The oil and gas industry is facing increasing challenges accessing reserves in ultra deep waters. Subsea processing requires enabling cost efficient systems to minimize operating costs and improve recovery rates. These systems rely on components such as Here is everything you need to know about subsea connectors.
Benefits of Subsea Connectors
Subsea connectors provide reliable performance for 25 years in extreme conditions. They have a high pressure electrical feedthrough that can withstand the flow of electricity at 6,696,000 miles per hour. These underwater penetrators can also hold up to high temperatures above sea level. The hermetic connector is a crucial component in the systems used for onshore and offshore testing. They can be either dry-mate or wet-mate with optical or electrical feedthrough.
Applications of Subsea Connectors
These connectors are typically used for Permanent Reservoir Monitoring systems. They’ve also been used for offshore oil and gas facilities, ocean science observatories, and naval acoustic arrays. Underwater connectors have been manufactured since the 1950s to facilitate SONAR networks. As the oil and gas industry evolves, these connectors can help provide reliability to new technologies in development.
Market Growth
The underwater connector market is expected to see major growth as the demand for fossil fuels rises. There is also an increasing investment for new surveys and reservoir discoveries. Underwater vehicles used survey missions require connectors that are water and corrosion resistant. According to Statista, the global market in 2018 was valued around $2 billion. It’s expected to grow by 2027 to around $4 billion.
The demand for these connectors is due to the dependence of subsea equipment ranging from simple sonar to wave energy converters. While rubber molded connectors dominate the market, manufacturers are boosting underwater connector production based on inductive coupling for data transfer-based applications in the telecommunications industry. Innovation strategies and product development are also heavily influenced by military equipment and system requirements. Fiber optic cables are replacing copper cables in transatlantic subsea transmission conduits.
Subsea connectors play a vital role in helping the oil and gas industry access needed reserves. They keep systems operating smoothly in harsh environments. Technological advancements are increasing for these connectors in the use of underwater vehicles and other commercial applications.