INTELLIGENTLY CONNECTED PIPE (ICP™)
ICP™ Technology allows the delivery of fatigue resistant, lightweight, non-welded high strength steel risers to enable future Deep Water and Ultra Deep Water (UDW), and Pre/Post -Salt projects.
There are seven (7) key elements to the ICP™ system:
1. THE GMC MECHANICAL CONNECTOR
GMC’s Mechanical Connector is the enabling technology behind Intelligently Connected Pipe (ICP™); a revolutionary product for offshore riser and flowline applications.
- Fatigue Resistant ~10X Greater than Welded Riser
- Anti-Corrosive
- Up to 15,000 PSI
- Quick Make-up. No Torque
- Qualified to DNV ISO21329 & API Standards
The Mechanical Connector provides a high strength, fatigue-resistant connection that can be quickly and reliably made up offshore. This allows ICP™ system components to be pre-manufactured onshore in a controlled and low cost environment and transported to the field as completed pipe joints in appropriately chosen lengths (singles, doubles, triples, quads, etc.)
2. PIPE JOINING TECHNOLOGY
Conventional Welded or Friction Joined
- Onshore Single, double, Triple, Quad or Hex Joint fabricated
Upset Pipe Ends
- Corrosion Resistant
- Connector profile machined directly onto the pipe
- Enhanced fatigue properties
- Perfect ID and OD tolerances
- No welds, weld seams
3. FATIGUE RESISTANT
ISO 21329 – The international standard specifying requirements and providing guidance for the testing of mechanical connectors for use in pipeline transportation systems for the petroleum and natural gas industries.
It defines a series of stringent tests to provide objective evidence that mechanical connectors conform to a defined performance envelope.
GMC performed the ISO test qualification processes under 3rd party survey by DNV.
The GMC Mechanical Connector successfully completed all testing in January 2010 and is one of the first connectors to be qualified to this standard.
API RP 2RD 2013 makes ISO 21329 a referenced qualification for mechanical connections.
(3) DNV Certificate
(3) DNV ISO 21329
(3) Dynamic Risers for Floating Production Systems.
4. HIGH STRENGTH STEEL
ICP™ is typically made from API 5CT pipe material with grades in excess of 95Ksi.
C110 can handle H2S issues and friction joining
P110 with inconel clad can handle the CO2 for pre/postsub salt deepwater risers, and flowlines and tie-backs.
5. RFID TAGGING
RFID tags identify and track life of ICP™ pipe joints: manufacture, QC inspections, and multiple field installations.
THE ICP™ is a re-useable product, and its life of field and load characteristics can be tracked consistently from beginning to end.
6. ICP™ MANUFACTURING & PIPE JOINT DELIVERY
ICP™ pipe joints can be manufactured locally from any facility worldwide.
Pipe joints are then delivered to storage racks on quayside, where racks are loaded to match the lay sequence to ensure rapid load out to transport vessels or directly onto lay vessel.
7. ICP™ INSTALLATION
ICP™ risers can be S-layed or J-layed and the use of mechanical connections in the deployment of the riser simplifies and speeds-up offshore installation, therefore, reducing the overall cost of an offshore development.
In addition, the connected riser can be deployed from a wide range of suitable vessels or rigs using modular equipment and does not require a specialized installation vessel – this further reduces costs and enables more flexibility in scheduling of the work.
