Robust energy chains for moving the drill floor skid on drilling vessels

Profile

• What was needed: E4.1 series energy chains
• Requirements: High cable weights and corrosive sea air required strong, reliable cable guidance.
• Industry: Oil and gas
• Success for the customer: The E4.1 chains are suitable for heavy duty applications and additional loads of 250kg/m and more. The low dead weight of the energy supply systems reduces the overall solution weight. The cable guide chains are also compact and space-saving.

The plastic E4.1 energy chain moves along the drill floor skid. It is robust and space-saving.

Problem

High mobility and flexibility in the oil and gas industry: Drilling vessels are mobile drilling platforms that constitute an important complement to fixed drilling sites. Also known as modular drilling rigs (MDRs), they can approach and drilling platforms and perform drilling there. This is made possible by a cantilever that moves over the borehole from the ship using a sliding frame: the drill skid. To safely and reliably move the drilling platform, also referred to as a drill floor, even in harsh sea conditions, a special energy supply solution was required. The extremely high cable weight coupled with corrosive sea air and strong wind required robust, lightweight guidance.

Solution

The customer, a large service provider and manufacturer of technologies for the oil and gas industry, uses lightweight but robust E4.1 plastic energy chains from the E600 series. The E4.1 model is suitable for use on onshore and offshore rigs, since it also offers the necessary strength for heavy duty applications and even allows additional loads of 250kg/m and more. The low dead weight of the gliding e-chains reduces overall solution weight. The cable guide chains are also space-saving, allowing compact installation along the drill floor. Recently, the chain material (high-performance polymers) also played an important role. It protects the chains from corrosion and is therefore particularly effective on offshore rigs under environmental conditions that can be aggressive.

Heavy duty: With additional loads of 250kg/m, the energy chain delivers top performance.