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one process at a time

Big data and AI entirety of their operations, giving them transaction reports.
The gargantuan amounts of data instant access to key data about their It’s a trend we’re seeing with AR
generated by gas companies is assets, measurements and documents smart glasses, which enable workers to
proving invaluable when it comes to in consistent and intuitive formats. read sensor information on their lenses
business insight and staying abreast This will compress decision times, and and communicate in real-time with
of operational complexities. With high make those decisions better informed, colleagues and technical experts located
quality data, far more granular analysis leading to efficiencies and cost savings. at remote control centres. Not only that,
is being carried out using AI to obtain but smart glasses utilise augmented
more meaningful responses. Data Digitalisation makes a difference reality to overlay instructions and data
models and predictive algorithms, for Despite all this, there is still room for in the technician’s field of vision as they
example, can better manage end-to- improvement. While the gas sector work at the site.
end water consumption for oil and gas is inherently innovative, it remains
companies. AI can help in the planning an industry that still relies on many A new view of the business
and execution stages of drilling to paper-based processes. This may Back in the office, data visualisation
improve well planning and real-time seem insignificant compared to some tools can turn this wealth of data
drilling capabilities. We’re already of the bigger challenges the sector is into powerful insights, identifying
seeing autonomous robots with robotic facing. But when you scale the problem bottlenecks and problems that simply
heads deployed in the North Sea to across millions of work processes and can’t be captured on paper. New
replace humans in dangerous offshore hundreds of thousands of workers, processes can be created and deployed
operations. even small efficiencies become massive across a global workforce in minutes.
In addition, AI is proving important benefits. Aside from just the time Complex documentation can be turned
in addressing health and safety issues saved, the digitalisation of paper-based into step-by-step processes that
for personnel on onshore production processes allows companies to harness create an alert if they are not followed
sites. Examples of this are controlling invaluable data and insight that is often correctly. The potential use cases and
critical tasks in risky locations through completely lost. areas to help improve decision making
automated systems without the need are endless.
for human presence and reducing Such intelligent operations
the impact on the environment by Improving, one process at a time
using smart sensors to monitor are allowing companies to I accept that when discussing the future
environmental compliance. visualise the entirety of their challenges of the energy industry,
operations, giving them instant reducing paper-based processes may
Emerging technologies access to key data about their not be top of one’s mind. But the
While big data and AI are now reality is that as long as fundamental
considered staple parts of a assets, measurements and inefficiencies are baked into the
digitalisation portfolio, there is also documents in consistent and way things are done every day, it is
considerable investment being placed intuitive formats impossible to make significant changes.
in technologies. These technologies It is precisely in these basic systems
are helping oil and gas companies to where technology adoption can
cut costs, make faster decisions and It is easy to overlook workflows and make the biggest impact because it is
improve performance and worker digital processes as simply a hygiene where the greatest inefficiencies are.
safety. As we see a bigger shift towards factor. But the benefits technology It removes the notion of unwittingly
digital oilfields, new technologies adoption can offer in this area are ripping up the rule book for nervous
will come into play that will support vast. Even something as simple managers, but at the same time
collaboration, virtualisation, as transforming physical manuals introduces technology at a speed and
visualisation, biometrics and and documentation into digital cost that is comfortable to the board –
accelerated insight. The development documentation can yield impressive whatever that may be.
of automation and mobile technology results. Replace paper checklists and To echo the comments by Gartner,
in areas such as control systems and manuals with a tablet or wearable cultural change can take time, and the
sensors has so far been impressive. device, and you have the ability to more pressing the need for change,
Take augmented reality, which can be capture a wealth of data in real-time. the harder it can be to take the first
used to fix and maintain equipment in Photos, video and data can be captured step. In my experience, more positive
remote oil and gas fields, cutting down and time-stamped, adding valuable change can come from small, actual
on the time and expense of flying in context and data to, for example, a improvements today, than the promise
specialist engineers. Oil majors such as regular inspection process. of major disruption tomorrow. It’s not
BP and Shell are utilising analytics-based Compliance and audits are also an about going from analogue and paper
logistics systems, similar to those used obvious candidate for digitalisation. to digital in one move, but more about
by parcel delivery companies and large- Digital workflow technologies save a companies looking at every process and
scale online retailers, to optimise the system of record so everyone can see thinking, how can we make this better
time that operators spend at well sites. who approved what and when, allowing right now?
Such systems include an algorithm that for faster approvals, handovers and
develops dynamic routes for workers compliance checks. There are literally Nottingham-based company Intoware
so that they are directed to the highest thousands of documents created in works with customers such as BP and
priority wells. Therefore, saving time gas operations, from lease agreements Statoil to replace their paper-based
and optimising their work routines. and partner contracts to run tickets, processes with mobile and wearable
Such intelligent operations are purchaser statements, inspection devices. For more information, visit
allowing companies to visualise the checks, maintenance schedules, and www.intoware.com

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