Brazil's pre-salt operations require robotic systems that can operate at extreme depths for extended periods. Petrobras and its technology partners have developed ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) capable of pipeline inspection, equipment maintenance, and subsea intervention at depths beyond 2,000 meters.
The technology includes subsea processing systems that separate oil, gas, and water on the ocean floor — reducing the volume of fluid pumped to surface platforms and enabling production from fields that would otherwise be uneconomical. Ocean floor sensors monitor reservoir behavior in real time.
Brazil's subsea robotics capability grew from necessity: pre-salt oil can't be accessed any other way. The technology developed for oil is now applicable to offshore wind installation, submarine cable maintenance, and deep-sea environmental monitoring.