RetroPod™
Cathodic protection anode replacement for platforms
RetroPod is designed to reduce installation time for anode retrofit projects, cutting costs significantly.
The RetroPod is an aluminum anode system arranged in stable, self-contained "pods" which are ideal for replacing depleted anodes on mature assets. The Pods are lowered to the sea floor and connected electrically to the target structure via Deepwater's RetroClamp system. The traditional cathodic protection retrofit method of clamping dual anodes onto existing jacket members is much more time-consuming and expensive. The RetroPod can be installed in less than a quarter of the time it would take to install an equivalent amount of cathodic protection anodes using the traditional method (read more).
Diver or ROV installed - An installed RetroPod is located on the sea bed just inside or outside the base of the jacket and attached with one or two RetroClamps. Depending on the depth, the RetroClamp can be installed easily with divers or ROVs to any tubular member, flange, or subsea support beam. The speed of installation is what makes the RetroPod so successful, as installation costs dominate budgeting for most anode retrofit projects.
A reliable connection - The RetroClamp is patented technology, developed at Deepwater and not available elsewhere. The RetroClamp connects to the RetroPod electrically with two armored cables to the asset it is protecting. The floating plate on top of the clamp ensures a strong and constant connection that won’t damage the structure. The ease of installation makes the RetroClamp incredibly cost-effective in comparison to underwater welding or other attachment methods.
Applications
Traditional offshore structures
The RetroPod system is extremely cost-effective for replacing or supplementing the cathodic protection (CP) on aging offshore structures that sit in 85 to 300 feet of seawater. The system has been performing well in some installations for over 14 years now, which is over half of the designed life of a standard retrofit. Since the pods can be installed with ROVs, there is no depth limit to the structures that can be retrofitted. However, some deeper structures may require additional CP near the surface.
Deep-water production equipment
Taking advantage of reduced currents in deep water, many operators have begun to use the RetroPod system along with RetroClamps to retrofit cathodic protection on deep-water production equipment. The large amount of anode material on one RetroPod combined with the relatively small amount of exposed steel involved in a deep-water field allows one pod to adequately protect multiple wellheads, manifolds, trees and such. (see sample project data for examples).
For anode retrofits with built-in monitoring systems, read about Deepwater's SmartPod, with built-in electrodes and subsea readouts.
$('#product-image').cycle('fade');Key design points
Designed with cost in mind
By placing the RetroPod on bottom, the design reduces the retrofit’s installed cost to approximately one-third of a conventional clamp-on fix. The arrangement of the anodes in the pod also maximizes the current output of the aluminum, requiring less of what is becoming a very expensive metal.
Safe for divers
With the RetroPod, there is no direct diver interaction with the heavy aluminum anodes. A crane lowers the Pod onto the sea floor, and he diver simply installs the RetroClamp Tie-Back. The clamp can also be installed via ROV.
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Structural-integrity awareness
The traditional bolted clamp-on anodes used to retrofit offshore platforms add significant weight and drag to an already aging structure. A RetroPod sits on the sea floor, requiring minimal contact with the platform via the RetroClamp connection point.
Modular construction
RetroPod's modular construction allows simple re-configuration for 10 to 25-year-life extensions in five-year increments. This can be done by selecting either 325 lb or 725 lb anodes for each of the four available slots on the pod. The semi-remote location of the Pod on the sea floor – rather than being directly attached to the structure – greatly improves current distribution as well, maximizing anode efficiency.
Quality control
All of the anodes that Deepwater provides are manufactured at one of our ISO 9000-certified foundries. Each foundry is located just minutes from the engineers and designers managing our projects, allowing Deepwater to oversee QA/QC on every anode.
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