Xtreme Release (XR) Connector™

The Xtreme Release (XR) ConnectorTM differs fundamentally from all other subsea connectors because it is based on a face-to-face technology rather than a conventional male-into-female engagement. This key differentiator enables the XR Connector to release safely, reliably and repeatedly with up to 100% of maximum bending capacity applied. By comparison, existing connectors - even those that claim to be capable of ‘high angle release' - cannot separate with high bending loads applied, so the maximum disconnect angle (and therefore the maximum applied bending load) has to be limited to prevent lock-up.

Why is this important?
Any floating vessel connected by a riser pipe to a wellhead on the seabed must be able to disconnect rapidly from the wellhead in the event of a position-keeping emergency. If it can't, there is a high risk of severe damage to the vessel (potentially causing injuries and fatalities), catastrophic failure of the riser pipe, severe damage to the wellhead, and possibly loss of well containment.

Existing Emergency Disconnect Packages (EDPs) have to limit the maximum disconnect angle to prevent the EDP from ‘locking up'. To maintain this small angle, the distance the vessel can move from the nominal centre position is limited and therefore the crew has only a small window of reaction time to identify a position-keeping failure, close in the well and disconnect from the wellhead. If the crew react too slowly, or problems occur too quickly for the crew to react, the vessel and its crew can rapidly reach the point beyond which the riser will not disconnect. Not a position any vessel crew, operator or owner would want to encounter.

Because the XR ConnectorTM has no maximum disconnect angle and can release at up to 100% of maximum bending capacity, there is no risk of it locking up when released under load. This means that vessels can move much further away from the wellhead before disconnecting from the subsea wellhead, and when they do release, the vessel crew can be confident that there is no risk of finding the riser stuck. This unique capability means that the XR ConnectorTM offers greatly improved vessel safety, improved asset protection and improved productivity (by reducing the number of precautionary disconnects necessary because of the larger operating window). The XR ConnectorTM also enables vessels to continue operations through more severe weather than previously possible, subject to other components in the riser system having sufficient bending capacity.

Controls & Data Monitoring Interfaces
In order to offer the unique capabilities of the XR ConnectorTM, STL have developed their own proprietary hydraulically retractable couplers, fully qualified and independently certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for operations to 3,000m (10,000ft) subsea. The range of couplers is constantly being expanded, but currently comprises:

- ¾" 690 bar (10,000psi) full bore coupler designed for contaminated fluid service

- ½" 690 bar (10.000psi) through bore coupler designed for clean fluid service
- Hydraulically retractable carrier to suit third party subsea electrical wet mateable connector

The following couplers are currently in development:

- 2" 690 bar (10,000psi) full bore coupler with flanged fluid connections designed for contaminated fluid service

- Fully integrated subsea electrical wet mateable connector

- Fully integrated subsea optical wet mateable connector

Unique Standards Compliance As Well!
The XR ConnectorTM not only offers unique capabilities, but also alone among EDP connectors is independently certified by DNV to comply with the ISO 13628-7/API RP 17G. Operators are increasingly insisting on compliance with these standards for workover riser systems. Since the launch of the XR ConnectorTM, many operators have now refused to provide dispensation to compliance with the standard, making the XR ConnectorTM the only option on the market able to achieve complete compliance with ISO 13628-7/API RP 17G.

The XR ConnectorTM also complies with relevant parts of API 6A, API 16D, API 17D, ISO 13628-6, ISO 10423.

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