< Previous20 TECHNOLOGY oilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 M ark Zuckerberg’s keynote speech in 2021 might have shot the term Metaverse into the mainstream, but it wasn’t a new idea, nor the first time it was discussed. Science fiction writer Neil Stevenson first coined it in his 1992 novel Snow Crash as a place where the characters could go to escape a dreary totalitarian reality. The Metaverse has been gaining traction for quite some time now. With Meta and its competitors leaving no stone unturned in their quest to keep discovering this futuristic concept, we’ve all got a glimpse into what the Metaverse could look like in the future. But, the potential scope of this technology extends far beyond gaming and entertainment. Various forecasts FROM VIRTUAL TO REALITY: HOW INDUSTRIAL METAVERSE IS RESHAPING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY people, assets, processes, and objects. These industrial metaverses provide an immersive, real-time, collaborative environment that fuses the digital and physical worlds, enabling businesses to simulate real-world scenarios. The benefits? Streamlined workflows, improved communication, optimised processes, and enhanced collaboration, all leading to better decision-making. The energy industry is no exception to this trend, and embracing it can lead to decreased operational costs, increased productivity, and a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced digital world. Immersive project progress & design reviews, virtual collaboration, and immersive training are just a few examples of the remarkable capabilities of the metaverse for the energy industry. Moreover, the metaverse allows for remote monitoring and maintenance of critical infrastructure. And with the Authors: Dr Khaled Al Blooshi , Vice President, Digital Projects & Innovation, ADNOC, Dr Abdullah Al-Halafi , Networks and Systems Specialist, Saudi Aramco, and Wassim Ghadban, VP of Digital and Innovation, Kent Experts from ADNOC, Aramco, and Kent outline how the energy industry is undergoing a transformative change with the advent of the industrial Metaverse predict global Metaverse revenue to hit the $800 billion mark by 2024, a significant increase from approximately $500 billion in 2020. While the exact contribution of the industrial sector to this revenue remains up in the air, it’s clear that Metaverse will have a considerable impact on industrial operations. UNLOCKING NEW POSSIBILITIES Industries are taking a bold step towards creating their own metaverses, also known as Industrial Metaverse – digital ecosystems incorporating cutting- edge technologies, including digital twins, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). The goal? To revolutionise interactions with oilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 possibility of expanding its capabilities to AI/Machine Learning (ML) model retraining, cutting-edge robotics R&D, and energy & emissions analysis, the metaverse is set to revolutionise how the energy industry operates. Dr Abdullah Al-Halafi, networks and systems specialist and digital twin leader at Saudi Aramco, suggests that “the industrial metaverse can function as a digital ecosystem founded on Digital Twin technology, fused with virtual and augmented reality tools, and powered by artificial intelligence and the industrial internet-of-things. This integration will provide real-time status updates, creating immersive and collaborative virtual multi-dimensions for industrial facilities during their entire lifecycle. The metaverse will act as a digital twin for various assets and utilised at a corporate level; this wouldn’t be something for the public to consume.” UNLEASHING THE SENSES OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES The industrial metaverse is not merely a single technology; rather, it represents an integrated ecosystem, “Digital technologies for an asset or facility can be compared to human senses in that they serve as crucial means to collect, process, and interpret information from the surrounding environment, ultimately helping to improve integrated operations. Just as human senses work harmoniously to provide a comprehensive understanding of our environment, digital technologies should be seamlessly integrated to interact and exchange information for optimal results.” Said Wassim Ghadban, Vice President of Global Innovation & Digital Engineering at Kent. The energy industry is already undergoing a transformative change with the advent of the Industrial Metaverse, and subject matter experts from ADNOC, Aramco, and Kent have pulled together compelling examples of this groundbreaking development. Engineering design intelligent reviews The metaverse boosts collaboration and design innovation for energy companies in a virtual environment. Engineers and stakeholders can interact with 3D/4D/5D models, simulations, and data to identify potential issues, optimise designs, and make informed decisions. By allowing real- time collaboration among geographically dispersed teams, the metaverse reduces time spent on revisions and improves design quality. Project progress reviews In the era of the industrial metaverse, project reviews have evolved into a more immersive and precise experience. Stakeholders are now able to virtually visit project sites, assess progress, and tackle 22 TECHNOLOGY oilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 issues in real-time, increasing collaboration and accuracy. The metaverse also offers the option to overlay project timelines, advanced work packages, data, and key performance indicators, enabling teams to track progress and mitigate issues more efficiently. The digital twin capabilities of the metaverse provide a comprehensive view of ongoing projects and their effect on corporate plans, further enhancing