Mechanical EQDU
Emergency Quick Disconnect Unit
The Mechanical EQDU is an electro-hydraulic stabplate assembly with male and female components. The male fixed plate mounts to the B.O.P or deployment basket and carries male hydraulic couplers and electrical connectors, while the female free plate attaches to the breakaway structure or LMRP unit and connects to the workover umbilical via tubetails and cables.
Working Pressure
Connector Type
The Mechanical EQDU is built around an electro-hydraulic stabplate assembly. The male fixed plate mounts at the interface to the B.O.P or deployment basket and is populated with male hydraulic couplers and electrical connectors, together with coarse and fine alignment features. The female free plate mounts to the breakaway structure or LMRP unit, carrying female hydraulic couplings and electrical connectors that link to the workover umbilical through tubetails and cables.
In the event of an emergency, the package is designed to operate via a controlled breakaway induced by a tugger wire from the surface. Primary coarse guidance is achieved through the interface to the structure, followed by fine guidance designed into the stabplate assembly, ensuring accurate alignment prior to coupling engagement and locking carried out by an ROV.
The unit carries 12 hydraulic connectors and 4 electrical connectors at a maximum working pressure of up to 15,000 psi, with an A.P.I 17D ISO 13628-1 Class 4 rotary actuator receptacle for the Class 4 torque tool. It tolerates ±10° and 40mm of misalignment in X and Y, provides an adjustable 1.5 tonnes nominal separation force, and uses a non-destructive design that allows ROV re-connection.
Key Features
- ROV locking & unlocking mechanism
- ROV locking and emergency disconnect
- Specified to suit exact system requirements
- Operates with couplings pressurised or de-pressurised
- Non-destructive design with ROV re-connection
- A.P.I 17D ISO 13628-1 Class 4 rotary actuator receptacle
- 1.5 tonnes nominal separation force (adjustable)
Materials
Applications
- Emergency disconnect of electro-hydraulic control systems via surface tugger wire.
- BOP and LMRP breakaway interfaces on the deployment basket.
- Subsea workover umbilical termination using tubetails and electrical cables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Mechanical EQDU actually do?
It provides a controlled emergency breakaway between the BOP or deployment basket and the LMRP/breakaway structure. In an emergency the separation is induced mechanically by a tugger wire from the surface, cleanly parting all hydraulic and electrical lines at the stabplate in one action.
Can it disconnect with the system live?
Yes — the unit is designed to operate with its couplings pressurised or de-pressurised, at system pressures up to 15,000 psi.
Is the disconnect destructive? Can it be re-connected?
No — the design is non-destructive. After an emergency separation the unit can be re-connected subsea by ROV, using the Class 4 torque tool locking and unlocking mechanism.
How many lines does it carry?
The standard configuration carries 12 hydraulic connectors and 4 electrical connectors on a single stabplate, and the unit can be specified to suit exact system requirements.
How much misalignment can it accept on re-connection?
Coarse guidance through the structure interface plus fine guidance in the stabplate accommodate ±10° of angular misalignment and 40 mm in the X and Y axes, with a nominal (adjustable) 1.5 tonne separation force.
