Cutting and Blasting at Depths of 3,000m

Chukar Waterjet will present 'Waterjet Technology and Applications Deepwater Subsea' during the Underwater Intervention show in New Orleans, USA (at 3:30 p.m. on 25th January 2012 in Room 217). Chukar Waterjet general manager Bruce Kivisto will discuss recent advancements in subsea waterjet technology that make it possible to deploy waterjet cutting and blasting equipment at depths in excess of 3,000 metres. 

 

These advancements present new opportunities for deepwater emergency response operations, salvage operations, and rapid de-mobilisation operations using ultra-high pressure waterjet cutting and blasting equipment.

 

Kivisto's presentation will highlight applications for subsea waterjet equipment. Effective at cutting steel up to 250mm thick or waterjet blasting at pressures up to 3,800 bar, Chukar's subsea waterjet equipment has countless potential applications. It can be used to blast away coatings and marine growth to inspect welds, or as a cutting tool in emergency response and salvage operations. Waterjet equipment may also be used to provide turbulence in a stream of methanol for hydrate remediation.

 

The advantages of waterjet over conventional subsea cutting and cleaning tools will also be discussed during the presentation. Unlike conventional tools, the tools used in a waterjet system cannot bind in the cut, jeopardising asset integrity. Waterjet cutting also reduces the hazard of igniting trapped pockets of gas during cutting.