 2

Insulation is done with Ethylene propylene, type EPR according to IEC 60092-351.

General identification:

1 Conductor –Natural

2 Conductors – Blue + Brown

3 Conductors – Brown + Black + Grey

4 Conductors – Brown + Black + Grey + Blue

Five or more conductors – White Numbered

Outer sheath: The outer sheath is made with Mud resistant thermostatic compound, black color while maintaining its low smoke and halogen-free features

Application: BFOU P5 / P12 are used for fixed installation in the control circuits and lights and emergency lighting and sensitive sea units where fire safety requirements are required.

Input in areas where there is a risk of mud exposure, cutting, or cleaning of liquids.

The BFOU cable is fire resistant, which is, according to IEC 60331-21 and protected from electrical interference.

Packing: Available in rolls (50 and 100 m long) and coils

RFOU Cable

The Conductor is a circular and tinned stranded Cu, section 2.

The insulation is made of Ethylene propylene, type EPR according to IEC 60092-351.

General identification can be made as follows:

1 Conductor – Natural

2 Conductors – Blue + Brown

3 Conductors – Brown + Black + Grey

4 Conductors – Brown + Black + Grey + Blue

Five or more Conductors – White Numbered

The outer part combines Mud-resistant thermosetting, dark color, low smoke, and halogen-free, type SHF MUD.

Applications: RFOU P1 / P8 are used for consistent installation, control, and telecommunications in explosive and safe areas and in Critical and emergency plans.

The Cable is used for installation in areas exposed to Mud and drilling or cleaning fluids.

Packing: Available in rolls (50 and 100 m long) and coils.

Figure 4: BFOU Cable (left) and RFOU Cable (right)

The construction of Offshore Power Cable includes:

Conductor: Copper or aluminum. As conductors are going to be used at long distances and upon request, the Conductor of Offshore Power Cable is sealed with exceptional waterproofing in the case of damage to the Cable.

Insulation materials: XLPE, EPR, or MIND (impregnated paper).

Inspection: Copper cords or tapes and lead sheath where required.

Armoring: Offshore Power Cable protection from mechanical stress is achieved by mounting wires connected to steel cables.

Single-core cables should be non-magnetic – usually aluminum – to avoid overheating weapons due to Foucault currents [2] – Joule effect.

It also provides wires where the power is required or drawn.

The steel wires are in different stages of overload and are much hidden.

External protection: External protection of the Offshore Power Cable, depending on the conditions and requirements for installation, is provided by PVC or PE sheath and layers of polypropylene or jute.

Shore Cable is a type of marine Cable that is used to connect a vessel to shore power.

It is a durable, high-quality cable designed for marine use.

At times, it is referred to as a ship’s anchor.

The shore cable is used where high oil resistance and extended service life are required.

It is easily recognizable because of its bright yellow inserts and large diameter.

This type of Cable is suitable for installing bank power cords in rough terrain.

Plus, they’re ready for custom cables.

It is available in a large size gauge with three or four conductors.

Figure 5: Construction of Offshore Cable

To Install Offshore Power Cable, below given steps must be followed:

• Temporary route selection;
• Obtaining approval from the relevant authorities;
• Method research;
• Designing a cable system to meet the conditions of the selected route;
• Cable lying, including burial in appropriate places;
• Post-placement testing may be required in some cases;
• Cable status notification for other offshore users.

The difficulty of laying the Offshore Power Cable requires the combined work of many professionals in different fields.

The choice of method is made in consultation with the marine experts.

The research was carried out by geologists, geophysicists, and marine biologists.

Laying Cable under the sea is done by specialized building engineers.

Offshore Power Cables are made up of different parts, and each piece is made of additional material.

For example:

Electric conductors are made of metals such as copper, aluminum, etc. These tools are used to make wires.

Most Offshore Power Cables are made of copper because it conducts electricity with high flexibility and meager resistance.

