cutting-edge computing-post-COVID growth
Like many other sectors, the oil and gas sector was impacted by the negative economic impact of COVID-19 and the consequent changes in consumer behavior. But unlike other industries, managing an unstable economic environment is not unprecedented. The oil and gas industrIES has gone through many boom and bust cycles over the years and may be a leader in shaping how to quickly recover from this crisis.
Technology Supports Faster Recovery
It's just a matter of time before demand for crude oil picks
up. In fact, oil prices have largely rebounded to pre-pandemic levels,
according to TradingEconomics.com, reflecting demand and market optimism, which
could be followed by platform numbers and other production measures. As you
recover, finding qualified employees can be a challenge, as some may have left
the industry during the recession while others retirement.
Edge Computing technologies will help oil and gas company
meet growing demand before they need to increase their headcount. This will
happen primarily through the migration of applications to the operational
periphery to increase autonomy and support remote operations. Yokogawa recently
published Prospects for the Transition to Industrial Autonomy, which surveyed
more than 500 respondents across 5 regions, covering industries including oil
and gas production, refining and refining. It is estimated that demand in these
industries will return to pre-COVID levels by 2023, making it imperative that
automation investments happen sooner rather than later.
Yokagawa found that 89% of companies plan to increase
automation to improve operational efficiency and productivity. After COVID, the
applications that support the most autonomy receive the greatest amount of
investment. IT professionals are investing in clouds, artificial intelligence
and cybersecurity. There is also investment in applications for maintenance and
remote operations. These applications allow companies to automate tasks that
previously required a local employee. Automating these tasks also improves
worker safety by reducing the number of workers exposed to potentially
hazardous conditions, including future pandemics.
How will existing roles and responsibilities change?
The move to greater automation and remote operations means
that existing staff roles and responsibilities will change, and job
requirements for future employees will change as well. Yokagawa found that 50%
of current employees have to travel long distances, 40% perform repetitive
tasks and 38% are exposed to hazardous conditions as part of their work.
Automated and autonomous operations can solve these problems, and tasks such as
quality control, process monitoring, asset monitoring and process operations
are increasingly being automated with Edge Computing technology.
Cutting-edge computing and automation can help improve more
than just physical problems. Through the use of digital twins and artificial
intelligence, decision-making tasks such as triggering potential scenarios can
be accomplished without human intervention. Nearly half of respondents
indicated that technology investment priorities for the next 3 years include
AI, smart machines and sensors, cybersecurity and big data.
Unleashing innovation
In today's volatile market, agility and flexibility can make
or break a business. Everyone is trying to figure out how to do more with less.
Leading-edge computing technology enables organizations to maximize asset
performance while increasing employee and asset efficiency. Reducing the number
of repetitive manual tasks that require human supervision means employees can
focus more on analyzing business results and finding ways to innovate and
achieve future success.