The high stakes of gas transmission
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Offshore oil and gas facilities often experience the continuous or intermittent presence of combustible gases. If these gases come into contact with energised equipment on a site through the cables, the dangers of an explosion and a total operational shutdown are very real. Remaining gas-tight is thus a necessity for cables that pass through hazardous zones.
If a cable is not fully compacted, it will have interstices between individual cores. Combustible gases and vapours may then enter through these interstices and migrate between equipment in different zones, threatening the safety of the people and equipment in the vicinity. Gas migration is even higher where a cable uses hygroscopic materials.
In order to preserve containment, you might consider using a barrier cable gland at the end of each cable. However, installation can be time-consuming and often throws up unforeseen problems – less than ideal in an already challenging environment.
The best way to identify the potential for gas migration is to examine the construction of the cable itself. If you spot any of the following conditions, gas may be able to travel through the cable, jeopardising the integrity of the hazardous zone:
- The cable’s interstices and fillers are not compact.
- The cable’s inner covering and sheath are not extruded.
- The cable contains fillers made of a hygroscopic compound.
Cables International’s manufacturing partners have extensive experience in producing gas-tight cables. These satisfy the rigorous IEC 60079-14: 2014 requirements for electrical installations in explosive atmospheres, and are used in hazardous zones. Not only do the cables meet the mechanical, chemical and fire-performance exigencies of such harsh environments, but the cables are also compacted and entirely filled to prevent gas migration.
Cables International has recently supplied cables to projects including the Tyra redevelopment project and NOC’s Gallaf Batch 2 Project. We are proud to know that our cables are best in class when it comes to protecting the safety of everyone and everything in the exacting conditions of an offshore oil and gas project.
Contact us at +65 6265 0588 or email [email protected] to discuss your requirements.
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