Insulators are various synthetic materials used to seal electrical wires.

Because the current operates without copper wires, they need to be installed without other cables and conductors.

Various separating materials can be used depending on the characteristics of the required Cable.

The quality of the coating material depends on two key factors: the strength of the insulation and its resistance to heat.

For example, electrical coverings called “screens” close the signals around the Cable, protecting the power cords to prevent them from external interference.

Different certificates are given to Offshore Power Cables based upon their features and working. Authorities issue these certificates.

A few of them are ABS, CCS, BV, DNV-GL, LR, NK, RINA, KR, IRS, CRS, etc.

Ninety-nine percent of international data is transmitted via Offshore Power cables.

So much of the world’s information runs through the oceans over a million miles of Cable.

From point to point, each Cable can be as short as 131 kilometers up to 20,000 kilometers.

The process is straightforward; the Cable is laid until it is hard enough to survive in an environment that will stay for the next 25 years.

When an Offshore Power cable is buried in the sea, it is usually tiny.

The power cable is coated with a gel and rests inside a copper tube that carries electricity.

A plastic tube is surrounded by copper, followed by an aluminum water bar and a small metal cord.

After that, they can be woven with extra metal if more protection is needed, followed by nylon thread and then tar.

Finally, a plastic wrap to cover the entire package.

Suppose you wonder why the fiber optics are installed in the copper tube.

In that case, the copper is empowered to drive the repeaters mentioned earlier to increase the brightness to ensure that the signal is strong enough to reach its destination.

Figure 6: Process of making Offshore Cables

There are mainly six types of Offshore Power Cable:

• 657TQ type SW4 cable:

It is un-armored, used in power and lightening.

• 6571TQ type SW4:

It is also an un-armored Cable, but not only used in power and lightening but also offers electric shock protection.

• 658Q type SW4:

This is the armored one, lightning and control.

• BFOU Cables:

It is mud and flame resistant, used as power and control

• RFOU Cables:

It is mud and flame resistant, used as power and control.

• P15 UX Earth Cables:

Provides earthing and bonding services.

Figure 7: Types of Offshore Cables

First, the Offshore Power Cable must be loaded into a cable container to take them to the sea.

Some of these ships can hold up to 2,000 miles [2,000 km] of Cable.

It can take three to four weeks to load the Power cable, which can be installed at an average of 200 kilometers per day with proper equipment.

Once the Offshore Power cable is mounted from the shore, the Cable is placed on the water’s edge.

The cable-carrying vessel is as close to the beach as without focusing, and it begins to dig.

Ships pull a type of plow that digs a ditch and lays the Cable at the same time.

In some cases, the cables must be retrieved if they are moved to another thread or if the Cable is not buried.

There is a lot of planning on the ship’s route – underwater mountains, valleys, coral reefs, cliffs, and fault lines are all considered.

Preferably, cables will also be available in areas that reduce the risk of injury from boat anchors and fishing boats.

Figure 8: Installing Offshore Cables

Life Expectancy of Offshore Cable is thought to be 25 years at least.

There are many options for cables that no longer work.

The lifespan of the Offshore Power Cables is thought to be about 25 years, but it does not expire.

Usually, before 25 years, new technologies mean that cables are out of date, and new wires are driven by more data power.

When that happens, they can be repositioned and repositioned, suitable for areas that do not require much capacity and want to save on costs because using these types of cables often costs hundreds of millions of dollars.

Some companies get the right to pull the Offshore Power cables and save them for the equipment.

They can also be left in the area where they occur; they are called dark fiber.

Even without the signs on the ropes, they made a vast network of earthquakes scientists to study the geologic and earthquake structures.

Offshore Power Cables provides a range of features that make it an ideal option for drawing shore power.

First of all, this is a big thread that shows that it can be challenging, and in fact, it is not.

The Shore power cord is designed and made so that it is kept as light as possible.