strategic planning and implementation. Workforce training and development Immersive training through the metaverse can revolutionise workforce development in the energy industry. By leveraging VR and AR technologies, employees can undergo realistic training scenarios, safely practice complex procedures, and develop skills in a controlled environment. This hands-on approach to training not only accelerates learning but also reduces the risks associated with on-site training. Remote operation and maintenance The industrial metaverse is transforming operations and accelerating remote monitoring and maintenance in the energy sector by integrating IoT devices, sensors, and real-time data. Through the metaverse, engineers can access a virtual replica of assets and equipment, allowing them to troubleshoot issues, perform maintenance, and monitor performance from any location. This streamlined approach reduces the need for on-site visits, increases operational efficiency, and minimises downtime. The digital twin functionality also allows companies to test and validate new maintenance strategies before implementing them in the physical world. AI/ML models development and retraining The industrial metaverse can provide a virtual environment for AI/ML models to be trained and tested. This can help to improve the accuracy and performance of the models. It can also be used to simulate real-world conditions and scenarios, which can help to test the robustness of AI/ML models, and through what-if analysis, the models will generate enormous sets of data that will be used to retrain train AI/ML models and achieve much higher performances. Robotics and autonomous aerial vehicles R&D The metaverse has the potential to revolutionise the way that we develop and use robots in the industry. By using the metaverse, we can create robots that are more efficient, effective, and safe. The metaverse presents myriad possibilities for advancing robotics. For example, it can be used to: • Create virtual simulations of robots and their environments. This can be used to test and train robots without the need for physical robots or environments. • Design and prototype new robots. This can be done using virtual tools to create and test new robot designs. • Communicate with robots. This can be done using virtual interfaces to send commands to robots and receive feedback from them. • Collaborate on robot projects. This can be done using virtual tools to share ideas and work on robot projects together. Energy and emissions analysis and optimisation The metaverse offers a chance to pinpoint energy inefficiencies and fine-tune facility emissions at every stage of the lifecycle - from initial design to ongoing maintenance and operation. Engineers will be able to track the energy consumption of different parts of the process. It is possible to identify areas where energy is being wasted or can be optimised, and improvement actions can be simulated instantly. SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON EMBRACING A NEW ERA IN ENERGY The Industrial Metaverse has immense potential to revolutionise operations in the energy industry. With its ability to create seamless interactions between people, assets, processes, and objects from anywhere in the world at any time, the industrial metaverse could be a game changer for the future of the energy industry, one that we believe should be embraced. WWW.DEFSECME.COM AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION LOCK & LOAD The region’s leading voice for defence & security Online now, in print this Julyoilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 B lockchain technology has been making waves across industries, due to the benefits it offers both industry players and consumers, and the oil and gas industry is no exception. This innovative technology has the potential to transform the way the industry functions. By creating a shared ledger that records all transactions in a transparent and auditable manner, blockchains provide a secure and transparent platform. The use of smart contracts on top of the blockchain helps to automate and streamline processes, reducing the need for intermediaries and HOW BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IS DRIVING TRANSFORMATION IN OIL AND GAS From supply chain management to smart contracts and financial innovations, blockchain has tremendous potential of transforming the energy industry By: Arto Bendiken, CTO, Aurora Labs potentially decreasing costs. The oil and gas industry is a complex ecosystem that involves many stakeholders in its upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, including companies, suppliers, contractors, regulators, and customers. By accessing a shared platform, stakeholders eliminate data silos and increase collaboration across the ecosystem, leading to more informed decision-making and improved overall performance. Blockchain technology could play a crucial role in this by increasing transparency and traceability in all segments of the industry, ultimately making it more efficient. One of the unique features of blockchain technology is its ability to provide operational transparency which is especially valuable in the oil and gas industry, where complex supply chains and multiple stakeholders are involved. By using blockchain-based solutions, companies can track and monitor the movement of goods and services in real time, providing visibility throughout the supply chain and enabling companies to identify and address potential issues quickly. Traceability is another unique feature of blockchain technology, allowing companies in the oil and gas industry to track the movement of goods and services from the OPINION oilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 fee, profit, and tax distribution, while at the same time