AI-driven Hull Inspections: Streamlining Safety and Efficiency
Vessels are crucial parts of different industrial operations. Considering this, the ship's main body: the hull, must be regularly inspected to ensure high asset integrity, safety, and efficiency standards. Hull damages such as cracks can lead to oil leaks, which can implicate direct emergency costs that surpass USD 50,000,000, which is 100x more expensive than the investment to repair the defects on time (before the accident) not including compensations, fines, and asset depreciation. In this regard, hull inspections are a maintenance procedure that helps energy companies and bulk cargo transporters maintain high safety, compliance, and efficiency standards. However, inspecting offshore [...]
Making the most of POB on offshore assets
As a risky environment, Oil and Gas offshore operations claim meticulous interventions from the People on Board (POB). The term is used to track and manage the workforce and ensure safety, resource allocation, and overall operational efficiency. In this sense, managing People on Board (POB) it’s a crucial and inherent challenge to the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas facilities may present risks such as explosions, health hazards, and oil leaks. Besides that, unplanned events happen, which requires workers to solve the occurrence. This harms the planning of the POB previously done and increases the downtime of the asset, [...]
Why system integration is a must
Intro As industries get more digitalized, the need for establishing an integrated digital environment increases. In this sense, the extensive amount of data that large operations generate requires interconnectedness in order to properly monitor every part of an asset’s infrastructure. In this post, we’ll take a look at why this integration is a must, the advantages it provides, and how it can improve the overall efficiency and productivity of businesses, especially heavy asset industries. The rise of digital tools and the need for integration The process of digitalization is reshaping how industries face their routines. From manufacturing to [...]
How APM is enabling longer asset life cycles while reducing downtime
Intro Managing equipment life cycle is a sensitive matter that requires a careful approach from heavy asset industries. In this context, properly addressing maintenance practices lies in reducing unplanned downtime and reactive maintenance strategies with the intent of improving asset availability and readiness. For this reason, Asset Performance Management (APM) is a key concept to understand how this process can be streamlined. However, before getting into how asset life cycles are being optimized, it is necessary to understand the role of APM. What is the role of Asset Performance Management? Asset Performance Management does [...]
AI Applications in Safety and Risk Management for Oil and Gas
Intro Hazardous environments are inherent to Oil and Gas operations, especially in offshore locations. Their dangerous conditions have constantly put workers and the environment at risk. Besides that, productivity is also threatened by the asset core activities, mainly affected by corrosion-generating processes. This worrying scenario requires an optimized method of risk management. In this sense, AI plays a pivotal role in mitigating risk management concerns, and enhancing maintenance control by constantly monitoring the asset’s health. Despite that, there still are several nuances that contemplate the complexity of risk management in each operation. For this reason, let's delve into the [...]
Unlocking AI’s accuracy and reliability
AI's growth scenario From its early days as a theoretical concept to today's omnipresent reality, AI's journey has been characterized by exponential growth. According to a 2022 IBM research, more than a third of companies (35%) report the use of AI in their business, a four-point increase from 2021. This illustrates a key change in the way we face reality, but different from other technological revolutions: today’s tool learns from its own experience at increasingly higher speed and scale. These tools are programmed to have a human-like thought process. Moreover, they are now a reality in the [...]
How Machine Vision will change society forever
Intro: Computers that make decisions on their own, based on the environment they physically are in, are the new frontier of artificial intelligence evolution, called Machine Vision, which allows computers to see and analyze their surroundings. It is an algorithm that provides spatial awareness to the computer, enabling the machine to develop a visual perception in the same way humans do. Machine vision has provided new forms of automation not previously imagined, such as real-time parts tracking, enhanced quality inspection, product defect detection and more efficient and accurate safety systems. This allowed the technology to gain notoriety [...]
Difference Between Upstream, Midstream and Downstream
Intro: The efficient asset operation in the oil and gas industry has a huge impact on the global economy and the full functioning of society. The activities involved in this industry require meticulous planning and process mapping to improve business outcomes. And, although it moves massive capital flows and employs millions of people, catastrophic risks are imminent in this sector. It is in this field that the concepts of Upstream, Midstream and Downstream come to light, which refer to the supply chain organization and its specifications, targeting at an optimal monitoring of the processes involved in each stage. These sectors [...]
Exploring Remote Inspection Techniques in the Oil and Gas Industry
Intro The oil and gas industry plays a critical role in powering our modern world. However, ensuring the integrity and safety of assets in this industry can be a very complex and dangerous task. Traditional inspection methods often involve significant manpower and time, along with potential safety risks due to the nature of offshore production processes. In recent years, remote inspection techniques have emerged as a game-changer, revolutionizing the way inspections are conducted in these kind of facilities. In this blogpost, we will delve into the possibilities offered by remote oil and gas inspection, such as drones and 360 cameras. [...]
The importance of Preventing Hull damage to ships and FPSOs
Hull damage to ships and FPSOs can have significant environmental consequences. From oil spills to entire habitat destruction, the impact of hull damage on the marine ecosystem is far-reaching. Understanding the importance of prevention and timely repairs is a crucial aspect of minimizing these environmental effects. Discover how taking proactive maintenance measures is key to preventing and addressing hull damage. Implementing Robust Maintenance and Inspection Protocols Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial for identifying and addressing potential hull damage early on. Ship and FPSO operators should establish comprehensive protocols that encompass thorough inspections of the hull structure, coating systems, and [...]