The outer jacket of this Cable is oil-resistant and unmarked, which means that our coastline looks brand new longer than the competition and holds up over time.

Another great feature of this thread is the fact that it offers good flexibility and structural properties.

The flexibility combined with its weight ensures that you will not have difficulty handling this thread. These presence phones are all built around.

The Offshore Cable is used when you have your boat on the harbor, at sea, or elsewhere, providing energy from the land.

It helps by allowing the operator to save the use of the generator by drawing directly from the shoreline while standing.

To use, connect the Offshore Cable to the correct position and use the power switch to start drawing power on the shore.

There is a range of power converters that give you many options to meet different needs.

This saves you from having to rely on generator power alone, which will not only save you money but also save time.

In addition, by using the Offshore Power Cable on the shore, you save a few hours of use on your generator.

For the offshore Cable to work correctly, it must be inspected and maintained from time to time to prevent damage. These include:

• Offshore cable testing to assess the possibility of tears or wear;
• Cable method research to determine the stability of solid marine and ocean systems that may threaten cable integrity;
• Blocking that prevents cable components where wear signals are present or as they approach the end of life;
• Enforcing laws and regulations regarding the protection of the CPZ.

The surgery is performed by specialized vessels. Much depends on the weather and the sea.

In high-altitude areas where ice or crossing floating icebergs cover the sea, these operations require additional care and more extended periods.

Offshore Power cable carries various features that put it above the competition.

It has a power output of 600 volts and is rated to handle temperatures from -50 ° C to 105 ° C. That should give you a good idea of   how strong the Cable is.

All of its operators are made with the complete supply of the brass of the luxury above offer we have mentioned and the high performance.

These factors are combined with the assurance of heavy external installation that you find a high-quality coastal power line on the market today.

A shield, or sheath, is a metal sheet placed over one or more offshore cables that protected them from damage or prevented them from interfering with electricity.

This process is called screening.

There are two main types of foil screen: polyester or polyimide tape, aluminum tape, or copper foil.

Both of these require a drainage cord (usually the same size as the other cores in the Cable) to break it into a connector, and this is generally installed at cable interstices.

Braided screens (also known as handles) are made of multiple strings, wound with a line on the same side.

These are usually used for interconnected cables where the Cable will connect and double on only one side.

To provide excellent screening over different frequencies, many bound and foil screens can be used.

Figure 9: Screening of Offshore Cable

Offshore cables are specified because it can withstand different environmental conditions such as:

• High ambient temperature
• Corrosion
• Oxidation
• Cold atmosphere
• Salinity
• Humidity
• Fire
• Oil and chemical pollutants

To ensure that the quality of the offshore cable reaches the mark, manufacturers must adhere to certain standards.

NEK 606

The NEK 606 is a standard Norwegian or state-of-the-art (TS) system set up for applications in the maritime industry such as marine and ocean drilling, shipping, ship manufacturing, and other industries that use music, energy, or ground cables.

IEEE 1850 type P

As you know the conditions in which these seafood strings have to survive in order to tend to be hard and rough.

Therefore, it is important that the cables should be designed in a way which can overcome this stress.

For this reason, coastal cables must have IEEE 1850 standard.

Offshore Cable products come in a variety of range.

They have different types and each type is for specific function.

Various types of offshore cables are available

Offshore Power Cable

Overseas power cable is designed to transfer power to overseas units, including high power, medium power, and low power cables.

VFD cable

The VFD cable operates on the VFD power cable in overseas units and is intended for fixed installation. The VFD cable has an outstanding electromagnetic alignment.

Iron thread

Offshore steel cable is manufactured in accordance with NEK 606 and IEC 60092-376 standards. It is designed for telecommunications and metallurgy in overseas units and oil platforms.

Earth cable

The ground cable P15 UX is designed according to the NEK 606 and IEC 60092-353 standard with voltage range 0.6 / 1kV and size. operating temperature 90 ℃.