American Petroleum Institute

Installation Guidelines for Subsea Umbilicals - First Edition
 N RP 17I

Annotation

1 Scope

This document provides guidelines for the handling, storage, and installation of permanently installed umbilicals for subsea use in both static and dynamic applications. The systems may either be platform-subsea, platform-platform, or subsea-sub-sea. This recommended practice is based on umbilicals that comply with the requirements of API Specification 17E.

The umbilicals may have any number of individual cores that may carry electrical services (power or signal), fiber optic communications (single-mode or multi-mode), hydraulic or chemical functions, or any combination of these.

These guidelines set out the framework within which more detailed specifications and procedures must be produced to address the particular features of specific installations as defined within a client's scope of work. It is essential that such detailed specifications clearly define who is responsible for the satisfactory handling of the umbilical at each stage of the operations; this will depend on the nature of the contract(s) into which the relevant parties (normally the client, the umbilical manufacturer, and the installer) have entered. These guidelines indicate what needs to be taken into account and some possible approaches that may be taken. It should be noted however, that the inclusion of a particular approach within the document does not imply it is the only possible approach. Other approaches may be more suitable; this depends on the skills and equipment of the installation contractor. The installer and client shall agree in writing, during the initial arrangements, where, why, and how deviations from this document are permitted.

Throughout these guidelines, the words should and shall have the following specific meanings: should indicates a preferred course of action; shall indicates a mandatory course of action.