Hot stab

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A hot stab is a type of subsea connector specifically designed to be easily inserted and removed by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) manipulator arm. The hot stab is the connector which supplies remote utilities. It is normally inserted into a port after removing the plug stab, which is left in the port when the hot stab is disconnected, to keep the port clean and free of fouling when not in use. The alignment is generally not critical for insertion, and the stab is guided into the port by the port geometry, which tends to be concentric cylinder and cone sections, tapering down from the handle end to the tip, with a series of O-ring seals separating the ports or contacts spaced along the length. The stab may be locked into place or may require the ROV to hold it in place while it is in use. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Purpose

A hot stab provides a temporary pressure-tight connection between an external service and a subsea installation, which can be used for a wide variety of applications. [3]

Some operations require low to medium flow rates for a short period to operate a mechanism from one position to another. These may be called static applications. Other operations need continuous medium or high flow rates. [3]

Applications

Components

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has published "API 17H recommended practice for subsea production systems", which provides specifications for standard types of hydraulic hot stabs with flow path bores ranging from 0.25 to 3.5 inches (6.4 to 88.9 mm). [2]

Terminology

Sizing

A hot stab can be specified by the inside diameter of the receptacle, the bore and number of the ports and the type of handle. API/ISO specifications identify stabs by type, size, and port geometry and are interchangeable if the API/ISO-type, size and port specification match. [3]

Operation

Removal of the plug stab (also known as the dummy or parking stab) from the receptacle is followed by insertion of the hot stab into the port. This operation can be done by a diver or a ROV with manipulator arm. The stab is not a self-locking mechanism, and though the internal forces may be balanced, an external force is required to secure the stab in place in the receptacle. [1]

Standards

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "stab". Oil & Gas Drilling Glossary - IADCLexicon.org. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hot Stabs: Quick Couplings on Steroids". 9 November 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Subsea Controls: What is a Hot Stab?". secc-oilandgas.co. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 "ROV Hot stabs and receptacles". www.tekflow.fr. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  5. "Bell equipment brochure D-BE Issue 02/2015" (PDF). www.uniquegroup.com. February 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2019.