1. WET CONNECTION TOOL Concept validation

2. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Underwater connections (1/3) Acoustics: no power and low data rate; Acoustics: no power and low data rate; Light transmission: no power, medium data rate and short distance; Light transmission: no power, medium data rate and short distance; wet connections: high data rate, long distance wet connections: high data rate, long distance Valve technology; Valve technology; Beam expanded technology. Beam expanded technology.

3. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Underwater connections (2/3) Valve technology: Valve technology: Adapted for copper and fibers; Adapted for copper and fibers; Well known; Well known; Precise and complex mechanics; Precise and complex mechanics; Can be plugged only with work class ROV; Can be plugged only with work class ROV; Some problems on ANTARES related to long term unused connector; Some problems on ANTARES related to long term unused connector; Expensive. Expensive.

4. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Underwater connections (3/3) Beam expanded technology: Beam expanded technology: Under development; Under development; Needs individual fiber tuning? Needs individual fiber tuning? Sensitive to water infiltration between connector faces; Sensitive to water infiltration between connector faces; Limited to fibers; Limited to fibers; 3dB loss. 3dB loss. Fiber lens Expended beam connector

5. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Concept (1/4) Ideal requirements Ideal requirements Low cost by using standard dry matable connectors; Low cost by using standard dry matable connectors; No (few) moving parts for good reliability No (few) moving parts for good reliability Connectable with small class ROV; Connectable with small class ROV; Versatile for FO, power copper and data copper. Versatile for FO, power copper and data copper.

6. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Concept (2/4) Dry connector embedded in a filled oil gasket and pressure balanced

7. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Concept (3/4): Tool Put connector on the toolClose isolation box and replace water by oil Remove end cap (upper part of box is hidden)Move caps out of connection areaConnect, open the box and extract connetor

8. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Concept (4/4) Prototype Prototype

9. 14/10/2009Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM Conclusions Concept validated in shallow water. Promising regarding cost and reliability; Concept validated in shallow water. Promising regarding cost and reliability; Motorized design is studying for 2010; Motorized design is studying for 2010; ROV interface to be defined; ROV interface to be defined; Needs of collaboration and interest. Needs of collaboration and interest.