| Product Overview
The Deepwater RetroPod cathodic protection
system has saved many operators hundreds of thousands of dollars in
offshore CP retrofit costs. This is achieved by installing an optimized
array of sacrificial anode material (capable of delivering up to 20 Amperes)
in less than a quarter of the time it would take to install the equivalent
CP using clamp-on anode arrays.
An installed RetroPod is located on bottom,
just inside or outside the base of the jacket. This semi-remote location
greatly improves current distribution, and the installation can be
accomplished with divers or ROV’s using the RetroClamp™ tieback system.
Small, shallow 4-pile jacket structures can
often be retrofitted with only one or two pods, thus several can be
completed in a single offshore day.
Four small booster anodes are added to the
RetroPod when a structure has lost all cathodic protection. The additional
upper anode array provides a 15% current boost for the first 2-3 years to
quickly re-establish cathodic polarization.
Like all of Deepwater’s innovative CP
retrofit solutions, the RetroPod is guaranteed to perform. Hundreds have
been successfully installed.
Main Benefits
- Reduces retrofit installed cost to
approximately 1/3 of a conventional clamp-on fix. Many direct
comparisons are documented.
- Improved safety; no direct diver
intervention with heavy load. Safe 24 hour operation maximizes offshore
efficiency.
- Optimized shape reduces mutual anode
interference, gives excellent bottom stability, and provides ease of
handling offshore.
- No increased weight loading on an aging
structure and no problems finding places to clamp anodes.
- Easy to inspect during routine subsea
inspections; current output from each pod can be displayed if required.
- Modular construction allows simple
re-configuration for 10 to 25 year life extension in 5-year increments.
Materials
RetroPod uses the highest available quality
of sacrificial anode alloys. Typical ambient and cold water Al-In-Zn
compositions are used. All steel fabrication uses ASTM A 36 material and is
performed in Deepwater's manufacturing facility as well as at sub-licensed
facilities in various regions.
Design Life
10 to 25 years (depending on customer
requirements).
RetroClamp Tie Back
Each RetroPod is shipped with one or more
RetroClamps; typical cables are 2 x 25 feet #4/0 AWG heavy duty flex cables.
Thousands of these clamps are now in service around the world, and many have
been installed by ROV. The installation efficiency of the RetroClamp has
saved customers hundreds of thousands of dollars. |
