Trends to Watch in 2026-27: Shaping the Future of Subsea & Offshore Energy
- The Impulse Group
- Feb 4
- 4 min read
After a turbulent start and the ever-present fluctuations in oil prices, we have already seen 2025 bring a renewed optimism in oil and gas, digital acceleration and a sharper focus on integrity, safety and talent.
As we look toward 2026-27 financial year, the factors and trends that will truly define progress in subsea and offshore energy are becoming clearer. At The Impulse Group, we’re lining up our roadmap to bring value where others lag behind.
Here are six trends we believe will dominate in 2026-27, and how we’re positioning ourselves (and you) to lead through them.
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1. From Digital Twins to Living Ecosystems
Digital twins won’t just mirror assets, they’ll become dynamic ecosystems, integrating real-time performance, predictive models and field feedback. As Global Data predicts, the digital twin market is expected to grow sixfold by 2030.
In practice, that means integrative systems where integrity data, anomaly detection and operational decisions converge in one living, adaptive model. For clients, this means faster decisions, less downtime and a system that evolves rather than ages.
At The Impulse Group, we’re already embedding integrity tools, sensor data and digitised anomaly spotting into our solutions so that clients gain greater insights quickly, alongside AI built for the realities of offshore energy to assist with long-term planning, repair and asset life extension.
2. Optimisation over Replacement
While new offshore plays are getting headlines, the real battle will be in optimising existing assets. Mature fields, ageing risers, legacy systems – for us, that means making interventions smarter, cheaper and less invasive.
This approach aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the industry’s keen focus on environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance.
By extending asset life and reducing waste, operators can cut carbon impact, minimise material use and meet tightening sustainability standards without compromising performance.
Whether through targeted diagnostics, incremental upgrades or integrity life extension, the focus will be on delivering value without the hefty cost of unnecessary replacement, as we strategically navigate the energy transition.
3. Safety as Strategic Imperative
Safety is no longer just a checkbox, it will become an increasingly competitive differentiator. Poor safety records already attract public, financial and regulatory scrutiny. Facilities with weak data will have to lean heavily on costly field checks.
We anticipate clients demanding fully auditable, remote-safe systems. Technologies that reduce human presence in hazardous zones, backed with trustworthy integrity data, will win trust (and contracts).
Through our Impulse Enginuity division, we’re focusing on further developing tech-driven inspections, remote monitoring and risk-based approaches that put safety – and innovation – front and centre.
4. Digital Transformation
The use of modern technologies and AI adoption in subsea is no longer a novelty – digital transformation is at the forefront of investment across many sectors, and oil and gas is no exception.
By embracing new technology, including AI, operators can drive performance and focus on improved capital expenditures and cost efficiencies. For example, using predictive maintenance to analyse vast amounts of real-time operational data alongside historical.
In subsea, combining AI with insights around corrosion models, anomaly classification, and performance will deepen insights and hugely accelerate reaction times.
At The Impulse Group, we’re using AI as a tool to flag and help us to scale inspections, reduce false alarms and accelerate root cause analysis.
5. Bridging the Expertise Gap
One of the hardest challenges the industry faces is generational shift. Many workers are over 55, and younger talent is heading to renewables or tech roles.
In 2026, firms that can capture institutional knowledge, mentor new recruits and digitise insights will stay ahead. Tools that link experienced engineers with less-experienced teams will become essential.
That’s why we’re investing in training platforms, knowledge capture tools and hybrid teams so that no insight is lost and learning happens on the job, whether that’s in the field or in the office.
Our experts are an extension of your team, whenever you need them. Our agile approach enables a rapid response to monitor, analyse, repair or project manage to relieve pressure on you.
6. Cross-Sector Convergence
Offshore oil and gas will increasingly overlap with renewable sources and marine infrastructure.
Clients will demand integrative solutions: subsea cables, flowlines and integrity systems that can adapt to a multi-energy future. This requires engineering agility, cross-domain thinking and a culture open to blending disciplines.
That’s exactly how we built Impulse Enginuity – to be agile, multi-disciplinary and ready to serve not just oil and gas, but the wider energy landscape of 2026 and beyond.
What This Means for You
Trends don’t wait for permission, they redefine who leads and who follows. Success across the next year will depend on:
· Thinking long: designing systems that adapt rather than age
· Seeing early: catching integrity risks before they spiral
· Scaling smart: using AI, twins and automation the right way
· Sharing insight: retaining and evolving experience across teams
· Blurring boundaries: being ready for new and emerging energy sectors
At The Impulse Group, we’re already living this future. From integrity management to bespoke engineering, remote systems to cross-sector projects, our mission is to stay a step ahead – so our clients don’t just anticipate what’s next, they lead it.