Offshore cables serve as the unseen yet essential backbone of the modern marine industry, linking vast networks that power everything from oil rigs to renewable energy installations. These cables are responsible for a lot of things, including delivering electricity, transmitting data, and supporting various equipment and processes, which explains why they are so essential for offshore operations to run smoothly and efficiently. In this guide, we’ll explore the key aspects to know about these rugged cables so you can deepen your understanding of their importance and the many roles they play.
What Are Offshore Cables?
Offshore cables, often termed “marine cables” or “oil and gas cables,” are specifically designed for offshore applications where they support electrical power, control, instrumentation, and communications on platforms at sea. These cables are known for their strength and durability, as they must withstand extreme weather conditions, salt water, and exposure to drilling fluids and hydrocarbons.
To ensure the safety of personnel and critical equipment, many offshore cables are flame-retardant, fire-resistant, halogen-free, and constructed to resist environmental factors like mud, saltwater, oil, acids, and high humidity. This allows them to perform well in both high and low temperatures.
The Key Standards Ensuring Offshore Cable Quality
Verifying the quality of offshore cable products is a critical process governed by specific standards that manufacturers must adhere to. The two most prominent ones that boast global recognition include:
- IEEE 1580 Type P
The IEEE 1580 standard, established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), primarily focuses on the production and installation of offshore cables. Given the intense conditions offshore cables are exposed to—including temperature variations, saltwater, and physical stress—this standard mandates rigorous engineering practices to enhance durability and reliability.
Compliance with IEEE 1580 ensures that manufacturers implement strict design and material quality controls. This means cables are produced to resist the corrosive marine environment, mechanical wear, and fire risks, ultimately contributing to the safety and performance needed for offshore applications.
- NEK 606
NEK 606 is a Norwegian standard, originally crafted for the oil and gas industry but now broadly applies to a wide range of marine applications. This standard addresses critical features like mud resistance, halogen-free construction, and flame resistance to suit the demanding conditions in marine and offshore environments.
Under NEK 606, cables are also required to have SHF2-rated sheathing, which combines halogen-free thermosetting properties with high resistance to mud and other corrosive materials. This standard also places a strong emphasis on safety in confined spaces, as halogen-free materials produce less toxic smoke in case of fire, reducing hazards for personnel in offshore installations.
Common Types Of Offshore Cable
Offshore cables come in a wide variety of types, including power cables, VFD cables, and earth cables. Moreover, they are often used for monitoring and controlling the critical functions of the various electronics used in the maritime industry, hence why they can also be included in a manufacturer’s instrumentation cable catalogue in Singapore. The following explains goes over each category in more detail:
Offshore power cable
An offshore power cable is essential for transmitting electricity across high, medium, and low voltages within offshore installations. Common types include RFOU, BFOU, RFCU, BFCU, RU, BU, and TFOU cables, all of which share the same safety features like being halogen-free, low-smoke, and flame-retardant, making them safer in confined and harsh offshore environments. Certain types also come with fire-resistant and mud-resistant options, enhancing their suitability for specific environmental needs.
VFD cable
Designed specifically for Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) power applications, VFD cables are meant for fixed installations on offshore units. They are known for their exceptional electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and come with a high-density shield and compound shield structure that effectively counters electromagnetic interference. Some of its most notable variations include the RFOU-VFD and BFOU-VFD cable types, both of which are suited to high-performance needs in challenging offshore environments.
Instrumentation cable
Instrumentation cables, built in line with NEK 606 and IEC 60092-376 standards, support telecommunication and instrumentation systems within oil rig platforms and other offshore units. These cables are meticulously designed to meet stringent safety and performance standards, featuring halogen-free (IEC 60754), low smoke (IEC 61034), fire-resistant (IEC 60331), flame-retardant (IEC 60332-3), and mud-resistant properties for various specialised applications.
Earth cable
Earth cables, produced according to NEK 606 and IEC 60092-353 standards, provide grounding and bonding functions crucial for safety in offshore units and fixed installations. The P15 UX earth cable, for instance, is rated at 0.6/1kV and a 90°C maximum operating temperature. Constructed with a tinned copper wire conductor and polyolefin SHF2 insulation, it combines low-smoke, halogen-free, and flame-retardant properties. This makes it ideal for ensuring secure and stable electrical connections in offshore environments where fire and toxic hazards must be minimised.
Conclusion
Operating in demanding offshore environments warrants reliable and high-quality cables to maintain power, communication, and safety standards. Each type of offshore cable—whether it’s for power transmission, VFD systems, instrumentation, or grounding—plays a unique role in supporting critical operations under harsh marine conditions. Built to withstand extreme temperatures, saltwater, and corrosive substances, these cables are crafted according to rigorous standards to ensure durability, fire resistance, and minimal environmental impact. By understanding the specifications and types of offshore cables, industries can select the best solutions for safe, long-lasting performance on offshore platforms.
No matter what kind of offshore cable you are looking for, Cable Source is the supplier you can count on to deliver all of your project’s cabling needs. Our extensive catalogue features everything from high-performance RFOU and BFOU power cables and more, ensuring a seamless one-stop shop experience for a fuss-free sourcing process.