producing data about future product availability and quality that can be translated into market options that are instantly tradeable on the same platform. While increasing data coherence this also reduces sources of error and manipulation, and overall streamlines processes in the time and cost dimensions. One area where blockchains could make a significant impact is supply chain management. The oil and gas supply chain is complex and involves multiple parties, including suppliers, transporters, distributors, and end users. Blockchains can ensure real-time tracking and tracing of products, improving delivery time and the quality of a product throughout the supply chain, in a tamper-proof manner. However, the adoption of blockchain- based solutions in the industry does have its challenges. The lack of standardisation in the industry and the need for significant investment in infrastructure and technology pose some significant barriers. The lack of uniformity in data and business processes across the industry could make it difficult to apply blockchain-based solutions. Despite such challenges, blockchains have many opportunities for the oil and gas industry. Smart contracts, for example, could help automate the transfer of ownership and payment, reducing the need for intermediaries and enabling peer-to-peer energy trading. As more companies in the industry begin to explore point of origin to the end-user, ensuring that all parties are aware of the status of the products they are dealing with. This feature is particularly useful in managing supply chains, where delays and disruptions cause significant issues. With blockchain technology, companies could prevent such issues from arising, ensuring smooth operations. The immutability of blockchains also provides an added layer of security, protecting sensitive information from cyberattacks and data breaches. A good example of blockchain technology is its use for network management, network modeling, and profit sharing. Sensors at the edge (wells), in the network (pumps, valves, and junctions), and at the core (storage and refinery) produce real-time data on product volume and quality. Fed into a common blockchain platform, this data can immediately be used to automate transit 25 the possibilities of blockchain technology, collaboration and standardisation efforts will be essential to unlocking their full potential. The development of industry- wide standards for data exchange, smart contracts, and other blockchain-based applications will be critical to achieving interoperability between different systems and stakeholders. One specific opportunity for collaboration is the on-chain introduction of synthetic financial products for commodities. For example, the environmental responsibilities of the energy sector in general, but the oil and gas industry in particular, pose a challenge for the future acceptance of our products. This opens the door for innovative new solutions that enhance the products made available. For example, the synthetic commodity of a barrel of oil combined with its carbon offset (in the form of already removed and neutralised CO2) forms both a new financial product, as well as the opportunity to make ESG compliance achievable for energy consumers. This is a unique result of the combination of trusted data, smart contracts, and commodity tokenisation as it is made possible by blockchain technology. As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, blockchains will play a critical role in shaping the future. The decentralised nature of blockchain technology makes it more resistant to fraud and cyberattacks, providing an added layer of security for sensitive data. It will also be important for companies to work together and agree on common standards. The adoption of blockchain-based solutions in the oil and gas industry is expected to grow in the future as blockchains are integrated with IoT and AI technologies, improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and improving decision-making by providing real-time data analytics. Overall, the future of blockchains in the oil and gas industry looks promising, with potential applications expected to continue evolving in the coming years. With the technology’s ability to provide operational transparency, traceability, and tamper-proofing of data, blockchains are poised to transform the way the industry operates. Arto Bendiken, CTO, Aurora Labs26 TECHNOLOGY oilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 EXPANDABLE TECHNOLOGY MAXIMISES RECOVERY THROUGH EFFECTIVE ISOLATION A detailed case study highlights the significance of well intervention in the mature oil and gas fields of the Middle East By: Scott Benzie, CTO, Coretrax T he Middle East is a highly active member of the global oil and gas industry with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait amongst the top oil producing nations in the world. As fields in the region continue to mature, well intervention has become increasingly important as operators tackle issues such as increased water production, damaged casing and depleting hydrocarbon reserves. Technology is critical to resolving such challenges and ensuring that wells remain economical, while ultimately extending the life of the field. In the case of water production, straddles have been a traditional method used to effectively isolate sections of open-hole or perforated casing, which are experiencing substantial water production to reduce the by-product and boost production. However, many conventional straddles can often restrict the inner diameter (ID) of the well, meaning any future well intervention operations will be significantly more complicated and throttle production. EFFECTIVE ISOLATION FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION During a recent onshore campaign in Saudi