Equinor has opened a new marine robotics centre at its Kårstø processing plant, creating a real-world testing ground for underwater robots, autonomous vessels and advanced sensing technologies aimed at making offshore energy operations safer, more efficient and less costly.

 

The Kårstø Marine Robotics Centre (KNARR), located in Tysvær on Norway’s west coast, will allow companies and research organisations to test, qualify and develop robotic technologies on infrastructure connected to an operating industrial facility — an approach that could accelerate the deployment of autonomous systems across the maritime and offshore energy sectors.

 

Described as one of the first test centres of its kind in the world connected to an operational facility, KNARR will support technologies for subsea inspection, autonomous operations, environmental monitoring, security and maintenance of offshore installations.

 

Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education, Eileen Fugelsnes, officially opened the centre on October 28, underscoring the country’s ambition to build on its established strengths in ocean technology and advanced robotics.

 

The centre comes as Equinor seeks to cut operating costs and improve the productivity of offshore assets. The company sees the potential to save several hundred million Norwegian kroner annually in the coming years by deploying underwater robots and autonomous vessels.

 

“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 builds on existing test centres focused on early-stage technology development, but extends testing into an operational environment. The facility has three designated test areas at water depths of 25, 140 and 250 metres, allowing technologies to be assessed under different subsea conditions.

 

Equinor and Gassco have so far allocated NOK 16 million to establish the centre, with scope to expand its capabilities as new technologies and testing requirements emerge.

 

“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.

 

The facility includes three kilometres of subsea cable and associated electronics designed to support long-term testing of sensor technologies. Combined with existing power cables, export pipelines and subsea structures, the infrastructure will also enable trials of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), which uses fibre-optic cables to detect and monitor activity along their length.

 

The setup gives technology developers an opportunity to test and refine systems under real operating conditions before wider deployment — a critical step in moving marine robotics from development into routine industrial use.

 

Beyond oil and gas, the centre will be available to other maritime industries, opening the door to collaboration across aquaculture, offshore wind, shipping and defence.

 

Marine robotics is expected to play a growing role in inspecting, monitoring and maintaining offshore infrastructure. By shifting more tasks to remotely operated or autonomous systems, operators can reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous conditions, improve operational performance and strengthen decision-making through better data.

 

“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 designed to help translate Norway’s research expertise into deployable industrial technology, bringing suppliers, researchers and operators together to test solutions against practical offshore challenges.

 

As the energy industry faces pressure to improve efficiency, manage costs and maintain reliable production, Equinor is betting that greater use of robotics and autonomous systems can help unlock more value from existing infrastructure while making offshore operations safer.

 

The centre is intended to serve as a platform for developing, testing and demonstrating technologies that can support safe, efficient and competitive energy production on the Norwegian continental shelf for years to come.