Core Focus: Structural design and domestic independent development of industrial large claw-type underwater connectors for oil and gas fields.

Summary

Core Oil & Gas Equipment

This article focuses on large claw-type connectors installed at the end of jumpers in Subsea Production Systems (SPS). Serving as key locking joints, they connect Christmas trees, manifolds and subsea pipelines.

Four Core Design Technologies

It systematically discusses four essential technologies for domestic localization: sealing, locking, positioning & centering, and hydraulic control. Special emphasis is placed on the failure mechanism of metal-rubber composite sealing rings under long-term deep-sea creep.

Diverless Connection System

In shallow water, flange connection relied on divers to fasten bolts, while diverless connection technology is mandatory for deepwater operations. The article analyzes the technological monopoly held by leading international manufacturers including FMC and Cameron, and proposes solutions for structural optimization and pressure testing to support independent domestic R&D.

Technical Trend Summary

It is clearly concluded that underwater connector technology is evolving toward hybrid opto-electro-hydraulic integration, high voltage and large current (driven by floating wind and grid connection demands), as well as fully automatic wet mating operated by deep-sea robots.