Subsea Operations on the Continental Shelf: From Challenges to Solutions

On October 8, 2025, a roundtable discussion was held as part of the RAO/CIS Offshore International Forum, focusing on equipment and technologies for subsea engineering operations in the development of offshore hydrocarbon fields. This was the first event in the forum’s history to be entirely dedicated to this subject.

The discussion was moderated by Mikail Alievich Ibragimov, Deputy Director of the Department of Shipbuilding Industry and Marine Equipment at the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Evgeny Mikhailovich Podolyako, Head of Department at Gazprom PJSC and Candidate of Technical Sciences.

The roundtable was co-chaired by Evgeny Evgenyevich Toropov, General Designer of Offshore Structures at Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering JSC; Alexander Igorevich Malikov, Deputy Head of Directorate and Head of Department at Gazprom Dobycha Shelf Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk LLC; and Alexey Ivanovich Novikov, Adviser to the Deputy Director General of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Opening the meeting, the moderators emphasized the importance and relevance of the topic. Amid rapid technological change and external restrictions, discussions concerning import substitution, the development of domestic equipment, and subsea operations on the continental shelf are becoming particularly significant.

The central themes of the presentations were import substitution, testing of new equipment, and the development of technologies required for the safe and efficient exploitation of offshore fields.

In his presentation, Evgeny Mikhailovich Podolyako outlined the current state and future prospects of subsea engineering operations at Gazprom PJSC facilities. He spoke in detail about the company’s experience in Arctic and sub-Arctic seas, the effects of seasonal conditions and ice gouging, and the challenges associated with sanctions and regulatory requirements. The speaker noted the approaching peak in operational activity and the planned launch of the first phase of the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye field in 2028.

Alexey Andreevich Shepelev of MAGE JSC shared practical experience in inspecting the seabed on the Sea of Okhotsk shelf using remotely operated underwater vehicles and sonar systems. The surveys identified numerous potentially hazardous objects. The speaker presented successful examples of Russian-made equipment whose performance is comparable to that of foreign alternatives.

Vasily Sergeevich Ustinov of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center discussed the development of domestically produced deep-sea crewed submersibles and remotely operated modules for servicing offshore gas pipelines. He emphasized that the institute possesses a complete technological base and the necessary components, enabling it to eliminate dependence on imported solutions entirely.

Anastasia Yuryevna Ponomareva of the Shipbuilding and Shiprepair Technology Center JSC presented a set of equipment for the hydraulic system of the Project 3660 crewed submersible developed by Malachite Marine Engineering Bureau JSC. She discussed the characteristics of marine pipeline valves, test results, and prospects for further improvement of the system.

Alexander Olegovich Nikitin of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center described the development of remotely operated gamma-spectrometry systems for studying radioactivity in Arctic waters. Particular attention was paid to surveys of radioactive waste disposal areas in the Kara Sea and the capabilities of a new generation of instruments.

Natalia Alexandrovna Bulyukina of Russian Marine Team LLC presented the development of a heavy-duty work-class remotely operated underwater vehicle for deep-sea operations. According to the company’s forecasts, demand for such vehicles will increase significantly by 2027. The project is currently being prepared for factory testing.

Alexander Igorevich Grachev of WIDSON LLC spoke about the use of the WIDSON-50 modular self-elevating platform in engineering surveys, geotechnical investigations, and diving operations. The platform’s main advantage is its flexible modular design, which can be adapted to the customer’s specific requirements.

Viktor Leonidovich Tarasov of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping analyzed the regulatory framework governing the operation of unmanned underwater vehicles. He also compared the future prospects of professional diving operations and robotic systems, prompting a lively discussion among the participants.

Natalia Vasilyevna Oshiker of the United Shipbuilding Corporation presented the corporation’s capabilities for developing domestically produced subsea manifolds for the second phase of the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye gas condensate field.

Konstantin Voldemarovich Megretsky of Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering JSC examined power supply options for subsea booster compressor stations, including the potential use of underwater nuclear power units for long-term autonomous operation.

Maxim Vasilyevich Korobchuk of Gazprom 335 LLC provided an overview of the latest polymer and composite materials used in subsea production technology.

Concluding the roundtable, the moderators noted that the industry’s principal challenges remain the shortage of qualified specialists and the completion of import substitution programs. Evgeny Podolyako called for closer cooperation among companies, research institutes, and regulatory authorities. A final document containing consolidated proposals will be prepared following the event.