Equinor opens Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre

New test and development arena aims to strengthen Norway's position in marine robotics and support safe, efficient energy production.

On 28 October the Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre (KNARR) opened, a new facility dedicated to the testing, qualification and development of marine robotic technologies.

The centre, located at the processing plant at Kårstø in Tysvær, will be used for testing, qualification and development of marine robotics.

KNARR will be Norway's and one of the world's first test centres of its kind connected to a facility in operation and will make it possible to develop technology in an already operational environment.

The centre will be available for use across maritime industries, and will, among other things, establish solutions for inspection, autonomous operations, environmental monitoring, securing and maintenance of offshore installations.

The centre was opened by Minister of Research and Higher Education, Eileen Fugelsnes, and builds on an already strong Norwegian research environment in marine robotics.

"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 in Equinor.

KNARR is an extension of several established test centres for the early phase of technology testing. Three test areas have been set aside in water depths of 25, 140 and 250 metres, respectively.

Three kilometres of subsea cable and associated electronics have been laid to test sensor technology over time. Together with existing power cables, export pipelines and subsea structures, this provides an opportunity to test, among other things, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). Equinor and Gassco have so far set aside NOK 16 million to establish the centre, with the possibility of expanding the facilities for new functionality in the future.

Equinor sees potential cost savings of several hundred million NOK annually by using underwater robots and autonomous vessels in the years to come.

"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 will play an increasingly important role in the inspection, monitoring and maintenance of offshore infrastructure. It contributes to employees being less exposed to risk, strengthens operational performance and provides a better basis 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.

Technology development is important for achieving better productivity, high value creation and ensuring long-term resource utilisation on the Norwegian shelf. KNARR is a platform for developing, testing and demonstrating new solutions that can contribute to safe, efficient and competitive energy operations in the years to come.

• Kårstø processing plant
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  Downloadable illustration
• Photos from the opening of the KNARR centre