Are Kill & Choke line connections still labour intensive, time consuming and putting your crew at risk? Does weather conditions and safety concerns from manual K&C operations disrupt your drilling schedule?
If so, you’re not alone. Many offshore rigs still rely on outdated manual connection methods that are time-consuming, hazardous, and highly weather dependent.
In this article, we’ll explore:
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Why traditional K&C connection methods are a bottleneck for modern rigs
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How a hands-free, remote-controlled solution can reduce connection times from hours to minutes
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The safety and commercial benefits are proven offshore applications
Continue reading, and you will learn how to eliminate a source of non-productive time (NPT) and improve crew safety and operational efficiency.
The Persistent Challenge of Kill & Choke Connections
Kill & Choke (K&C) line connection/disconnection operations on offshore rigs remain a critical, but often challenging operation. Normally, connecting these lines demands extensive manual effort, precise coordination, and favourable weather. The process not only consumes valuable operational time but also exposes crew members to significant safety hazards.
Despite advances in rig technology, many operators still rely on manual methods that are time-consuming and sensitive to environmental factors.
Read more: Emergency Disconnects Made Safer with Future Production’s ADS Technology
Time and Safety: The Two Key Challenges
Manually connecting kill and choke lines is not only time consuming, 10 to 12 hours from start to finish is not uncommon, but also requires significant procedural oversight. Before such operations can even begin, formal approval from rig management is necessary, following a comprehensive risk assessment. This typically includes a Safe Job Analysis (SJA, TEBRA) to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
The physical demands are equally challenging. Several crew members must operate winches and personnel baskets over open sea to manoeuvre personnel and hoses weighing 3 to 5 tons and measuring 20 to 30 meters. These hoses must then be attached to a moving slip joint - a task made even more difficult by the harsh and often unpredictable offshore environment.
Key concerns:
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Safety Hazards: Heavy equipment handling over open sea significantly increases the risk of serious personnel injuries.
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Weather Delays: Rough seas can force the rig crews to postpone operations, driving up non-productive time (NPT) and operational costs.
Hands-Free Connection Technology
To address these persistent issues, Future Production developed the FP ClickStab® system, a groundbreaking remote-controlled and hands-free solution that transforms K&C line connection processes.
How it works:
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Remote Control: Enables single-operator control from a safe location.
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Rapid Connection: Reduces connection/disconnection time to just 10 minutes.
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Adaptable Design: Can be integrated into various rig layouts, as retrofit or newbuild.
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Enhanced Safety: Eliminates manual handling over the open sea.
Read more: Redefining MPD Deployment: From 48 Hours to 15 Minutes with FP ClickStab® Technology
The Return on Investment: Time, Money, and Lives Saved
The FP ClickStab® system initial investment, delivers immediate benefits:
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Substantial Reduction in NPT
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Minimized Personnel Risk
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Lower Long-Term Operational Costs
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Increased rig attractiveness
Read more about the FP ClickStab® system here
Conclusion
Efficiency and crew safety remains a key priority in the offshore drilling sector. Remote-controlled and handsfree connection systems like the FP ClickStab® mark a pivotal step forward, turning what once was a hazardous, time consuming task into a streamlined, safe, and efficient process.
Contact us today to learn how your rig can benefit from this innovative technology.
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