Subsea 7 wish to present a method that has improved the safety of offshore umbilical installation by using the ‘Bend Restrictor Quick Connector’ (BRQC). This method was developed together with Equinor, with the aim to significantly reduce the amount of work that must be performed when working under a swinging and suspended load (the umbilical termination head), and hence reducing personnel exposure to potential dropped objects.

During the installation of the Utgard umbilical, Equinor experienced a High Potential Near Miss Incident when, as the 2nd end umbilical termination head (UTH) was lifted over the vertical lay system (VLS), a heavy item became dislodged from the UTH, and fell to the moonpool deck. At the time, personnel were in the moonpool deck area preparing for the bend restrictor installation on the 2nd end, and the dropped object almost struck them.

As a part of the Johan Sverdrup Phase 2 project scope of work, Subsea 7 was awarded a study to investigate how this process could be improved, and how the work underneath a suspended load could be reduced. Subsea 7 wishes to present the maturation process of the BRQC from initial concept to delivery of the final product that was very well received on board the offshore installation vessel, improving safety and efficiency as planned.

Equinor has indicated that the bend restrictor ‘click-on arrangement’ will be included as a requirement in their standards and shall be implemented on upcoming projects by either supplier or installation contractor.