Internet of things, big data and artificial intelligence
We aim to lead in the deployment of advanced technologies in the energy sector, and to set new standards in innovation and technology development. We’ve pioneered state-of-the-art solutions that leverage cutting-edge computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT is a system of interconnected computing devices. These devices are hooked up to electronic sensors, which constantly collect huge amounts of data. The volume of information gathered is so substantial that it cannot be processed by traditional software. Instead, it is analyzed by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which reveals patterns, trends, and associations. We use AI to process these massive amounts of Big Data, gathered by IoT, to improve our operations.
One of our offshore drilling rigs is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. It uses AI-enabled machine-learning to detect drilling anomalies in real-time, sending automated notifications to warn the crews at work. The system was recently awarded ‘Best IoT energy deployment’ at the World IoT Awards.
Monitoring oil wells at Khurais
At Khurais, one of our largest oil fields, we have deployed 40,000 sensors to monitor more than 500 oil wells. These IoT sensors generate Big Data, which is analyzed by AI. This AI then generates predictive models, which forecast oil well behavior.
This has helped us reduce overall power consumption by 18 percent, reduce maintenance costs by 30 percent, and cut inspection times by around 40 percent.
For these great strides, Khurais recently became our second facility, after Uthmaniyah Gas Plant in 2019, to receive the prestigious WEF “Manufacturing Lighthouse” award, given to recognize “leadership in using Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to transform factories, value chains and business models, for compelling financial and operational returns.