Swivel Stack

CALM
Our Activities

2 SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack
 Swivel Stack

SBM Offshore is a global leader in the supply of systems and services to the oil and gas industry. Some of the
Company’s core products have been developed for Single Point Moorings (SPMs) which require the use of
swivels to allow the flow of fluids between the fixed and rotating parts of the various systems.

In 1959, SBM Offshore pioneered the development of the first CALM system. Subsequently, the company has
further developed the low pressure swivel technology used for the CALM systems into the high pressure swivels
incorporated in the swivel stacks found in FPSOs. Since the late seventies, when SBM first entered the FPSO market,
the company has become the world’s leading swivel stack supplier.

SBM Offshore is involved in every stage of the swivel stack supply, including the design, manufacture, testing,
transportation, installation, commissioning, inspection and maintenance. Each swivel stack is tailor made to suit the
requirements of the particular project and to date SBM has supplied over 70 swivel stacks to the industry.

SBM’s swivel technology has evolved through operational feedback from their FPSO fleet, as well as a continuous
R&D program, the result of which are innovative solutions that meet the ever increasing demands from the industry
for higher pressures and throughputs.

SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack 3
 Overview

Power & Signal Swivel

Utility Swivel

Gas Import Swivel

Gas Lift Swivel

Water Deluge Swivel

Test Swivel

Oil Export Swivel

Production Swivel ‘B’

Production Swivel ‘A’

Water Injection Swivel

Common Spare Swivel

4 SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack
 State of the Art
With over 35 years of experience, SBM has pioneered the design and driven the
development of all types of swivels including fluid, utility, electric and optical.

Fluid Swivels Electric and Optical Swivels 4

Fluid swivels are used for the transfer
of products such as oil, water and gas
between the stationary part of the turret
and the weathervaning vessel. Two types
of fluid swivels exist: Pipe Swivels and
Toroidal Swivels
Electric and Optical swivels allow transfer
of power and information.
Three types of these swivels exist:
Low Voltage Electric Swivel

• Maximum Voltage: up to 3 kV
Pipe Swivels 1
1 A pipe swivel (or in-line swivel) includes • Current: up to 2000 Amp
one fluid path and is the simplest and
most cost effective fluid transfer system. • Short circuit level: up to 36 kA RMS
during 1s and 90 kA peak
• Design Pressure: full vacuum to 525 bar
• Certification: IP 56, ATEX Ex d,
• Design Temperature: -46°C to 130°C Hazardous Area Zone 1, gas group IIA,
Temperature Class T3
• Line Size: up to 24” nominal diameter
High Voltage Electric Swivel
Toroidal Swivels 2
2 • Maximum Voltage: up to 66 kV
When more than one fluid path is required
toroidal swivels are implemented. Due to • Current: up to 2000 Amp
their large diameter, a large number of
paths can be accommodated by stacking • Certification: IP 66, ATEX Ex o,
several fluid toroidal swivels. Hazardous Area Zone 1, gas group IIA,
Temperature Class T3
• Design Pressure: full vacuum to 525 bar
Optical Swivel
• Design Temperature: -46°C to 130°C
• Up to 32 optical ways
• Seal Diameter: up to 2800 mm
3
• Certification: IP56 when mounted inside
• Line Size: up to 24” nominal diameter a Low Voltage Electric Swivel, IP 66
when stand alone
Utility Swivels 3
Utility swivels allow for the transfer of
chemicals, hydraulics, air/gas, firewater
and vents. Multiple small bore paths (up
to 4”) can be arranged in single (up to 10
paths) or double (up to 20 paths) barrel
utility swivels.

• Design Pressure: full vacuum to 525 bar

• Design Temperature: -46°C to 130°C

4 • Seal Diameter: up to 1000 mm

• Line Size: 3/8” to 4” nominal diameter

SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack 5
 Manufacturing

Utility swivel under machining

SBM Offshore’s Quality System is implemented Seals

through each phase of manufacture and assembly.
Seals are a critical item for the correct operation of
The system enables an easily accessible auditable trail,
swivels. In the early nineties SBM started designing,
together with precise and efficient traceability of all
testing, validating and producing their own seals. Since
materials.
then, continuous R&D has been performed to push
the boundaries of technology to address the world’s
A team of qualified specialists in various disciplines
harshest conditions.
ensure that SBM’s swivels comply with all technical
specifications and that they are manufactured to the
highest standards in accordance with the Quality Bearings
System. The modular design of an SBM swivel stack
allows for each swivel to be manufactured and tested High precision three race roller bearings are generally
independently, resulting in an optimized manufacturing used to enable the outer rotating part of the swivel to
and testing schedule. rotate around the fixed inner part.

