Product Overview

The Deepwater RetroPod cathodic protection system has saved many operators hundreds of thousands of dollars in offshore CP retrofit costs. This is achieved by installing an optimized array of sacrificial anode material (capable of delivering up to 20 Amperes) in less than a quarter of the time it would take to install the equivalent CP using clamp-on anode arrays.

An installed RetroPod is located on bottom, just inside or outside the base of the jacket. This semi-remote location greatly improves current distribution, and the installation can be accomplished with divers or ROV’s using the RetroClamp™ tieback system.

Small, shallow 4-pile jacket structures can often be retrofitted with only one or two pods, thus several can be completed in a single offshore day.

Four small booster anodes are added to the RetroPod when a structure has lost all cathodic protection. The additional upper anode array provides a 15% current boost for the first 2-3 years to quickly re-establish cathodic polarization.

Like all of Deepwater’s innovative CP retrofit solutions, the RetroPod is guaranteed to perform. Hundreds have been successfully installed.

Main Benefits

Reduces retrofit installed cost to approximately 1/3 of a conventional clamp-on fix. Many direct comparisons are documented.
 

Improved safety; no direct diver intervention with heavy load. Safe 24 hour operation maximizes offshore efficiency.
 

Optimized shape reduces mutual anode interference, gives excellent bottom stability, and provides ease of handling offshore.
 

No increased weight loading on an aging structure and no problems finding places to clamp anodes.
 

Easy to inspect during routine subsea inspections; current output from each pod can be displayed if required.
 

Modular construction allows simple re-configuration for 10 to 25 year life extension in 5-year increments.

Materials

RetroPod uses the highest available quality of sacrificial anode alloys. Typical ambient and cold water Al-In-Zn compositions are used. All steel fabrication uses ASTM A 36 material and is performed in Deepwater's manufacturing facility as well as at sub-licensed facilities in various regions.

Design Life

10 to 25 years (depending on customer requirements).

RetroClamp Tie Back

Each RetroPod is shipped with one or more RetroClamps; typical cables are 2 x 25 feet #4/0 AWG heavy duty flex cables. Thousands of these clamps are now in service around the world, and many have been installed by ROV. The installation efficiency of the RetroClamp has saved customers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

RetroPod in situ sits 10 ft. from the
base of the structure on bottom, either
inside or outside of the jacket.

Concrete mattresses provide ample
ballast to insure stability at the base.

RetroClamp is readily available from Farwest Corrosion Control Company.

Illustration showing the Clamp
being installed by an ROV.

The RetroClamp tie-back in situ.