Field tests have demonstrated a reduction in corrosion of up to 90%. (Image source: Omniflex)

Cathodic protection specialist Omniflex has collaborated with researchers at Australia’s Deakin University to develop a novel closed-loop cathodic protection (CP) system for localised corrosion control in offshore and underground infrastructure such as underground or subsea oil and gas pipelines

Prototype field tests on underground pipelines have demonstrated a reduction in corrosion by around 90%, potentially doubling operational lifetimes of these structures when exposed to harsh environments.

The closed-loop probe is the outcome of several years of research by the team at Deakin University supported by the Energy Pipelines CRC, Future Fuels CRC, the Australian Economic Accelerator project, Omniflex and specialist pipeline operators. Omniflex worked with the team to develop the technology’s electronics, integrate sensors and facilitate remote monitoring and control capabilities.

The technology facilitates improved localised corrosion control in complex and varying environmental conditions. The potential applications include protecting offshore structures, such as oil and gas platforms and wind turbines, and underground infrastructure, such as steel pipelines and storage tanks.

“Currently, corrosion under disbonded coatings is a major issue impacting the safe operational life of underground gas pipelines and future hydrogen pipelines,” explained Professor Mike Tan, professor of applied electrochemistry and corrosion techniques at Deakin University.

“In one of our prototype tests on an underground gas pipeline, we reduced localised corrosion by roughly 90%. This level of corrosion reduction can more than double operational lifetimes, making installations more sustainable and cost effective. This capability of closed-loop control of cathodic protection not only mitigates corrosion, but also avoids over protection that can cause issues like hydrogen embrittlement and cathodic disbondment of coatings,” continued Tan.

“Traditional CP systems don’t change output voltages and currents under constantly varying conditions by directly measuring corrosion current, meaning there is a risk of over- or under-protection,” explained David Celine, managing director of Omniflex. “Some may assume that you can’t have too much protection, but this is not the case with CP systems. Apart from wasting energy, over-protection can produce hydrogen and cause embrittlement, ultimately causing structural failure.

“The closed-loop CP probe, with in-built remote monitoring and control capabilities, allows us to account for ongoing variances caused by factors like stray current and leakage and consistently maintain optimal protection levels.”

The project is now entering the commercialisation phase.

The new tool provides operators with enhanced accuracy, control, and wellbore stability, while delivering a lower total cost of ownership. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Enteq Technologies has launched SABER Vertical, an advanced drilling solution for vertical and top-hole drilling particularly suited to the Middle East and Africa market

SABER Vertical builds on the existing advantages of Enteq’s directional drilling rotary steerable, field-proven SABER Tool (Steer-At-Bit Enteq Rotary Tool) to extend to vertical drilling, offering a low-service requirement and modular design that minimises both equipment needs and overall costs.

In the Middle East and Africa, vertical wells are often drilled in remote, challenging environments, where traditional methods can be costly and logistically complex. SABER Vertical is engineered to meet these demands, providing operators with enhanced accuracy, control, and wellbore stability, while delivering a lower total cost of ownership compared to existing systems.

The modular design enables adaptability to multiple hole sizes, reducing equipment requirements and enhancing operational flexibility. Its optimised wellbore stability improves drilling accuracy and control, ensuring greater precision throughout the process. The solution is also low-risk and can be deployed globally in a variety of environments, making it a practical and scalable option for operators worldwide.

Andrew Law, CEO at Enteq, said, "SABER Vertical is the result of listening to our customers and understanding the unique challenges of the market. It is inevitable that incumbent solutions for these applications are expensive due to the required large tool size, limiting commercially suitable options available to the market. With its compact design and cost-effective nature, SABER Vertical delivers a much-needed alternative, helping operators improve efficiency without compromising on performance."

The collaboration will harness the capabilities of edge computing and AI to enable autonomous production, real-time data analytics and seamless communication across production environments. (Image source: SLB)

AIQ, the Abu Dhabi-based AI pioneer, is continuing with its drive to push forward AI adoption in the energy sector through a partnership with SLB to accelerate autonomous energy operations through the Agora edge AI and IOT solutions

Agora edge offers real-time remote connectivity and the ability to host AI applications for autonomous operations.

