FLYING LEAD CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR MAKING SUBSEA CONNECTIONS

摘要

The present invention generally provides a rigid flying lead. The improved flying lead arrangement is configured to provide fluid communication between a first item of subsea equipment and a second item of subsea equipment in a marine body. In one embodiment, the flying lead includes a first substantially rigid end kit disposed at a first end of the flying lead, and a second substantially rigid end kit disposed at a second end of the flying lead. A substantially rigid midsection is defined between the first end kit and the second end kit. At least one, and preferably multiple, fluid communication lines are disposed within the midsection, providing fluid communication between the two items of subsea equipment. Examples of subsea equipment include an umbilical end termination, a subsea distribution unit, a subsea tree and a manifold. The flying lead is configured to be lowered into a marine body using a spreader bar so that junction plates on the respective end kits can be gravitationally landed into respective junction plate receptacles.