With many of the world’s remaining resources located far beneath the world’s oceans, we’re forced to operate at even greater depths. The pipeline repair system (PRS), based at Haugesund, Norway, is one example of how advanced technology is helping us to go deeper.

Originally developed to deal with emergency repairs, PRS is now regularly deployed for the routine maintenance of underwater pipelines and for extending the existing network via hot taps or tie-ins.

Demand for the system has grown as working depths have increased, so much so that divers can no longer be used. In these cases, repairs can only be carried out by remotely controlled equipment.

Since the system was first used in 1987, the length of pipeline covered by PRS has expanded from 948km to more than 12,000km.