ADDRESSING OFFSHORE CHALLENGES THROUGH DIGITALISATION OF OPERATIONS T
he oil and gas industry is known for moving through cycles, and each cycle represents a challenge for the industry. Most experts were worried about the low oil prices during the previous downturn, but no one ever expected the unprecedented outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the balance of demand-supply to levels never seen before. Therefore, maximising production from existing infrastructure and minimising costs for well intervention and well abandonment are key objectives for operators during the current pandemic in order to accelerate the transition of the oil and gas industry to a more sustainable future. With these challenges accentuated even more in the offshore environment, the oil and gas industry has remained resilient with the support of oilfield services companies. COVID-19 has limited the ability to travel, and many companies struggled especially during the beginning of the COVID-19 emergency to get the required specialists offshore to perform the necessary drilling and well activities. While some operators had focused on integrated operations (IO) before the pandemic, many more have been forced to conduct this type of operation during the pandemic as a contingency measure to keep operations running.
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Archer Oiltools has focused on offering solutions where well integrity, reliability and time savings are of the highest importance; to meet these requirements, the company has implemented solutions into their IO to improve operational efficiencies offshore and act upon these challenges, demonstrating how safe, cost-effective operations with high efficiency and minimum staffing can create value for operators.
IO
IO are defined as the integration of people, disciplines, organisations, work processes, information and communication technology to help operators make smarter decisions in real time. Together with oil and gas operators, digital enablers and cutting-edge technology, IO have allowed platform and rig operations to be integrated into a collaborative environment where offshore skills can be augmented with onshore expertise to enhance execution, deliver more complex solutions whilst reducing the rig-based people on board (POB) and reduce risk exposure for employees. The company has executed IO in the North Sea region for the past decade. Currently, more than half of the temporary and permanent
