Robust cable routing in the catwalk for safe pipe handling

To equip a drilling vessel with a catwalk, National Oilwell Varco AS, a manufacturer of equipment for the oil and gas industry, was looking for a suitable system to guide the numerous cables travelling on the trolley. Due to the constant use on the high seas, corrosion resistance was just as important as the safe guidance of the cables at travelling speeds of 2 m/s and accelerations of 3 m/s2. The weight of 16 kg/m also had to be taken into account when selecting the cable routing. A permanently robust system was required that travelled over a distance of 12.80 m in the pipe handling area.

The cable routing for the pipe handling in the catwalk area is now carried out by a robust energy chain from the E4/4 series, type 4040.37.200 to be precise. As a plastic energy chain designed for high loads, it is not affected by the cable weights or the salty sea air. At the same time, its own weight is low, resulting in comparatively low additional loads. Designed as a sliding energy chain, the upper run travels safely on the lower run even over longer travel distances and enables smooth movements. The energy chain is guided in a guide trough designed for this purpose.