Flint Subsea have launched their smallest, ½” Mid-Line Weak Link to-date. The equipment was supplied to a major service company operating in the Caspian Sea with delivery in only 7 weeks.

The service company contacted Flint Subsea requiring a small connector, outside of the normal range of rental Mid-Line Weak Link EQDs. The new connector was designed, manufactured, assembled and tested in a short 7 week lead-time.

The ½” vented mid-line weak link is equipped with shear pins to allow it to disconnect when the hose tension exceeds a predetermined limit, thereby protecting the downline from damaging forces and facilitating subsea fail close valve operations. All testing was performed in-house and included a full scale break-test at full working pressure to demonstrate that the device separated at the correct load and also separated consistently at this load over a number of disconnection cycles – a key requirement of reliable and predictable operations.

Flint Subsea have been renting and selling Mid-Line Weak Links to clients for several years, building a significant client base and growing specialist knowledge associated with emergency quick disconnect devices. “Application of our expertise and bespoke design tools enabled us to turn this special project around in a very short time period”, said founder and technical director Gareth Black.