NTNU demonstrates autonomous remote inspection of seabed gas pipelines in Norway

The testing was conducted from the AUR-Lab, Applied Underwater Robotics Laboratory, located at NTNU in Trondheim, central Norway, while the vessels operated in waters outside Hammerfest in northern Norway. The missions were carried out on infrastructure owned by Equinor. Two main test missions were completed during the operation. Snøhvit is located approximately 140 kilometers into the Barents Sea, while Goliat lies around 80 kilometers offshore.

Ingrid B. Utne, professor at NTNU's Department of Marine Technology (IMT) and project leader of the Safeguard project, described the experiment as a significant step forward. She noted that the vessels travelled out from Melkøya and back, and that, to the team's knowledge, long-distance missions of this kind using small and inexpensive autonomous vessels had not previously been carried out. A key technical requirement identified during the missions was the ability of the underwater vehicle to handle unexpected events independently, such as a collision with the seabed, without requiring remote intervention from operators in Trondheim.

The LAUV relies on the ASV for positioning data, as GPS signals cannot be used underwater, Utne explained. The project also tested a separate small autonomous underwater vehicle equipped with sonar, designed to conduct reconnaissance and support situational awareness. PhD candidate Jakob Odenwall, who was physically present in Hammerfest, led testing of that sonar-equipped vehicle. PhD candidates Thale Eliassen Fink and Enio Krizman, both based in Trondheim, worked respectively on enabling the LAUV to execute long-range autonomous missions and on operating the ASV during remote monitoring.

Martin Ludvigsen, professor at IMT and head of AUR-Lab, stated that the project's goal is to develop tools that improve situational awareness around pipelines in Norway at low cost, encompassing observation, surveillance, mapping, and the support of sustained presence. Ludvigsen emphasised that these seabed installations represent critical infrastructure, and that tools capable of monitoring pipelines and cables without requiring extensive logistics, high costs, large vessels, or large crews are essential. The vessels are intended for both routine inspections and responses to unusual activity, including the detection of ships that have disabled their automatic identification system (AIS) positioning signals.

Preliminary tests for the Safeguard project were carried out in the Trondheimsfjord in May, prior to the Hammerfest deployment. Enio Krizman noted that the project focuses on new technology for protecting critical infrastructure relevant to both Norway and Europe. The broader context for the research includes several recent incidents involving subsea infrastructure in northern Europe, including acts of sabotage to pipelines and damage to power and communication cables.

The Safeguard project is funded by the Research Council of Norway under the Petromaks 2 programme, along with Equinor and Vår Energi. The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) is also a project partner.