NOV’s Subsea Automated Pig Launcher (SAPL) won Best Pipeline Integrity Technology, while NOV’s Subsea Water Treatment (SWT) system earned Best Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology.
The awards were presented October 15 in Houston. Formerly known as the World Oil Awards, the program recognizes technical achievements across the energy industry.
“We’re grateful to receive these two awards, which recognize the hard work and technical expertise our team has put into developing these technologies. Looking ahead, we plan to continue commercializing these technologies in subsea field applications, where they can generate value for our customers by addressing flow assurance in two very different ways,” said Wouter Van Korven, Vice President of Sales.
Advancing Subsea Pipeline Integrity
NOV’s Subsea Automated Pig Launcher allows operators to perform multiple pipeline pigging operations remotely from the seabed, helping maintain pipeline integrity and flow assurance in challenging offshore environments.
The system uses patented pig positioning technology to launch pigs sequentially through a single kicker line, reducing the number of valves and other subsea components required. A retrievable cassette holds up to 10 pigs and can be replaced using a remotely operated vehicle, limiting the need for intervention.
Following several years of testing and development, SAPL completed technology qualification in August 2024. In 2025, NOV’s team developed an all-electric system concept capable of operating with as little as 200 W of continuous input power. This advancement, which was central to the award submission, eliminates the need for hydraulic valve actuation and allows the system to integrate with all-electric subsea developments.
Together, these capabilities give operators more flexibility when planning pipeline maintenance and flow assurance strategies for long-distance subsea tiebacks.
Bringing Water Treatment to the Seabed
NOV’s Subsea Water Treatment system moves seawater treatment from topside facilities to the seabed, providing an alternative approach to water injection for reservoir pressure support and enhanced oil recovery.
The system combines three treatment stages: Seabox™ technology for disinfection and sedimentation, ultrafiltration for solids removal, and nanomembrane technology for sulfate removal.
Designed for long-term autonomous operation, SWT reduces the need for frequent maintenance and can help operators address topside space, weight, and processing constraints.
Following qualification testing and successful pilot operation at the Ekofisk field in the Norwegian North Sea, NOV’s team continued refining the technology. In 2025, further improvements to the system’s modules and overall design helped reduce costs and prepare the technology for commercial deployment.
Recognizing Innovation Across NOV
In addition to the two award-winning technologies, several other NOV innovations were named finalists in the 2026 Gulf Energy Information Excellence Awards.
NOV’s finalists represented five award categories:
- Best Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology: Subsea Water Treatment (Winner)
- Best Pipeline Integrity Technology: Subsea Automated Pig Launcher (Winner)
- Best Digital Transformation: Upstream: Digital Seawater Treatment: AI Powered Predictive Operations Platform
- Best Controls, Instrumentation, Automation Technology: Upstream: NordLink Wired Circulation Sub
- Best Drilling Technology: ION+ Stealth Mach and Integrated HPHT Thermal and Pressure Management System
The Gulf Energy Information Excellence Awards received a record number of nominations this year, making this recognition especially meaningful. Every nomination represents people who identified a challenge, developed a solution, and delivered technology that helps customers improve performance across their operations.
