Watertight and corrosion-resistant sockets for drilling rigs

21 December 2012

Featuring unique design technology which provides the socket user with high levels of proven personal safety, MARECHAL’s DECONTACTOR socket offers a patented integral switch that enables safe disconnection of plug from socket by both skilled and un-skilled staff significantly reducing plant maintenance time and cost.

MARECHAL ELECTRIC and DRILLMEC engineers worked closely in the design of the connector best suited to the various functions of the rigs.

DRILLMEC SpA, (a member of the Trevi Group with 5700 worldwide employees) is a specialist drilling rig manufacturer for the exploration of oil, gas and water. To maximise rig safety and connectivity DRILLMEC have been specifying MARECHAL industrial and explosion proof connectors and decontactors for several years. It is the integral switching offered by MARECHAL DECONTACTOR products that bring the required flexibility to the operation of the rig.

The IP66/67 DSN and DS industrial ranges cover applications up to 150A whilst interlocked single core SP4 connectors cater for 250 A applications. All connectors used offer IP66/IP67 auto ingress protection. Electrical performance in ensured by use of noble materials and rugged design giving the connectors a long working life in differing environments e.g. from -40 to +60 degrees C. It is the use of silver-nickel spring-loaded butt contacts that ensures excellent conductivity over long periods, even years, and the ability to withstand continuously high currents without failure. The connectors have also been successfully tested for resistance to all types of acetates, alcohols, essences, oils, soaps, acids, benzene, bicarbonates, chlorides, glycols, and fats.

One particular feature of the DECONTACTOR highlighted by DRILLMEC was the DECONTACTOR’s integral switching mechanism that permits the disconnection of plug from a coupler socket on flying leas whilst still on load. Whilst remaining safe this feature speeds up rig assembly procedures. If arcing occurs it is contained within the socket arc chambers.