CUSP Connector
CUSP is a system for horizontal pressure connection of rigid or flexible flowlines, bundles and electro-hydraulic umbilicals, and for the remote retrieval of valves and pipeline repairs. The system has been designed to dramatically reduce the complexity of these subsea operations. It accurately aligns the pipeline ends, then clamps, seals and locks in a single operation.
It is common practice in the GOM to use rigid pipeline spool connections. However these systems, which use metrology to accurately size the gap between the manifold hub and pipe/flowline hub on the seabed, use an inverted U to enable the vertical connection to the hubs using conventional collet type connectors.
This may be ok when connecting directly to trees or manifolds where no processing is involved. But when separating fluids it is better to allow a horizontal flow path, as an inverted U can form a trap where hydrates wax and slugs would form (virtual separation).
Metrology would also be used with CUSP but the inverted U would be replaced with an offset horizontal spool. Collet connectors would be difficult to fit in a horizontal application as they have a large swallow that would have to be withdrawn at both hub ends to remove the spool.