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il and gas companies have been
Digitalization has helped Eni
Norge’s Goliat FPSO come
online with lower commissio-
ning and engineering costs
oil prices has become more established.
collecting huge amounts of data for It is also becoming clearer that traditional appro-
many years. In 2014 BP spoke of aches like layoffs and rig shutdowns are not de-
petabytes of data becoming more livering the scale of cost reductions required for
common (*). And, the situation sin- the current margin squeeze. Increasingly, execu-
Oce then has only accelerated. This tives realize a new approach is needed and that
is not surprising, given that a single drilling rig, for digitalization – properly deployed – can deliver the
example, can generate 1 terabyte of data per day. results required. Working with early adopters of a
Unfortunately, this data collection has typically hap- widespread integrated digital approach to facilita-
pened via many independent pieces of equipment te collaborative operations, ABB has proven, for
and systems – each with its own data and inter-
faces. This has made it difficult for people to take The new appetite for digital is evident
effective, timely decisions due to a lack of common in the growing number of conferences,
visualization at a device, process, plant and enter- seminars and journal articles devoted
prise level.
Managers have felt they are drowning in data but to the topic over the last two years.
are unable to find the information they need when Additionally, the make-up of people
they need it. In fact, only one percent of information actively exploring digital solutions is
collected is being made available to key decision- evolving
makers and engineers are spending 70% of their
time looking for and manipulating data.
But, when times were good, addressing such is- example, that cost reductions of 30% are achieva-
sues, while important, was not seen as an urgent ble, even more in subsea.
priority. Companies would get to it “someday.” That The new appetite for digital is evident in the growing
day has now arrived. number of conferences, seminars and journal arti-
cles devoted to the topic over the last two years.
Changing mindsets Additionally, the make-up of people actively explo-
ring digital solutions is evolving. Previously, infor-
This switch in mind-set over the last 18 months is mation technology (IT) specialists from the oil and
partly driven by the growing realization that pro- gas majors had been the ones most interested in
mise of a recovery in oil price is looking less and the topic. But, while IT managers are an important
less likely. In fact, two years ago some Middle element in facilitating the digital dream, they are not
Eastern gas companies still went ahead with lar- the ones directly affected. Buy-in from the opera-
ge recruitment drives thinking the price fall was a tional side of the business is key but, in good times,
short-term blip. They are shedding many of tho- gaining sufficient engagement from there was often
se same jobs now that the “new normal” of low difficult.
Impiantistica Italiana - Marzo - Aprile 2018 69