Arabia, a major operator required isolation of non-producing perforations over two upper formations in an unconventional tight gas formation, while leaving the lower perf live for production. To achieve sustainability objectives, the operator was seeking a more efficient method The ReLineWL technology passes through ID restrictions like safety valves in the sub-surfaceTECHNOLOGY oilandgasmiddleeast.com JULY 2023 to reduce the load. This procedure often requires specialist equipment and can take up to 20 days, resulting in significant downtime. The ReLineWL system was designed to operate in live well conditions with its external pressure ratings capable of sustaining formation pressure loads. ENHANCED INTEGRITY THROUGH EXPANDABLE TECHNOLOGY The trouble zone extended a 30ft section and with the ReLineWL’s ability to provide integrated stacking, it allowed it to support long lengths of the non-producing area. The expandable seals were designed and manufactured to deliver a gas-tight seal at any expansion ratio within the wellbore. Many conventional straddles are not suited to large problem zones as big-bore patches do not stack neatly, meaning the isolation of several perforation intervals often limits the ID of the well, negatively impacting overall production rates. Three 3-5/8” OD straddles were deployed on wireline at depths over 13,000ft and successfully expanded to isolate the non-producing sections within the liner. The patches were confirmed through MIT log post. Once in place, the tool’s 75% expansion ratio ensured a maximum production conduit to surface, delivering a 700% greater flow area when compared to traditional straddles. when compared to traditional straddles, and Coretrax’s ReLineWL expandable straddle was selected for deployment. The unconventional assets typically introduce higher performance requirements in terms of live well pressure and restoration of integrity pressure ratings, of which the expandable patch was designed to meet. A detailed multi-finger imaging tool (MIT) assessment was first conducted to provide accurate and detailed data of the current geometry and condition of the wellbore ID. To further reduce the carbon intensity of the project, analysis of the information collected was conducted remotely to reduce personnel onsite. Following full evaluation by Coretrax’s field technicians and the operator, the ReLineWL expandable straddle was selected as the most suitable solution as it would adequately support wellbore loads. The permanent system can be run on a wireline, eliminating the need for expensive rig deployment, and its slim outer diameter (OD) means it is capable of passing through ID restrictions such as sub-surface safety valves. In this particular project, the well had an internal diameter of 4” but presented a further challenge with a 3.688” nipple restriction. The tool was designed to pass this restriction, with the expandable technology allowing it to bypass the nipple before it was set below. The system can effectively isolate leaking or compromised completions components including sliding side doors, inflow control valves, inflow control devices, gas-lift valves and chemical injection valves amongst others. Its shoeless design also means there is no requirement for a drill out to be completed, so the tool saves valuable rig time with a one-trip solution and does not introduce any unwanted debris into the wellbore due to a shoe-less design. To ensure the operation remained economical during the intervention, it was essential the well remained live to negate the need for any downtime, so the tool had to be capable of withholding high pressures while setting the expandable straddles. Without this capability, the gas would have to be vented from the well 27 By creating a large ID, the ReLineWL effectively optimised access to the wellbore while negating integrity issues. To enhance production even further, the system can also be configured to smart completion products such as autonomous inflow devices (AICDs) to selectively eliminate gas and water production and provide a comprehensive workover solution. The application of the technology successfully eliminated the requirement for a land rig, delivering significant cost savings and reduced the project’s carbon footprint. By enabling continuous access to the reservoir below, the operator could also efficiently carry out future diagnostics or data gathering. If the ReLineWL had not been deployed, the operator would have been forced to plug and abandon the well. EFFECTIVE RECOVERY WITH REDUCED FOOTPRINT The adoption of advanced technology has never been more important as the industry strives to enhance hydrocarbon recovery efficiently and as sustainably as possible. Through intelligent, non- heavy intervention, the ReLineWL ultimately removes the requirement for large scale workovers, or in severe cases, plugging and abandonment of the well at a time when extending the life of fields is playing a crucial role in supporting global energy demands. Author bio Scott Benzie joined Coretrax as chief technology officer in 2019 following its integration with Mohawk Energy, which he founded in 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, is a chartered engineer and holds EUR ING status. Scott has held several design engineer roles at major energy services companies and operators like Shell throughout his career. Innovating ground-breaking tubular expansion technologies for drilling, completion and production operations, Scott has extensive R&D experience. Scott Benzie, CTO, Coretrax28 oilandgasmiddleeast.com SUBSEA JULY 2023 E nergy companies face a critical challenge in balancing the need to provide energy to society while reducing carbon emissions and preserving the environment to establish a sustainable future. This sustainability imperative