RetroClamp™
Subsea clamping system for tubulars and pipelines

RetroClamp can be installed by diver or ROV, making it useful for anode retrofits in shallow or deep water.

The RetroClamp was originally designed to facilitate ROV attachment of retrofitted cathodic protection anode sleds to offshore pipelines. The first clamps were built and deployed in 2000 and since that time the clamp has been adapted and improved significantly, both for strength and versatility. Thousands of RetroClamps have been successfully installed by divers and ROV’s for a wide variety of applications, including attachment to wellheads, vessels, and large diameter members.

The large majority of RetroClamps are still used for electrically connecting aluminum anodes to tubular platform members and pipelines, but Deepwater has begun using modified versions of the clamp for subsea cable runs and also for attaching monitoring equipment to verify cathodic protection system performance (see applications). It is essentially this adaptability that has made the RetroClamp so prolific among Deepwater’s cathodic protection and monitoring systems.

The versatility, low cost and ease of installation make the RetroClamp a potential solution to a host of other subsea retrofitted applications. For inquiries into additional application in which the RetroClamp might prove useful, please contact Deepwater.

Applications

Extending the Life of CP Systems for Offshore Pipelines (Paper)

(2008) by J N Britton and D Baxter (from EuroCorr 2008) Abstract: This paper discusses the practicalities of installing replacement cathodic protection to ageing offshore pipelines using diver assisted and diver-less systems.

Improvements in Offshore Pipeline Life Extension (Paper)

(2006) by J N Britton (from Corrosion2006) Abstract: New deep-water discoveries combined with current high energy prices have given much of the world's aging offshore infrastructure a new lease on life. Offshore pipelines in particular are at the highest risk ...

Offshore Pipeline Cathodic Protection Retrofit Strategies

(2002) by Jim Britton (from Corrosion2002) This paper was originally written in 2002. Mr. Britton has since written an updated version to address the changes in corrosion control technology for anode replacement that has taken place in the interim ...

External Corrosion Control and Inspection of Deep Water Pipelines

(2001) by J N Britton Abstract: The external corrosion control of offshore pipelines has, for many years, been accomplished with pipe coatings supplemented with galvanic cathodic protection in the form of zinc or aluminum anode bracelets. This basic methodology works equally well ...

Full Online Technical Library

To see a complete list of technical papers and articles about cathodic protection and corrosion control, please visit the technical library section of this web site.

Key design points

Easy to install

The simple push and twist installation means that the clamp is usually installed in minutes; the unique design of the spring tensioned floating plate ensures that the low resistance electrical contact is maintained under constant tension.

Emergency release

The open bottom configuration ensures that the clamp will pull off a pipeline if snagged without inflicting damage to the pipeline.

No prep require before attachment

The clamp can be configured with a range of contact tips that allow the clamp to be attached without cleaning or coatings removal in most cases, even concrete weight coatings can be penetrated, saving a significant amount of time and effort during pipeline life extensions.

Optional CP readout

The available RetroReader system allows instant verification that the desired electrical contact has been established, this is particularly useful when working on coated pipelines. The voltage readout is temporarily attached to the clamp, and a small magnesium button provides the voltage shift needed for instant contact verification.

Individual packaging

The rugged airtight packaging for each clamp allows us to send multiple sizes offshore when specific target member diameters are not known. We can accept un-opened packages back for a full credit.