The Future of Transformative Ocean Tech Hinges on Collaboration, Resilience, and Innovation

(Image credit: Oceaneering)
As the offshore sector faces mounting pressures to enhance environmental sustainability and cost efficiency, the future lies in innovation at both the technological and operational levels. To stay competitive, companies must focus on three pillars: collaborative technology development, market resilience, and workforce transformation.

COLLABORATIVE TECHNOLOGY

The future of offshore operations will be shaped by autonomous systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven insights. However, tackling these challenges alone is impractical. Industry-wide collaboration in research and development (R&D), standardized protocols, and data transparency will accelerate effective solutions. Key players must foster partnerships to drive innovation and ensure emerging technologies work together seamlessly.

RESILIENCE AMID MARKET VOLATILITY

In an era of fluctuating markets, geopolitical uncertainty, and evolving regulations, offshore companies must build resilience. This entails embracing flexible, scalable technologies and diversifying across energy sources—oil, gas, and renewables alike. Companies agile enough to adapt to shifts can not only withstand volatility but also capitalize on emerging opportunities.

WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION

Automation and remote technologies are reducing the need for on-site personnel. This shift requires reskilling programs to prepare workers for new roles in data management, autonomous system oversight, and digital infrastructure maintenance. Investing in workforce development will ensure a smooth transition as the industry adopts a digital-first approach.

LEVERAGING A COMPETITIVE EDGE

Oceaneering leverages cutting-edge technologies to enhance safety, insights, and efficiency. Its core objectives are to automate processes, minimize environmental impact, and deliver actionable insights through data analytics. The company’s commitment to advanced technology helps improve operational processes, reduce HSE exposure, and support data-driven decision-making.

Oceaneering’s strategy focuses on four areas: remote operations, resident systems, autonomy, and fleet management. Remote operations reduce personnel costs by enabling onshore management of offshore tasks. Resident systems, designed for independent operation, enhance safety and streamline tasks without requiring human intervention. Autonomous technologies, driven by AI and machine learning, optimize subsea navigation and data analysis in real time. Finally, interconnected fleets of robotic systems increase efficiency and productivity, underscoring Oceaneering’s commitment to safety and operational excellence.

SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS

Oceaneering’s Liberty™ Resident System is a mobile docking system for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that operates without a surface vessel. Equipped with 550 kWh of battery power, Liberty can communicate with onshore remote operations centers (OROCs) via buoy, rig downline, or subsea infrastructure.

In 2022, a North Sea operator needed subsea pipeline isolation at an offshore facility set for decommissioning. Oceaneering provided a cost-effective, low-risk solution using the Liberty Resident System, reducing the need for support vessels and lowering the operation’s carbon footprint. Supported by LTE and VSAT connectivity, remote operations were performed from Oceaneering’s OROCs. Partnering with TDW, the North Sea operator used the Liberty system and TDW’s SmartPlug® technology to achieve a successful, incident-free isolation. This industry-first approach demonstrated the feasibility of remote operations, yielding cost savings, reduced HSE risk, and enabling around-the-clock support from international teams.

The Freedom™ AUV leverages advanced autonomy to provide a more efficient and sustainable method for completing operations. Freedom offers a faster alternative to traditional work-class ROVs. Its ability to operate in close proximity to pipelines and umbilicals enables its advanced autonomous software to trigger inspection behaviors when it detects points of interest. As a result, Freedom provides full inspection coverage of the pipeline length with higher data resolution than traditional AUVs.

In early 2024, Oceaneering’s Freedom completed a successful pipeline inspection industrial pilot in the North Sea for a major operator, inspecting over 120 km of submarine pipelines. Combined with a prior 60 km near-shore inspection, Freedom demonstrated its capability to detect and track pipelines, maintaining precise positioning. Utilizing adaptive behaviors, Freedom gathered high-quality data in a single pass, showcasing its potential for sustainable commercial pipeline inspections.

Remote ROV teams in Stavanger, Norway, prepare for offshore operations with advanced simulation technology. (Image credit: Oceaneering)

The Isurus™ ROV, designed for harsh environments, enables the completion of work scopes in challenging conditions, including severe current environments, while effectively reducing risk, costs and time spent waiting for favorable weather. Suitable for both shallow and deep water, Isurus is ideally suited for renewable energy applications and high-speed ROV surveys.

Oceaneering’s uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) offer high-speed nearshore surveys with enhanced data quality. These technologies not only drive efficiency but also reduce HSE exposure.

MITIGATING RISK

Simulation technology plays a critical role in de-risking complex offshore operations. By creating a virtual environment, Oceaneering’s simulation solutions allow ROV pilots to conduct early-phase testing, troubleshoot potential issues, and train for challenging operations. For example, a recent project involved simulating the placement of I-tubes for a riser pull-in operation, which confirmed access points and provided a detailed map of the most direct approach to the asset. This preparation mitigates risks, reduces operational costs, and ensures smoother execution when operations move offshore.

Similarly, simulations have allowed Oceaneering to optimize complex procedures, such as production manifold repairs, by refining tool placement and improving visibility in confined spaces. This preparatory work leads to faster execution times, lower risk, and more efficient use of resources.

PRECISION INSPECTIONS

Oceaneering’s Advanced Subsea Visual Metrology (ASVM) technology surpasses traditional inspection methods by delivering high-precision, real-time data. ASVM leverages 4K video, stereo optics, and advanced processing to generate detailed, colorized 3D models. This precision has proven invaluable for asset integrity inspections, enabling Oceaneering’s ROVs to assess underwater infrastructure with sub-millimeter accuracy. ASVM’s real-time data transmission to OROCs allows for immediate quality control and, when necessary, real-time intervention, reducing offshore personnel needs and enhancing operational safety.

In a recent case, Oceaneering used ASVM to inspect a 36-inch riser, quickly identifying the exact location of wall loss and confirming defect sizes with unparalleled accuracy. ASVM’s precision and speed supports critical asset management decisions while minimizing environmental impact.

The offshore industry’s future depends on actively shaping the evolution of transformative technologies. Through collaboration, resilience, and workforce development, companies can secure long-term success. As the industry stands at a pivotal juncture, the time for action is now to foster a resilient, innovative, and sustainable future.

This feature appeared in ON&T Magazine’s 2025 Special Edition, The Future of Ocean Technology, Vol. 5, to read more access the magazine here.

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