Viper said the new model is designed so that all the coupler float requirements are built into the flying half of the stab plate, with couplers rigidly mounted within the fixed half of the stab plate. This mitigates assembly risk for the small-bore tubing installation on the tree and umbilical termination assembly. The need for long lengths of hydraulic tubing behind the fixed plate couplings in order to maintain coupler compliance is, therefore, no longer required.
Removing the need for fixed plate coupling compliance reduces the size of the UTA structure which facilitates compliance with the Umbilical Termination Size Reduction Joint Industry Project (API TR 17TR9 Subsea Umbilical Termination Selection and Sizing Recommendations).
