PXGEO and Equinor Partner on Autonomous Subsea Inspection Trials Using Saab Sabertooth Drone

## PXGEO and Equinor Launch Autonomous Subsea Inspection Programme Marine seismic specialist PXGEO has entered into a one-year framework agreement with Norwegian energy major Equinor to conduct autonomous subsea inspection trials, marking a significant step forward in the deployment of unmanned underwater technology for offshore infrastructure management. According to Splash247, the agreement centres on testing and verifying the Saab Sabertooth underwater intervention drone (UID), with the programme designed to validate autonomous behaviours and inspection capabilities in real operational environments. ### Advancing Autonomous Underwater Technology The Saab Sabertooth is a hybrid autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of operating in both tethered and fully autonomous modes. Its deployment under this framework reflects growing industry interest in reducing the cost and logistical complexity of subsea inspection work, which has traditionally relied on crewed support vessels and conventionally operated ROVs. For PXGEO, the Equinor agreement represents a meaningful commercial validation of its push into autonomous inspection services, a segment the company has been developing alongside its established marine seismic operations. The trials are expected to generate data that will support broader industry confidence in autonomous subsea systems. ### Industry Context The offshore energy sector has been accelerating investment in autonomous and remotely operated inspection technologies as operators seek to lower operational expenditure and improve safety by reducing the need for human intervention in hazardous subsea environments. Equinor, as one of the world's leading offshore operators, has been an active participant in technology qualification programmes across its Norwegian Continental Shelf assets. Autonomous subsea inspection is widely regarded as a key enabler for the next generation of offshore field management, particularly as ageing infrastructure requires more frequent monitoring and as new offshore wind and carbon capture projects demand cost-effective inspection solutions. The one-year framework structure suggests both parties are approaching the collaboration as a phased qualification exercise, with results likely to inform future commercial deployment decisions. *Source: Splash247*