The collaboration will harness the capabilities of edge computing and AI to enable autonomous production, real-time data analytics and ensure seamless communication across production environments. It will enable customers to unlock value, reduce costs, boost automation, improve efficiency, minimize emissions, and enhance worker safety.

AIQ and SLB will also develop a framework to accelerate the deployment of edge AI workflows, including AIQ's RoboWell autonomous well control solutions, and SLB's suite of edge AI applications to accelerate the integration of AI in upstream and downstream operations.

Magzhan Kenesbai, acting managing director of AIQ said, “The closer collaboration between AIQ and SLB reflects our shared vision on the transformational impact autonomous capabilities can deliver to upstream operations. AIQ is committed to partnering with leading global technology providers to accelerate deployment and time-to-value of our AI solutions.”

Rakesh Jaggi, president for Digital & Integration, SLB, said, “Edge AI is a solution to the industry challenge to balance production throughput, operational costs, and emissions reduction, all while ensuring the safety of our personnel. Over the past five years, we’ve seen the impact of turning insights into autonomous actions with edge AI, through numerous SLB deployments of the technology globally, including in the Gulf region. Our partnership with AIQ, a regional leader, will set new benchmarks in the industry by helping scale our operations.”

The collaboration follows the announcement in December that AIQ has partnered with SLB to integrate its Advanced Reservoir 360 (AR360) solution with SLB’s Petrel software, which will deliver an improvement of asset reservoir understanding through data integration. The AR360 solution was in fact launched as a collaboration between ADNOC, AIQ and SLB. It is a reservoir visualisation and performance application that incorporates all subsurface data into a single integrated system, using AI and automation to optimise the field development plan (FDP).

The agentic AI solution is being rolled out across all ADNOC's upstream assets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Abu Dhabi-based AI pioneer AIQ has won a US$340mn contract with ADNOC to deploy its agentic AI solution ENERGY^ai  across ADNOC’s upstream value chain, following the successful completion of a proof-of-concept phase

The three-year contract will see ENERGY^ai and a suite of related AI solutions rolled out across all ADNOC’s upstream assets, comprising more than 28 producing fields, in ADNOC’s drive to become the world’s most AI-enabled company.

Built on 70 years of proprietary data and knowledge, ENERGY^ai combines large language model (LLM) technology with cutting-edge agentic AI, which is trained for specific workflows across ADNOC’s upstream value chain. ENERGY^ai brings a new level of efficiency and precision to critical tasks, from seismic analysis to geological modelling and real-time process monitoring, reducing time for essential business processes from months to days, minimising cost, and reducing emissions in the process.

The POC trial demonstrated that ENERGY^ai's agentic AI can deliver significant improvements in the pace and accuracy of upstream exploration through rapid, precise and detailed seismic survey analysis, alongside relevant, actionable insights to support production optimisation at ADNOC’s existing wells.

The first operational, scalable version of ENERGY^ai is expected to be completed in mid-2025. It will include five fully operational AI agents covering tasks within subsurface operations and will be test-deployed across several upstream assets, with plans to scale its application to thousands of additional wells. 

Magzhan Kenesbai, acting managing director, AIQ said, “This contract marks a defining moment for AIQ. In partnership with ADNOC, we have developed a world-first agentic AI solution that is scalable across the entire energy value chain and has the potential to transform the industry as we know it. We are proud to see ENERGY^ai move from a successful proof-of-concept to full deployment, enabling ADNOC to unlock unparalleled efficiencies, reduce carbon intensity, and advance their sustainability ambitions. This achievement reflects our commitment to delivering innovative, high-impact AI solutions that not only meet the challenges of today but also shape the future of energy.”

Speaking at CERA Week in Houson, ADNOC managing director and Group CEO Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said,"Today, we have integrated AI comprehensively across the value chain from the control room to the board room. Over 200 AI use cases are currently being implemented across ADNOC’s operations, from exploration to refining to logistics and strategic decision making.

“Using AI, we are speeding up our upstream seismic analysis from months to hours. We are increasing the accuracy of production forecasts by up to 90% and we are on course to make ADNOC the most AI enabled energy company in the world.”