Design and Performance Analysis of a Subsea Wet-Mateable Connector Seal for Subsea Drilling Rigs

As terrestrial oil and gas resources continue to decline, deep-sea oil and gas development has become a strategic priority. A wide range of production equipment must be deployed on the seabed, among which subsea wet-mateable connectors are indispensable. To address the challenges of high pressure, low temperature, and corrosion in deep-sea environments, this study proposes a cooperative sealing strategy between the annular protrusion on the entry casing and a sliding sleeve. The leakage per single mate/demate cycle is quantified under varying insertion speeds and pressure differentials. By examining the effects of protrusion geometry, insertion speed, friction coefficient, and radial compression on sealing performance, the optimal parameters are identified: a friction coefficient of 0.15 and a trapezoidal-rib seal with 0.015 mm radial compression for dynamic sealing, yielding a contact pressure of 27.5 MPa and a mating/demating force of 197.26 N—satisfying the manipulation requirements of a remotely operated vehicle. Hydrostatic pressure tests demonstrate that the dynamic sealing design of the underwater connector achieves a balance between high reliability and low insertion resistance, and the prototype meets the operational requirements for deep-sea service.