SubseaDesign supports Equinor’s Njord Field with Saipem’s advanced subsea drone basket

SubseaDesign team is grateful to be able to contribute to Equinor’s Njord Field development project offshore Norway, which advances subsea technology through improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Our team has delivered a drone basket for Saipem’s Hydrone tasked to carry out inspections and interventions on subsea assets. It will be used to transport the drone from the workshop to the quay, from the quay to the boat, from the boat to the Njord A platform, from the platform to the moonpool, and then to the seabed. The basket will follow the same route back for maintenance. It has been subsea for 6 months. In the future 12-months period subsea is the plan.

According to Saipem, the use of resident underwater drones provides valuable information on in-service equipment and ultimately improving the overall integrity and safety of Equinor’s subsea systems. The Hydrone-R is part of Saipem’s Hydrone Program, with a fleet of next-generation drones and advanced ancillary equipment. It is a veritable game changer for the offshore energy industry, resulting in lower costs and a reduced carbon footprint while improving safety and operational efficiency.