OCC Harsh Environment Solutions

Typical applications for harsh environment fiber optic cable assemblies in the Oil and Gas market include above-surface (or “top-side”) monitoring and controls for oil and gas rigs, both land and sea based, as well as Geo-seismic exploration equipment. In all cases, the user needs a strong and dependable fiber connection that can be deployed quickly and reliably. Multi-pin hermaphroditic connectors, along with flexible and durable deployable cables manufactured by OCC can be deployed in the most extreme environments where rig operators or exploration teams are working, and all fiber connections can be mated and re-mated with relative ease because of the connectors’ design.

COTS-83526 fiber optic assemblies are widely utilized in the market because multiple manufacturers produce various versions. Often used in deployable military applications, they offer up to 12-channel connectivity with robust and reliable connections in the field for multiple mating cycles. OCC’s COTS-83526 connectors are easily mated to competitor versions, but they offer superior Kevlar retention for better strain relief. OCC’s COTS-83526 connectors can also capture ground wires and cable braids, which are often used by drilling companies for cut resistance, at the receptacle.

EZ-Mate fiber optic cable assemblies offer users up to 24-channel connectivity, and because of their unique design, they can be “blind-mated,” meaning the user can simply twist each end together until they feel the plug mate.  Mini Hermaphroditic (MHC-II) fiber optic assemblies offer a similar ease of deployment, but because of their smaller footprint, they can be used in higher-density applications.

Each OCC harsh environment connector utilizes a “physical contact” method of mating fiber channels between termini, and is environmentally sealed for superior mechanical and environmental performance. Their IP-68 rating gives these systems the ability to operate in dirty and wet environments for extended periods of time, and they can easily be cleaned and prepared for re-use if the termini become contaminated in the field. In fact, just like OCC tight-buffered cables, these connectors are designed for use specifically in the dirtiest and wettest of environments and to perform consistently for their users as expected. These connectors are designed to be exposed and survive the oils and chemicals that are likely to be found in oil and gas extraction sites.

Many competitor’s offer expanded beam connectors that mate fiber channels without using a physical contact between termini. Instead, a lens inside the connector expands the light from each fiber channel and sends it over to the corresponding channel on the mated plug or receptacle, where it is refocused and sent into the fiber core. Competitors typically claim these connector systems are better to use in the oil and gas industry because they are easier to clean when they become contaminated. While expanded beam connections are perhaps somewhat easier to clean, they are not very tolerant of dirt or water, including vapor from condensation, rain or fog, being present during operation. In addition, they must be completely dried prior to being placed back in service. In fact, the presence of dirt on a typical expanded beam connection can cause much higher attenuation than similar amounts of dirt on “physical contact” connections like EZ-Mate or COTS-83526. Oily films, constantly present in oil and gas areas, are often difficult to remove from expanded beam lenses. Even fingerprints on lenses can have a negative impact on expanded beam performance. Finally, we have found that expanded beam connectors may not hold up to physical abuse as well as other “physical contact” connectors and are much more susceptible to loss due to shock and vibration, a likely occurrence in seismic exploration applications. Also to note, higher channel counts that allow many fiber links to be connected in one operation generally become very expensive when attempting to use expanded beam.

OCC’s line of hermaphroditic, environmentally sealed connectors and rugged fiber optic cable are ideal for the harsh rigors that fiber optic cable assemblies will experience in the oil and gas industry. Perhaps most important is the fact that OCC offers a vertically integrated solution of cable and connector assemblies for these applications, which means the entire solution can be tailored particularly to an operator’s specific needs.

For more information about OCC harsh environment cable and connectors specifically designed for the Oil & Gas market, contact an OCC Sales Team member – click here.

MARS Reel line earns Nato/National Stock Number (NSN)

OCC’s MARS cable reels are the industry’s first lightweight cable deployment reel system designed specifically for the demanding needs of harsh-environment fiber optic installations. The MARS reel is a lightweight, modular system constructed of an impact modified polymer that is easily transported and is ideal for applications where cable needs to be deployed and retrieved quickly and stored efficiently.

The MARS reel system has recently been issued National Stock Numbers (NSN’s) from the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The NSN indicates a review and approval for use within the military’s logistics supply chain. US military services, the Department of Defense (DoD), disposition services, federal agencies (such as GSA, FAA, DHS, etc.), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and many governments around the world use NSNs. To achieve this status, the MARS reels underwent strict qualification testing to the U.S. Army CECOM Specification A336463A, resulting in the following:


• Performance: The cable reel stores and allows for the deployment and retrieval of fiber optic cable assemblies in a variety of environmental and mechanical conditions without damaging or affecting performance of these assemblies.
• Materials: The reel flanges are made from light-weight, durable, and non-porous material that meets the fiber optic cable assembly requirements specified in CECOM drawings A3159863, A3159864, and A3302584. The flanges and handles, excluding the attached
hardware and drum, are fabricated from non-conductive materials. All parts are non-rusting.
• Finish: Colors include, but not limited to, Black, (Desert) Tan 33446 and Olive Drab 34088 as identified in table 3 of FED-STD-595. The finish is lusterless, non-reflective, and fade-resistant.
• Field Transportable: The reel is designed to enable ease of transport by grasping the flange frame at multiple points with a single bare or gloved hand.
• Connector Storage: The reel is capable of securely storing fiber optic connectors within the drum of the reel without need for tools for removal or storage of the connectors.
• Operation: The reel design easily supports deployment or retrieval of fiber optic cable in either manual or automated modes. A folding handle is available for manual cable retrieval. The modular design allows operation on a simple axle or with any number of cable reel accessories. MARS accommodates either round or square drive acles and reeling machines.
• Stacking: The reels are capable of being vertically stacked securely to a height of 5 feet without deforming, distorting or damaging any of the reels.
• Testing: Operating Temperature, Storage Temperature, Temperature – Humidity Cycling, Cold Drop Test, Flammability and Vibration

In addition to meeting the specification requirements in CECOM’s A336463A, the MARS reels underwent user evaluation by the U.S. Army Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 2012 to determine if the product could withstand day-to-day use. Signal classes utilized the reel for communications exercises as well as conducted their own endurance and confidence testing. The Signal School evaluators offered high praise for significant weight reduction and increased ruggedness and durability over standard steel reels. The MARS reels are currently specified on multiple U.S. Army and Marine Corps cable assembly drawings and specifications. With the assignment of NSN’s to the MARS family of reels, U.S. and allied defense agencies will be able to specify and acquire the specific model of reel or reels required to satisfy their mission requirements.

New Technology in the Oil and Gas Industry

Energy predictions at the turn of the century were dire. The world was looking at a future of limited fossil fuels and an economy where gas would be $10.00 a gallon or higher in the United States.   By now, cars and trucks were supposed to be running on fuel made from plant material, restaurant waste or hydrogen batteries that never need recharging. Electricity was supposed to be generated from solar panels, or wind generated turbines or neighborhood hydrogen power packs. Fossil fuels were to be extinct, a thing of the past.  However, oil and gas companies have used technology to find oil and natural gas reserves so large that worries about running out have all but disappeared. The result of this technology is an abundance of fossil fuels yet to be tapped. Reports estimate that the United States is on track to become one of the world’s largest producer of oil and gas in a few years. Yet, these reserves aren’t limited to Texas, North Dakota and the deep waters (30,000 to 35,000 feet) of the Gulf of Mexico. Overseas, enormous reserves have been found in the deep waters of the North Sea, East and West Africa, Australia, South America and the Mediterranean.

While most view oil and gas rigs as big dumb chunks of steel with “fly by the seat of their pants” rough necks and roustabouts running everything, the amount of computing and data acquisition power aboard as well as the education level of the staff can be shocking. New geological imaging technologies let drillers find oil and gas trapped miles underground and thousands of feet undersea. Land Based oil rigs “walk” from one drill site to the next. And engineers located in Houston, Texas use remote-controlled equipment to drill for oil and gas in locations around the world.

The result of these new technologies has increased the demand for high speed data and increased bandwidth in automation, control and safety systems within the oil and gas markets. During OTC 2013 in Houston, Texas, a technical session was dedicated to the use and demands of fiber optic cable to support these new oil and gas technologies. During this session, white papers were submitted and supported by personnel from Shell, Chevron, Exxon/Mobil, BP, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Halliburton and others. The applications for fiber optic cable and harsh environment connectivity were widespread and diverse including:

  • Subsea fiber applications for ROVs (Remote Operated Vehicle) for well inspection
  • High temperature and high pressure fiber optic cable and connectors for down hole monitoring and control ( up to 65,000 feet below sea level).
  • Fiber optic cable and connectivity for Geological Imaging both land based and subsea.
  • Security and monitoring systems including camera systems.
  • Ethernet and industrial networks such as Modbus, Modbus Plus, Profibus and many others for rig automation and control.

The data demands of the oil and gas industry will continue to grow due to the increasing requirements to drill deeper wells in deeper water and longer horizontal drill runs while protecting personnel, the environment and equipment. OCC has products specifically designed for many of these types of EZ-Mate Connectordemanding applications including:

  • EZ-Mate connectors
  • MHC II connectors
  • ABS LSZH B-Series and D-Series Cables
  • NEMA 4X enclosures
  • MARS reels

The oil and gas industry has seen explosive growth in the technology they implore to find, drill, extract, and process these fossil fuels; which makes for a multitude of opportunities for OCC products. If you have questions about specific applications or products to meet the oil and gas industry, please contact us today for assistance!

OCC and NEP Supershooters

Bill Smith is an OCC Business Development Specialist and Member of Society of Broadcast Engineers with over 20 years’ experience in technical sales in the communication industry

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Supporting some of the largest sports productions in the U.S., NEP Supershooters has been using OCC fiber optic cable for their remote production vehicles and studio productions for over 10 years. Unique because of their ability and expertise to work in the broadcast industry from inside the studio to remote locations in major cities around the world, NEP uses a broadcast deployable fiber cable from OCC that more than exceeds their requirements for HD and 3D TV and digital audio. OCC’s cable attaches to production trucks that connect directly through media convertors or NID boxes. These cables allow the voice, data and video signals to route directly from the event to engineering team for final production.