6 SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack
 Testing

Product Swivel on Test Bench

All of SBM’s fluid, utility and electric/optical swivels are

validated on specially designed test benches as part of
a Factory Acceptance Test before final assembly on site.
In certain cases, a trial fit of the whole swivel stack is
conducted to validate the various interfaces.

Gas Swivel on Test Bench

SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack 7
 From Installation to Maintenance

Swivel unit during installation

Each swivel stack adheres to SBM’s modular design

philosophy in order to optimize the fabrication schedule,
ease the installation work and limit the requirements for
heavy lifting equipment.

During the integration of a swivel stack, a team of

specialists supervises the assembly of all the modules,
verifies the mechanical completion and oversees the
commissioning. When in operation, SBM swivels require
only minimal maintenance.

However should it be required, SBM specialists are

available on short notice for inspection or intervention.

8 SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack
 Change-Out of Seals

The swivel seals are a critical part of the swivel stack;

they restrict the fluids to their respective fluid paths
and ensure fluid path integrity under the most severe
conditions. The seals are made from very resistant
long life materials. However, due to the extreme
conditions under which some seals operate, occasional
replacement may be required. On most of SBM’s
swivel stacks, spare seals are installed to enable rapid
replacement by SBM specialists.

To allow this rapid replacement, the spare seals are

pre-installed in protective enclosures between each
swivel element. This is a key feature of the SBM swivel
stack design which negates the need to interrupt
the operation of the adjacent swivels and ensures
minimum disruption in the event of an unplanned seal
intervention.

When spare seals are not available on the swivel stack,

the seals can be replaced in-situ using SBM’s patented
and validated seal bonding technology. In order to
perform a seal replacement, a shutdown of adjacent
swivels is not required. To carry out the repair, the swivel
is shut down, disassembled and the used seal removed.
The ends of the new seal are then bonded together
using an ATEX bonding tool. After bonding, the swivel
is reassembled and the seal is pressure tested. Swivel
service can then be resumed.

SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack 9
 Applications

P-53

To meet the increasing demands of projects and

clients, SBM’s swivel stacks have grown both in size and
complexity. SBM’s high pressure swivel stack experience
extends from the 30 tons swivel stack for the Udang FSO
in 1977, to the 250 tons swivel stack for the BP FPSO
Skarv. Swivel stacks are supplied as part of a turret
mooring package or on a stand-alone basis.

25 m

20 m

15 m

10 m

5m

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2010 2013

10 SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack
 Research & Development

Electric Swivel during testing phase

SBM Offshore continues to improve its technology
through continuous R&D.
Components, features and principles relating to the
swivel stacks are tested and qualified in SBM’s laboratory
on a daily basis.
Other development work on very high voltage swivels
is currently in progress in order to meet the demands
of tomorrow’s high power requirements. Development
work is also underway on very high pressure (VHP)
fluid swivels that will allow FPSOs to be used to exploit
deeper HP/HT reservoirs.

900

800

700
Future technology
under development
600
Pressure [Bars]

500

400

300
Existing technology
200

100

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Seal Diameter [mm]

SBM Offshore | Swivel Stack 11
 Monaco
24, Avenue de Fontvieille
P.O. Box 199
MC 98007 Monaco Cedex
Tel +377 9205 1500
Fax +377 9205 3222

USA
1255 Enclave Parkway, suite 400
Houston, TX 77077, USA
Telephone +1 281 848 6000
Telefax +1 281 848 6100

The Netherlands
Karel Doormanweg 66
3115 JD Schiedam
The Netherlands
Telephone +31 (0) 10 2320 000
Telefax +31 (0) 10 2320 101

Malaysia
mpur Block E, Lot E
Jalan Stesen Sentral 2
Kuala Lumpur Sentral
50470 KL
Telephone +60 (3) 2773 53 00
Telefax +60 (3) 2773 5399

June 2012
The sole intention of this brochure is to share
general information.

www.sbmoffshore.com

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www.pefc.org

This document
This document was
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and the
theEuropean
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July 2010

June 2010