Exail wins deepwater positioning contracts

The company will deliver more than 70 acoustic transponders along with integrated navigation suites to support subsea construction, infrastructure installation and survey activities at water depths reaching 4,000 metres.

“These projects illustrate how hybrid acoustic and inertial positioning is transforming deepwater operations,” said Thiago Montanari, sales director Oil & Gas for Americas at Exail.

“By combining high-precision positioning with on-site operational expertise, Exail helps operators mitigate risk and ensure the reliability of complex subsea infrastructure throughout the development lifecycle.”

For a major ultra-deepwater gas development in Brazil, Exail is supplying a network of 56 Canopus acoustic transponders paired with its Rovins inertial navigation systems. The installation will form the primary subsea positioning reference required during key construction phases of the offshore field.

Meanwhile in Angola, the technology will support expansion work at a mature offshore oil field. Exail’s Ramses acoustic transceivers will be interfaced with remotely operated vehicle navigation suites, enabling engineers to precisely install new pipelines and subsea structures within the field’s existing infrastructure.

Across both projects the company is deploying a range-aided LBL positioning approach that combines acoustic positioning with high-performance inertial navigation. The hybrid configuration enables a ‘sparse’ seabed layout, reducing the number of transponders required while maintaining decimetric positioning accuracy.

According to the company, the approach also shortens calibration times by around 50% compared with conventional methods, helping operators reduce vessel time and equipment costs during complex subsea operations.

Exail are exhibiting at Oceanology International at ExCel, London from 10-12 March 2026 on stand E100.