requires a shift in the way companies manage their energy assets, but this often does not make it to the agenda of boardroom discussions. Fortunately, there is hope in the form of ground-breaking technological innovations like Remote and Autonomous Operations, which offer energy companies the ability to transition towards a more sustainable, reliable and profitable way for MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR SUBSEA ASSET MANAGEMENT & Autonomous Operations enables energy companies to boost the efficiency of inspection, and with a small effort inspect their full subsea asset network at least once a year. As a result, anomalies can be remediated before becoming extremely costly or critical to asset performance. With Remote and Autonomous Operations the captain sits in a Remote Operations Center (ROC) onshore alongside with the survey engineers using an end-to-end digital platform. For the inspections of subsea infrastructure they use responsive digital twin technology. This innovative Digital Twin technology gives our clients the ability to instantly By: Pim Voogd, Head of Business Development, Fugro, Middle East and India By leveraging technological innovations, energy companies have the ability to conduct more frequent inspections, optimise preventive maintenance, and boost asset performance managing subsea infrastructure. In fact, subsea infrastructure management is a significant and impactful application of Remote and Autonomous Operations. Many energy companies rely on pipelines, cables, and platforms that are operated far beyond their original design life, and the risk of defects due to aging increases daily. Traditionally, inspections are conducted by divers using large diesel- guzzling vessels, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Remote and Autonomous Operations replace vessel heavy, slow and diver-led subsea pipeline inspections with uncrewed vessels that are equipped with inspection robots. Remote 29 oilandgasmiddleeast.com SUBSEA JULY 2023 conduct spatial analysis, which reveals things that were previously unseen. By combining the ability to more frequently inspect assets with the skill to conduct spatial analysis, asset owners can easily compare multiple surveys/inspections and detect problems far earlier than they would be able to otherwise. This means that the intervention of anomalies can be better planned and done before they become extremely costly to repair or critical to asset performance, and thus prevent problems from happening in the first place. The market standard digital twins are widely known to be challenging to maintain regularly. However, responsive digital twins automatically adjust shape, form, and properties during inspections, making it easier to keep them up-to-date and enabling spatial analytics, which can optimise preventive maintenance and boost asset performance. Last year, Fugro, a leading Geo-data specialist, introduced Remote and Autonomous Operations into the Middle East when it successfully launched the region’s first Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV). The Geo-data specialist has energy companies can reach new levels of asset performance, acquire more data, and gain better insights through advanced Geo- data analytics. This can be compared to the healthcare field, where patients can adopt healthier lifestyles to prevent illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes when informed of their risk through testing. Asset owners now can really move the needle of frequency and thoroughness of their asset inspection with Remote and Autonomous Operations. Those operating a few thousand kilometers of aged subsea pipelines, can now inspect their full network yearly. Having more current and more profound insights helps these stakeholders to prevent hazardous and costly incidents. A corroded or buckled pipe now can be detected earlier, and an incident as a result of, for example, gas bubbling to the surface that ignites could be prevented. However, energy and EPC companies must recognise that Remote and Autonomous Operations is not only new technology, but a completely new way of working. Implementation does not come in a Big Bang, but rather, it is a gradual process of expanding the maturity of the remote and digital ecosystem. This means companies need to walk before they run, focusing on acquisition and basic analytics, and then expanding towards a more integrated and close-knit digital ecosystem for marine operations. With this, energy companies can then make well-informed decisions, and assure safe and sustainable management of their offshore assets. Remote and Autonomous Operations offer energy companies a way to balance the need to provide energy to society with the imperative transition towards a more sustainable future. With Remote and Autonomous Operations, energy companies can ensure safe and sustainable management of their offshore assets while making well-informed decisions that benefit both their business and society as a whole. By embracing these technologies, energy companies can play a vital role in the transition towards a sustainable future, contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet for generations to come. Blue Volta flying HD Pim Voogd, Head of Business Development, Fugro, Middle East and India established its market dominance in Remote and Autonomous Operations by leveraging its proficiency in deploying uncrewed surface vessels and managing over 10 Remote Operation Centers (ROCs) globally. The benefits of Remote and Autonomous Operations are immense, as it removes the risks associated with working in offshore environments, replaces polluting vessels with small environmentally friendly vessels, and reduces the processing time for updating digital twins from weeks to just a few hours. With this innovation, Next >