Demands for deterministic behavior, low latency, and high bandwidth would be the main requirements for the next generation of a subsea control systems. This paper presents a topology and a principal solution for a subsea control system fulfilling functional requirements for subsea processing and control of subsea power distribution networks.

This paper aims to describe a setup for a control system for subsea usage based on open and available industrial communication and interface standards used in regular topside automation industry. No interfaces or communication methods are vendor specific.

The next generation control system connects topside interfaces to the seabed, removing existing boundaries which will drive towards a system simplification and a communication infrastructure that allows connecting controls devices from different vendors.

Removing the present boundary between topside and subsea control systems gives the opportunity to use the same digitalization portfolio for both topside and subsea installed parts/components. Diagnostic tools based on AI (Artificial Intelligence) are already available in regular topside automation portfolio from several different vendors and would be available for monitoring and diagnostic on subsea installed equipment in the proposed solution.

Physical locations (subsea or topside) of data inputs/objects are irrelevant regarding functionality for the setup in the proposed solution.

Introducing open industry standards in subsea control systems makes the proposed setup independent of company specific standards and interfaces, thus removing requirements for one vendor only setup. Subsea part of proposed setup could be interfaced to any topside control system utilizing standard communication protocols.