216: Offshore cable features

Offshore cables are usually used in non-dry areas with moisture, pollution, and corrosive chemicals.

General Features:

• Power, control, instrumentation, telecommunication, and earth cables
• Performance in harsh environments (heat, cold, humidity, chemical reaction, vibration etc.)
• Fire resistance or flame retardant
• Low smoke
• Halogen free
• Mud resistant
• Conductor (stranded tinned copper: protection against rust or aluminum)

Cable Identification according to NEK 606:

This is a Norwegian standard in the offshore field, but it is also used globally. Usually cables in this standard are identified with 2 or 4 letters. For instrumentation cables there are also other additional letters.

1- Insulation

• • B: Fire resistance tape (such as Mica tape) + Insulation (Halogen-free)
  • R: EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber)
  • T: XLPE (Cross Linked Polyethylene)
  • I: Thermoplastic compound (Halogen-free)
  • U: Halogen-free thermoset compound EMA or EVA
  • A: Fibre, tight buffered
  • Q: Fibre in loose tube

2-Bedding/Inner Covering inner sheath

• • F: Bedding/Inner covering or taping (Halogen-free)
  • Y: Screen (poss. with PE or PP)
  • I: Thermoplastic compound (Halogen-free) SHF1

Note:

Inner sheath for protection against moisture, Fire-retardant and halogen-free material

3-Armour/Screen

• • L: Aluminium (laminated to outer jacket)
  • X: No armour
  • O: Copper wire braid (tinned or bare)
  • A: Strength member of yarn
  • C: Galvanized steel wire braid

Note:

1. • Armour for protection against mechanical damage
   • Shield for protection against electromagnetic interference

4- Outer Jacket

• • I: Thermoplastic compound (Halogen-free) SHF1
  • U: Halogen-free thermoset compound, SHF2
  • U: Halogen-free mud resistant thermoset compound, SHF Mud

Note:

Outer jacket for protection against damage, moisture, dust, dirt, salt corrosion, oil etc.

5- Additional letter for instrumentation cables:

• • (c): Collective screen
  • (i): Individual pair or triple screen

Common offshore cables:

• BU
• RU
• BFOU
• RFOU
• BFOU(i)
• BFOU(c)
• RFOU(i)
• RFOU(c)

Color identifications:

• x1 Conductor: Natural
• x2 Conductors: Blue + Brown
• x3 Conductors: Brown + Black + Grey
• x4 Conductors: Brown + Black + Grey + Blue
• x5 Conductors or more: White Numbered

The following features are very important in installing above cables:

• Light weight
• Small diameter
• Flexibility
• Elasticity

Standards:

• NEK 606 (NEK: Norsk Elektroteknisk Komite)
• BS6883
• IEEE 1580
• IEC60331 (fire resistance)
• IEC60332-1, IEC60332-3-22 (flame retardancy)
• IEC60754-1 (halogen free)
• IEC 61034-1 (low smoke)
•  IEC 60092 (oil resistance/mud resistance)

Approvals:

• DNV (DNV GL)
  • DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
  • GL (Germanischer LIoyd)
• ABS
• CCS

Related links:

• OEUK (UKOOA)