Subsea PLEM and PLET

As the oil&gas field development move further away from existing subsea infrastructures, it become
advantageous to consider a subsea tie-in of their export system with existing deepwater pipeline
system offering spare transport capacity. This necessitates incorporating pipeline end manifolds
(PLEMs) at both pipeline ends to tie in the system. A PLEM is a subsea structure used to connect
rigid pipeline with other subsea structure such as a manifold or a tree, through a jumper. It is also
called a pipeline end termination (PLET), especially to serve as a support for one pipeline valve and
one vertical connector.
Subsea Isolation Valve (SSIV)
SSIV Systems are located subsea and can be either electrically controlled via solenoid valves or
hydraulically controlled via interface valves from the surface control system. Each system contains
sufficient accumulation to allow safe operation of the SSIV protecting the main Export Line in the
event of an emergency shutdown should the control umbilical to the surface be damaged.
REALBASE provide services for the build, flushing and testing of associated subsea equipment such
as Subsea Control Systems Mounting bases and the flushing and testing of umbilicals.


Subsea Templates and Manifolds
Templates
A subsea template is a large steel structure which is used as a base for various subsea structures such
as wells and subsea trees and manifolds. The image below shows a number of wellheads on a subsea
template:
The wellheads can be seen with their guide bases (4
x white rods) perturbing from each corner, which
are used to locate other equipment, i.e. trees.
The size of a template is dependant on the number
of structures attached to it. Many will have
protective structures covering them, as does the
template pictured right. This helps prevent damage
from fishing activities and also improves fishing
safety by reducing the likelihood of nets becoming
snagged on the equipment.




Subsea template supporting wellheads
and protective structure
Manifolds
A subsea manifold is a large metal piece of equipment, made up of pipes and valves and designed to
transfer oil / gas from wellheads into a pipeline. Manifolds are usually mounted on a template and
often have a protective structure covering them - as with the image below right.



Subsea manifold Subsea manifold within a protection structure

Manifolds vary greatly in size and shape, though can be huge structures reaching heights of 30 metres.
The image below demonstrates just how large these structures can be, when compared to the cars
placed alongside the manifold.

Scaled model of a subsea manifold
and protection structure

Although this equipment often has a protective structure surrounding it, there is still a serious risk
of fishing gear becoming snagged on the protruding elements or within inner cavities.
Most subsea templates / manifolds will be
protected by a 500 metre safety zone centered on
one position. However, other equipment may also
be clustered within the same area, justifying the
need to have a 500 metre safety zone.
The image to the right shows how associated
seabed structures may extend more than 100
metres from the central location of the safety
zone. This demonstrates just how important it is
that a 500 metre safety zone is recognized by all
seabed users.




Cluster of subsea equipment around a manifold