Hughes subsea water jetting at extreme water depths (photo Hughes Pumps)

UK manufacturer Hughes Pumps, has recently supplied two specially engineered high-pressure pumping systems that are being used for offshore subsea water jetting maintenance at extreme water depths.

The two pumping systems, mounted on Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), are being used up to 3,000 metres subsea, for a variety of offshore cleaning, cutting and trenching applications, as it is neither possible for divers to work at such depths or practical to run high pressure hoses from the surface to such extreme depths.

Key to Hughes’ success with this specialist application over the last six years has been its modification of standard pump materials to provide adequate corrosion protection, which prevents seawater from breaching the crankcase oil seals and contaminating the lubricating oil. At 3000 m depths the ambient seawater pressure is 300 bar (4,350 psi), meaning the pump requires some clever engineering to protect it.

Hughes Pumps has more than 30 years experience in the manufacture and supply of High Pressure Water Jetting Equipment for subsea water jetting applications to 3000 bar and 375 kW (43,500 psi and 500 hp). The company is one of the sectors leading suppliers of pumps for seawater pumping at high pressure, for which the pump heads and wetted components are manufactured in 316 or Duplex stainless steel to provide corrosion resistance.

Tags: Hughes Pumps