Coiled tubing lift frames perform a critical safety function during subsea well completions, well testing and well interventions carried out from floating rigs. In May 2014, ICON Engineering launched the Advanced Riser Tension Protector (ARTP) Equipment Range — a purpose-designed family of coiled tubing lift frames that marked a significant advance in how the completion/workover riser (C/WOR) or landing string is protected during these operations.
What a coiled tubing lift frame does
The equipment functions as a surface tension frame, designed to support the completion/workover riser or landing string in tension beneath the rig’s top drive, while providing a safe work window for rig-up of coiled tubing and wireline units.
Critically, an ARTP provides a safe relief mechanism with over- and under-tension protection and back-up emergency motion compensation, protecting the C/WOR or landing string against accidental loads during locked-to-bottom operations — particularly accidental lock-up or stroke-out of the rig’s motion compensator.
Why riser tension protection matters
When a riser or landing string is locked to the subsea well, the floating rig above continues to move with the sea state. If the rig’s primary motion compensation fails — locking up or stroking out — the resulting loads transfer directly into the riser and landing string. Without an independent relief mechanism, that can mean damage to the riser, the subsea well or the rig itself. Riser tension protection of this kind is an essential safety requirement of international standards including ISO 13628-7 and DNV-OS-E101.
“The ARTP equipment range has been specifically designed to meet the technical demands and lead industry best practice for subsea well completions, well testing and well interventions from floating rigs, where safety is paramount,” said Steven Plain, ICON Business Manager, at the 2014 launch.
“The range combines proven technology with innovative design to enhance overall operational efficiency and safety,” he said.
A range built on operational experience
ICON has been supplying both rigid and motion-compensated tension lift frames for subsea well completions and interventions from floating rigs since the late 1990s.
“In the years leading up to the launch, the ICON engineering team worked closely with major operators and drilling contractors in the development and supply of motion-compensated coiled tubing lift frames,” said Mr Plain.
“This work culminated in the ARTP equipment range, specifically designed to provide the necessary functionality of coiled tubing lift frames, while incorporating advanced features to protect the completion/workover riser or landing string against accidental loads during critical locked-to-bottom operations. It is suitable for use with both in-riser and open-water riser systems.”
Five models to match project requirements
Because every subsea well completion or intervention has differing requirements — including water depth, metocean conditions, C/WOR configuration, rig interfaces and rig motion compensation — the ARTP range of coiled tubing lift frames consists of five models, each offering a varying degree of riser tension protection and passive heave compensation capacity.
Each model can be manufactured either as an inline system, with a separate compensator unit and tension frame, or as an integrated system combining the compensator unit and tension frame in a single assembly. This modularity allows the equipment to be matched to the specific riser system and rig, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.
Full-service supply, from riser analysis to operations
“ICON acts as a full-service partner over the duration of the ICON ARTP supply,” said Mr Plain.
“This means ICON provides all support to achieve client objectives, from initial riser analysis, risk assessment and equipment specification, right through to equipment supply, rig interface engineering, installation, operations and maintenance,” he said.
That end-to-end model reflects ICON’s broader equipment solutions capability. ICON continues to offer tension lift frames, heave compensation solutions and drilling, completions and well test support for operators and drilling contractors working on subsea wells from floating rigs.
