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What to Look For When Choosing Marine Cable For Drilling Environments

Oil and gas drilling is a very demanding process and it supports many industries. One aspect about drilling operations is that they can be affected by the kind of cables you use. If you are installing cables for marine environments, you want to make sure you have the right products. Often, when you don’t choose a reliable cable, you will compromise your productivity and the cost of operations. If you are wiring systems such as communication equipment, electronics, fire detection systems, gas detectors, general alarms, or bilge controls, you need to look for cables that have the right temperature rating and voltage. For instance the Seacoast 14 AWG Multi-Conductors Type C14XT, C14XTA, C14XTB and C14(OS)XT 600 Volts XLP Insulation Cable is designed for use in such applications. This cable has a jacket made of PVC and an insulation made of cross-linked polyethylene. Here are a few things you should look out for when selecting marine cable for drilling rigs;

Temperature rating 
Depending on which environment you are installing the wires, make sure that they are approved and rated for the temperature range. The temperatures in drilling operations may differ based on the location, the environment, and the applications. For example, there are areas that may experience extreme low temperatures. Other environments encounter excess heat and flame and if you do not have the right cable, you may face problems. Heat and flame can damage not only the jacket and insulation but also the cable. That’s why you should have a cable that can withstand heat and high temperatures. If you are doing wiring for environments where temperatures tend to go negative something, you should make sure that the cable is properly insulated with the right material.

The applications 
There are different wiring needs in drilling environments. You may have cables that are designed for use to wire equipments such as CO2 systems, smoke detectors, gas detectors, fire detectors, or even communication and indicator systems. These are systems that are exposed to high temperatures, mud, oil, ozone, and other elements. The cable you use for these wiring needs should be able to meet the challenge.

Insulation and jacketing 
Many a times, the kind of jacket and insulation used on a wire will determine where it is used. Of course, the type of conductor wire you use will also determine if it can perform well in marine environments. When you have looked at the applications, temperature rating, and the material used to make the conductor, then you want to examine the jacket and insulation. For example, the Seacoast 16 AWG MultiConductors Type C16T/NT, C16T/NTA, C16T/NTB and C16(OS)T/NT PVC Insulation 600 Volts Cable has a jacket made of nylon and an insulation made of thermoplastic (PVC). These protect the cable against elements such asoil, flame, acids, water, oxidation, ozone, heat, and abrasion. 

There are different marine cable designed for use in drilling environments. What you will need to do is ensure that you get cable that have been designed for specific applications.