How AI is Changing the Use of Robotics in the Energy Sector

Mobile Robots

Offshore oil and gas, especially in deep or ultra-deep waters, offer enormous scope for AI-enabled robots, not only to save humans from working in such harsh conditions but also to find hydrocarbons more efficiently and effectively.

Collaboration between ExxonMobil and MIT is producing an AI-enabled submersible subsea robot.ⁱ Programmed by dedicated software, the robot operates autonomously to monitor oceans, map deep regions, and analyze changes over time. Slow-moving, it navigates above the ocean floor to detect and analyze natural seeping oil and gas from rock fissures. ExxonMobil expects to increase its discovery rate by applying technologies, first used by NASA, from its Mars exploration.

The offshore energy infrastructure of pipes, platforms, and rigs needs regular inspections and maintenance. To save human workers, Shell, in collaboration with Subsea 7,ⁱⁱ have created an Autonomous Inspection Vehicle, which, it is claimed, is safer and produces better inspections than humans, as well as delivering significant cost savings. This AI marine robot can navigate without human aid, has a 24-hour dive time, can reach depths of 3,000 meters and travel 40km. In time, machine learning could train this robot to conduct routine maintenance tasks such as turning a valve underwater.

Onshore, Total’s ARGOS challenge ⁱⁱⁱ (Autonomous Robot for Gas & Oil Sites) of 2017 was won by a 1.04m high weighing 90 kg robot named Argonauts. It moves on tracks and has an articulated arm with a span of 1.3 m. It is expected to start operating on industrial sites by 2020.

Also onshore, the UK’s National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR)^iv is developing machine vision, artificial intelligence, and advanced robots to decommission the country’s 4.9m tonnes of nuclear waste. Robots equipped with similar technologies are being used to inspect power plants, refiners, and power networks.

Fixed Location Robots

Fixed location robots are commonplace in car manufacturing but are less common in the oil industry. The closest comparison is the AI-enabled Iron Roughneck, made by National Oilwell Varco Inc.^v This robot automates the repetitive and dangerous task of connecting drill pipes as they’re pushed through miles of ocean water and oil-bearing rock. The robot automates a backbreaking job, saving on labor, increasing efficiency, and improving the safety of workers on an oil rig.

Automation of drilling is increasing productivity and oil production, for example, Precision Drilling Corp.^vi A large Canadian drilling rig contractor, deployed Hitachi Video Insights and Hitachi Manufacturing Insights to help optimize the performance of its rigs, using the latter to provide single-pane-of-glass visibility of its operating assets. Such AI-enabled robot systems incorporate historical data of past drilling operations and apply machine learning to create a digital twin of the drilling site. The drills are equipped with internet of things connected sensors, which continuously collect pressure, temperature, and seismic data. Likewise, robotic drill-floor technology, produced by Robotic Drilling Systems AS,^vii can be found both on new builds and retrofit as well as land and offshore installations. The robotic control system ensures seamless, fast, and precise work operations between the electric drill floor machines. The benefits of automated drilling by robots include faster drilling operations, high safety levels due to unmanned operations, and lower installation, maintenance, and operation costs.

Virtual Robots

Chatbots or virtual assistants, the product of tech giants Amazon, Apple, and Google, are AI-enabled computer programs that provide product information and can complete orders. Shell Lubricants has introduced Shell LubeChat,^viii the first AI-powered Chabot tool for its B2B lubricant customers. LubeChat is available 24/7, providing expert technical information on Shell’s products. The virtual assistant, with natural language processing capability, can interact with customers and helps Shell’s website to advise and sell a range of products, including lubricants, waxes, greases, and even petrol.

Looking at the Impact on Recruitment

Collaborations with scientists, academics, Silicon Valley, and specialized start-ups are helping oil and gas companies to employ and adapt the new technologies of digitization, artificial intelligence, and robotics to their own specific needs. For example, Chevron has signed a seven-year partnership with Microsoft to accelerate the use of analytics and IoT,^ix to optimize performance and improve efficiencies in exploration, reservoir management, and production. A suite of new technologies, currently outside the core competence of the oil and gas industry, is being co-opted and internalized by the oil industry, which will significantly enhance the capabilities of senior and middle-level functional specialists working out in the field. It will reduce back-office staff and perhaps eliminate a whole stratum of low-skilled manual employees.

The Future

The future of offshore oil and gas is unmanned platforms operated, inspected, and maintained by teams of autonomous AI-enhanced robots. AI-enhanced robots will increasingly substitute for humans in low skilled, heavy, or risky jobs or become co-workers, helping to improve exploration, production efficiency, and the cycle of inspection, maintenance, and repair.