Subsea Tooling

Subsea drilling refers to the process of drilling into the seabed for purposes such as oil and gas extraction or geological research. It involves specialized equipment deployed on the ocean floor, including high-force actuators and proximity sensors that control drill head positioning, automate operations, and manage trenching machines and other seabed equipment at significant depths.

The deepest-rated product in the lineup is the Proximity Sensor PSW23-20000-0, rated to 6,800m (10,000 psi). The linear actuators with resolver feedback are rated to 6,000m, while self-compensated linear and rotary actuators are rated to 3,000 msw. All products are designed for reliable performance at significant subsea pressures.

Subsea tooling components are manufactured from corrosion-resistant materials including Stainless Steel 316 (SST 316), Titanium, Inconel, and Delrin, depending on the product. These materials are selected to withstand prolonged exposure to seawater, high pressures, and aggressive marine environments without degradation.

Both the Linear Actuator – Self Compensated and the Rotary Actuator – Self Compensated support RS422 (RS485 duplex on 4 wires) and RS232 serial communication at 19200 baud. All configurable parameters, including virtual limit switches and status broadcast frequency, are stored in internal EEPROM for reliable, persistent operation.

Yes. Self-compensated actuators use an absolute 30-bit multi-turn encoder mounted on the output shaft. This encoder retains position information between power cycles, eliminating the need for rehoming procedures after power loss — a critical feature for remotely operated subsea systems where manual intervention is not possible.

An oil compensator maintains a slight positive internal pressure (0.7–1 bar) inside oil-filled subsea housings or actuator systems to prevent seawater ingress as depth and ambient pressure increase. The 260cc Oil Compensator uses a rolling diaphragm and Delrin housing with SST or Inconel springs, and is rated to 6,000m depth.

NV Mechanics Design subsea tooling is engineered for use across several industries and applications, including offshore oil and gas (valve actuation, pipeline control, and deep-sea infrastructure management), marine research and oceanography (data collection and equipment control in deep-sea deployments), underwater robotics and ROV systems (manipulator arms and automated systems), and subsea drilling and trenching (drill head positioning and seabed equipment control).