Cal Dive, FMC to develop intervention riser system

HOUSTON, Feb. 27�Cal Dive International Inc., Houston, and FMC Corp.'s energy systems business agreed to develop and jointly fund an intervention riser system that can work in 10,000 ft of water and function in pressures to 15,000 psi.

Cal Dive's newbuild multiservice vessel Q4000 will deploy the riser system, which will be able to intervene in the horizontal and vertical subsea trees of all manufacturers.

Using a composite reelable 2-in. flexipipe, the riser system allows for the circulation of fluids, flow testing and hydrate remediation of subsea wells.

Cal Dive said the system can be latched onto a subsea tree within 6 hr of arriving on station.

The intervention system will be ready when the Q4000 is commissioned in the third quarter.