New Joint Project Aims to Bring Subsea Chemical Storage Technology to Deployment

Why It Matters

Accelerating subsea chemical storage can lower operational costs and enable greener, all‑electric offshore developments, reshaping offshore production economics.

Key Takeaways

• NOV, Equinor, Petrobras collaborate on 200 m³ subsea storage.
• Unit targets reduced topside footprint and vessel reliance.
• Supports long tie‑backs and all‑electric offshore concepts.
• NOV invests $200 million to double Brazil pipe capacity.
• New capacity expected online by late 2029.

Pulse Analysis

The offshore oil and gas sector is increasingly turning to subsea solutions to address space constraints on platforms and the high cost of surface logistics. Chemical storage, traditionally handled topside, poses safety and environmental challenges when scaled for deepwater fields. By moving these inventories to the seabed, operators can minimize the number of vessels required for resupply, reduce emissions, and free up valuable deck space for other critical equipment, aligning with the industry’s push toward more sustainable operations.

The joint industry project (JIP) unites NOV’s engineering expertise with Equinor’s deepwater experience and Petrobras’s regional knowledge, creating a collaborative pathway to certify the 200 m³ storage unit. Such partnerships accelerate technology validation by sharing risk, data, and best practices, shortening the time from concept to commercial deployment. The unit’s design, optimized for long tie‑backs and all‑electric power configurations, directly supports emerging offshore architectures that rely on renewable‑based electricity and minimize hydraulic power usage, a trend gaining traction in the North Sea and Brazil’s pre‑salt basins.

NOV’s parallel $200 million expansion of its flexible pipe manufacturing capacity in Brazil underscores the broader market momentum. Flexible pipe is a critical conduit for both production fluids and power in electrified fields, and scaling its supply chain ensures that infrastructure keeps pace with the anticipated surge in subsea projects. Bringing the new pipe capacity online by 2029 positions NOV to meet growing demand, while the successful qualification of subsea chemical storage could set a new industry standard, driving cost efficiencies and environmental benefits across global offshore developments.