Equinor has opened a new marine robotics testing and development facility at its Kårstø processing plant in Tysvær, Norway, aimed at accelerating innovation, improving offshore safety and reducing operational costs across the energy industry.

The K-lab Marine Robotics Centre (KNARR), inaugurated on 28 October by Minister of Research and Higher Education Eileen Fugelsnes, will provide a dedicated environment for testing, qualifying and developing marine robotic technologies.

The facility is among the first of its kind globally to be connected to an operational industrial site, allowing companies and researchers to develop and test technologies under real operating conditions.

KNARR will be accessible to multiple maritime industries, supporting the development of solutions for offshore inspections, autonomous operations, environmental monitoring, and the security and maintenance of offshore installations.

“The Norwegian continental shelf is important for a reliable and secure supply of oil and gas to Europe, and technology is crucial for maintaining oil and gas production and getting more value out of existing fields and infrastructure. At the KNARR centre, we can test and mature technology that makes offshore operations safer, more efficient and more data driven. This is done in close collaboration with suppliers, research communities and industry partners,” says Hege Skryseth, executive vice president for Technology, Digitalisation and Innovation at Equinor.

The centre builds on Norway’s established technology-testing infrastructure and includes three designated subsea test areas at water depths of 25, 140 and 250 metres.

Approximately three kilometres of subsea cables and associated electronics have been installed to enable long-term testing of sensor technologies. Combined with existing power cables, export pipelines and subsea structures, the infrastructure will also support testing of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology.

Equinor and gas transport operator Gassco have invested NOK16 million in establishing the facility, with opportunities to expand its capabilities and introduce additional functionality in the future.

Equinor expects underwater robots and autonomous vessels to deliver potential annual cost savings of several hundred million Norwegian kroner in the coming years.

“We have set a goal of reducing operational costs significantly by 2035. By using underwater drones for smaller tasks, we can work more efficiently and use the larger vessels where they provide the greatest value,” says Skryseth.

Marine robotics is expected to play an increasingly important role in inspecting, monitoring and maintaining offshore infrastructure. The technologies can reduce employees’ exposure to operational risks, improve efficiency and provide better data for decision-making.

“The strong environments we have in advanced robotics and digital technology in Norway are among the strategic advantages that will be able to strengthen our competitiveness in the decades to come. We have a long coast, and a rich maritime industrial history that we want to strengthen through good cooperation across industries such as aquaculture, oil and gas extraction, wind power, shipping and the defence industry”, says Skryseth.

KNARR is intended to strengthen collaboration between industry, suppliers and research institutions while supporting productivity, resource utilisation and the long-term competitiveness of Norway’s offshore energy sector. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service