EXPLORATION • DRILLING • FIELD SERVICES


In some cases the explosion of flammable materials causes expensive downtime and the repair and/or replacement of equipment; in others the downtime and other costs – including human lives – can be colossal. Te cost of a deepwater oil rig today averages around US$350 million, and the stoppage of well production can range upward of US$375,000 daily. Because the hazards of explosive atmospheres are a global concern, ATEX (Atmosphere Explosibles) and the IECEx (International Electrotechnical Commission) have issued special ‘directives’ to establish minimum requirements for improving the health and safety of workers potentially at risk. Te potential for these standards to be more widely adopted in the future is also likely.


IDENTIFYING RISKS IECEx has determined that the primary risk of running fibre optic cabling in explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres is related to the cable connectors, the receptacle that couples fibre optic cable to an enclosure. Tese are described as potential ignition sources under certain conditions, or “zones,” as determined by ATEX. “Te primary ATEX zones where


fibre optic connectors should be certified as safe are Zone 1 and Zone 2,” says Phillip Hoyle, an expert in fibre optics and product development specialist with Optical Cable Corporation (OCC). “Zone 1 is defined as a place in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation. Zone 2 applies to locations


Quick disconnect connector


speeds up the certification process, but can also reduce time to market along with reduced testing and certification costs for the customer,” Hoyle explains.


OCC ATEX EZ Mate connector


where an explosion is less likely to occur in normal operation, but if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.” Hoyle adds that there is actually an enormous number of users that should be using certified connectors in potentially explosive atmospheres. Yet, there is a lack of available certified fibre connector solutions, particularly with high-count multi-channel options that facilitate the bandwidth that is required. As an example, OCC recently


developed the EZ-Mate Ex line of quick connectors, which provides up to 24 fibre connections in a single connector and has hazardous location protection for Zones 1 and 2. “Having certified fibre connectors installed in a hazardous area not only


Explosive Enviro connectors 14 www.engineerlive.com


A SPEEDY SOLUTION “Quick” connectors are an ideal solution for applications that require frequent teardown and setup. “Tis is highly appropriate for quick disconnect systems that are optimal for areas that need to be taken down or switched out, something that is more mobile,” Hoyle says. “Each receptacle can be mounted to an increased safety or flame-proof enclosure, allowing for multiple easy connect and disconnect deployments, reducing teardown time.” Hoyle adds that quick disconnect systems such as the EZ-Mate can be highly beneficial in switching out frequently relocated and reconfigured applications such as land-based rigs as well as more efficiently servicing high damage areas on offshore platforms. Without a quick connect-disconnect connector, if the equipment is damaged and must be moved, or if the cable has to be moved when the rig is moved, the only option is the cut the cable and then re-splice it. However, since most offshore rigs do not have a fibre technician on board, such repairs would mean having to helicopter a service technician to the site, resulting in added costs and downtime. To make the explosive atmosphere-fibre solution a comprehensive one, manufacturers such as OCC work with ATEX/IECEx-certified enclosure manufacturers to provide a complete end-to-end solution. Such comprehensive solutions will not only ensure safer environments for workers and equipment, but will also make the conversion to directive-compliant explosive atmosphere protection more efficient, with minimal downtime.


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