With more processing equipment and functions traditionally based topside being deployed subsea to deeper waters, so the industry is pushing the limits of installation engineering technologies. Lowering heavy subsea processing equipment to water depths in excess of 1,500m is challenging the industry to reassess long held assumptions on the performance of steel wire and synthetic fibre ropes, together with winch technologies.
In this paper, Caley Ocean Systems draws on its experience of both deepwater installation systems (high loads, waters depths up to 2,000m) and oceanographic winch systems (small loads, water depths in excess of 10,000m) to propose a holistic approach that considers the characteristics of the rope and winch as a whole rather than as separate elements.