You will find NEP In the mountains, on the coasts and everywhere in between bringing current events in our homes. Skiing, auto racing, golf, surfing, Major League Baseball, rock concerts and even the Olympics are a few of the diverse venues and events NEP has covered. NEP depends on the reliability and performance of OCC’s fiber cable to supports their technical requirements for excellence.

OCC in the Broadcast Industry

As more people use their living room as their “movie theatre”, the expectations of high quality and high definition signaling and picture have never been greater. As a result, fiber optic technology plays a key role in bringing unparalleled signal integrity from the studio, arena or sporting event to the home.

OCC’s reputation in providing products for harsh environments fits perfectly into the broadcast industry where down time is not acceptable. We have, and continue to provide, the broadcast market with fiber optic cables that are field-tested to withstand the most extreme handling. OCC’s stadium and arena cables are optimized for the rigors of difficult cable pulls, high tensile loading, and severe crush occurrences and can repeatedly endure the abuse associated with the extreme demands in rapid deployment and retrieval applications. Where standard fiber optic cables are likely to fail, OCC’s broadcast cables are particularly well suited to the harsh environment of field-shoots.

In the coming weeks, OCC will be exhibiting several of our broadcast products at the 2012 NAB show in Las Vegas.  Some of these products include our new MHC II connectors, MARS Reels, Cartridge System, and of course OCC’s line of broadcast cables.  With OCC’s cables, broadcasters have a practical and reliable way of reaping the benefits of high capacity data transmission in challenging environments without the delicacy normally associated with traditional fiber optic cables.

OCC Year in Review: Part One

Looking back over the last year, we would like to take a little bit of time over the next few weeks to recognize some of the achievements we have seen these past 12 months.

In March 2011, OCC decided that in order to be able to offer true end-to-end harsh environment solutions to our customers, we needed to offer them under one name.  To accomplish this goal, we set about re-branding all of our harsh environment connectivity, formerly sold under the Applied Optical Systems (AOS) name, to the OCC logo and branding guidelines.  This allowed our customers to recognize one supplier for all their harsh environment cables and connectors needs.   We officially launched this new branding effort at an event in Los Angeles, CA.

OCC is very pleased to have our harsh environment connectivity components  under the same name and branding and are confident that this change will continue to improve our services and products for our customers in the upcoming new year.

New Signs at OCC Dallas Facility

OCC’s Dallas facility has gotten a makeover!   The new OCC signs have been put into place, which solidifies the acquisition of the former Applied Optical Systems.  So what does this mean for our customers?  Customers can now expect to find even more full-solution options for their product needs.  By acquiring and merging with AOS, OCC has been able to expand our product offerings in the Harsh Environment industry as well as to continue developing new products and solutions for our customers.  Has your business tried coupling our Harsh Environment connectivity products with our Harsh Environment cables yet??

NEMA Rating and OCC’s NEMA 4X Enclosures

An article featured on CableOrganizer.com last week takes a look at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Ratings and explains the importance of these ratings in regards to protecting cabling equipment when in harsh or unfriendly environments.

NEMA ratings ultimately serve as a system for grading and regulating telecom and electrical enclosures and have been noted as the “go-to standards” for choosing enclosures for industry application.  The article goes on to state, “NEMA-rated enclosures are all about controlling ingress and egress, a substance’s ability to either enter or exit from a given structure or space – in this case, a cabinet. While the majority of NEMA ratings are mostly or entirely focused on blocking ingress, or the entry of a material into the enclosure, there are also several that deal with preventing egress, or the escape of a substance from the interior of an enclosure.”

To read the full article, visit   https://cableorganizer.com/articles/nema-ratings.html

OCC is proud to offer NEMA 4X Enclosures designed to protect fiber optic networking components against environments where corrosive materials, caustic cleaners, and hazardous materials are used. Available in four sizes, the OCC NEMA 4X Enclosures are indoor/outdoor rated cabinets for patching and/or splicing 12 to 96 fiber ports

Some of the features of OCC’s NEMA 4X Enclosures include:

  • Adheres to the rigorous NEMA 4X standard for indoor or outdoor use, including extreme environments
  • Protects against windblown dust, rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose-directed water
  • Constructed of strong molded fiberglass-reinforced polyester material with matching flat cover
  • Gasket made of closed cell neoprene cord encased in a continuous channel
  • Continuous stainless steel hinge
  • Accepts any standard OCC fiber adapter plate
  • Includes tie wraps and Kurl Locks for cable management and security
  • Pole mounting options are available with a quick assembly and release feature

To learn more about NEMA 4X Enclosures, please check out OCC’s data sheet https://www.occfiber.com/library-support/nema-4x-fiber-optic-enclosures/