Ultra-High Conductivity Umbilicals: Polymer Nanotube Umbilicals (PNU's)

The purpose of this program was to develop a unique conductor for use in subsea umbilicals and power transmission. As offshore developments move into deeper water and have longer step-out distances, subsea umbilicals must be improved. Offshore umbilicals must withstand substantial installation and service loads, deliver significant amounts of power and have an extended operational life. As drilling depths increase, conventional copper wire cannot support its own weight. Design engineers have considered this issue and determined one solution is a lighter, higher current carrying capacity conductor. This three-year project produced a carbon-nanotube based conductor with less resistivity and higher current carrying capacity than copper at 1/6th its weight.

Data and Resources

Field Value
Citation "\"Chad Rowan, Ultra-High Conductivity Umbilicals: Polymer Nanotube Umbilicals (PNU's), 2018-07-17, https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/ultra-high-conductivity-umbilicals-polymer-nanotube-umbilicals-pnu-s\""
Is NETL associated "\"Yes\""
NETL Point of Contact "\"Roy Long\""
NETL Point of Contact's Email "\"Roy.Long@netl.doe.gov\""
NETL program or project "\"Offshore\""
Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • Global Provider
Tags
  • 10121-4302-01
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • ckan
  • edx
  • energy
  • energy-data-exchange
  • fact-sheet
  • geo
  • geoss
  • global
  • offshore
isopen True
license_id cc-by
license_title Creative Commons Attribution
license_url http://www.opendefinition.org/licenses/cc-by
metadata_created 2025-11-25T22:48:52.973451
metadata_modified 2025-11-25T22:48:52.973456
notes The purpose of this program was to develop a unique conductor for use in subsea umbilicals and power transmission. As offshore developments move into deeper water and have longer step-out distances, subsea umbilicals must be improved. Offshore umbilicals must withstand substantial installation and service loads, deliver significant amounts of power and have an extended operational life. As drilling depths increase, conventional copper wire cannot support its own weight. Design engineers have considered this issue and determined one solution is a lighter, higher current carrying capacity conductor. This three-year project produced a carbon-nanotube based conductor with less resistivity and higher current carrying capacity than copper at 1/6th its weight.
num_resources 10
num_tags 12
title Ultra-High Conductivity Umbilicals: Polymer Nanotube Umbilicals (PNU's)