WET CONNECTION TOOL

1
WET CONNECTION TOOL

• Concept validation

2
Underwater connections (1/3)

• Acoustics no power and low data rate
• Light transmission no power, medium data rate
  and short distance
• wet connections high data rate, long distance
• Valve technology
• Beam expanded technology.

3
Underwater connections (2/3)

• Valve technology
• Adapted for copper and fibers
• Well known
• Precise and complex mechanics
• Can be plugged only with work class ROV
• Some problems on ANTARES related to long term
  unused connector
• Expensive.

4
Underwater connections (3/3)

• Beam expanded technology
• Under development
• Needs individual fiber tuning?
• Sensitive to water infiltration between connector
  faces
• Limited to fibers
• 3dB loss.

5
Concept (1/4)

• Ideal requirements
• Low cost by using standard dry matable
  connectors
• No (few) moving parts for good reliability
• Connectable with small class ROV
• Versatile for FO, power copper and data copper.

6
Concept (2/4)
Dry connector embedded in a filled oil gasket and
pressure balanced
7
Concept (3/4) Tool
Remove end cap (upper part of box is hidden)
Move caps out of connection area
Connect, open the box and extract connetor
Put connector on the tool
Close isolation box and replace water by oil
8
Concept (4/4)

• Prototype

9
Conclusions

• Concept validated in shallow water. Promising
  regarding cost and reliability
• Motorized design is studying for 2010
• ROV interface to be defined
• Needs of collaboration and interest.