Balltec Helical Connectors™
Highest integrity subsea mooring connectors for the most demanding applications.
Helical Subsea Mooring Connectors (SMC’s) are a simplified connector suitable for the most demanding mooring applications. Helical Connectors build on Balltec’s experience in subsea moorings and are specifically designed to retain ease of use whilst reducing parts count and negating the need for chemical and environment seals. The quality and reliability of the offshore mooring hardware is of paramount importance, and the simplicity of Helical Connectors offers unmatched confidence and reliability from one of the world’s leading mooring connector suppliers.
The design of the Helical Connector combines the top entry, self-aligning and speedy installation features of the more complex ball and taper connector with the simplicity of a traditional ROV H-Link.
The Helical is a simple 3 piece connector consisting of a male element, female element and connecting pin.
The male and female elements are machined load bearing forgings. When the male is lowered into the female, chamfers of the nose of the female interface with chamfers on the female body. This interaction engages both the male and female elements and ensures the pin holes are self-aligned for easy, first time, insertion of the connecting pin.
Features
- Self aligning, diverless, top entry connection
- Quick and easy to connect
- Only one ROV operation to connect and disconnect
- No moving parts
- Corrosion allowance applied to all surfaces; seals and chemicals are not required
- No requirements for special tools to install or release
- Can be used with any anchor type, at any depth
- All of the installation benefits of ball and taper, with the simplicity of an ROV H-Link
- Simple pinned connection
Balltec Helical Connectors are designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with the requirements of DNV Offshore Mooring Chain (2008) and ABS Rules for Certification of Offshore Mooring Chain (2009).
Additional information
| MBL | No limit. Current design up to 30,000 kN (6,744 kips). 50mT – > 3000mT |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | No depth limit |
| Service Life | Designs up to 52 years |
| Interface | Connectors can interface directly to mooring chain, LTM shackles, H-links, Y-links, sockets and other mooring jewellery. |
| Anchor Types | Suction pile, driven pile, gravity bases, drag embedment anchors, SEPLA anchors, torpedo anchors and any other subsea structure. |
| Material | All load-bearing machined components are manufactured from forged ASTM A182 F22 (mod) steel bar to Balltec proprietary specification. Balltec is in partnership with Ofar S.p.A, Italy, for the forging of load-bearing components. F22 (mod) Steel. |
| Applications | FPSO, FSO, drill ships/platfoms, TLP, buoys, SPAR, tidal energy devices, floating wind turbines, buoyancy restraints, flowline tiebacks, semi-submersible platforms and other moored structures. |
| Operations | ROV assisted connection for rapid subsea installation, compact design that does not compromise on robustness or strength, fail-safe during zero loading or inversion. |
| Certification Class | The Helical Connector™ is manufactured in accordance with all recognised industry standards including ABS, DNV, BV and Lloyds. |
| Approvals | Current approvals for forgings up to 600 mm (24”) diameter, the world’s largest single forging diameter approval for a mooring connector. |
