Since 1997 MARINTEK has gained extensive experience in full scale qualification and fatigue testing of flexible risers and umbilicals. During the last few years the interest for full scale testing of dynamic power cables for offshore applications has increased significantly.
In 2009 MARINTEK was commissioned to test the world’s first power-from-shore dynamic AC cable by ABB. The cable was installed at Statoil’s Gjøa floating oil and gas platform in the North Sea in 2010. This was the first time an offshore floating platform was directly connected to the onshore power network. In 2011 MARINTEK performed a similar full-scale test of a power cable developed by ABB for the Goliat field in the Barents Sea. The power cable will become the world’s longest and most powerful dynamic AC cable.
As a result, the CO2 emissions from the Goliat FPSO are estimated to be reduced by 50% as compared to conventional power solutions. The flexible part of the cable, which hangs between the FPSO and seabed, will be exposed to significant structural loads from waves, current and platform induced motions. The objective of the full-scale test was to validate the structural integrity of the most vulnerable segment of the cable under simulated design life operational conditions. The test was performed in one of MARINTEK’s advanced rigs for full-scale dynamic testing over a period of six months. The behavior and characteristics of the cable were carefully monitored throughout the test, and no damage to critical components was found.
