The top challenges for the North Sea oil and gas industry in the subsea sector have been outlined at Subsea 2013.
Aberdeen-based ITF, the global technology facilitator, which is exhibiting at the event, outlined its key technology challenges for 2013.
However, the organisation also urged companies to work together to solve the most pertinent issues facing the industry.
Challenges outlined included effective subsea processing and cost effective subsea monitoring.
ITF chairman Max Rowe said developing new technology was critical to secure future production – particularly in the North Sea, where innovation was needed to make smaller fields economical and help infrastructure last longer.
But he said more needed to be done to get firms to collaborate more and adopt new technologies.
He added: “The biggest barrier is the adoption of new technologies. This industry, while innovative is one of the slowest to adopt new technology.
“We’ve got to use more technology and innovation to access scarce resources and use enhanced oil recovery to get more out of existing fields.
“Both of which can be achieved through collaborative research and development.”
ITF, set up in 1999, is a not-for-profit organisation owned by 29 international oil and gas operator and service companies.
It has already helped to launch nearly 200 joint industry projects and aims to secure a further £50million for new technologies by 2015.
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