Continuous monitoring helps operators determine the best conditions for rig movement and positioning. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Sahil Kochhar, head of Presales, Miros outlines the benefits of smart, data-driven solutions for effective jack-up operations

For around 70 years, jack-up rigs have been at the forefront of offshore oil and gas exploration, acting as mainstays for drilling and production activities in most of the world’s hydrocarbon hotspots.

These mobile, self-elevating platforms provide stability in dynamic marine environments but, by their very nature, they are also often required to work in some of the most challenging environments known to the industry. They face significant challenges from waves and currents, which can drive structural integrity concerns and create potential safety issues.

The solution to this issue lies, as it so often does in offshore operations, in leveraging real-time environmental data. In the case of jack-ups, air gap measurements and wave/current monitoring are of particular criticality. By adopting cutting-edge solutions and technologies, operators can unlock new levels of performance, reduce risks, and optimise their offshore operations.

Understanding the air gap

The air gap refers to the vertical distance between the highest anticipated wave crest and the underside of a jack-up rig’s hull or deck.
Maintaining an adequate air gap is essential for structural integrity and operational safety. If compromised waves can slam into the structure, increasing stress on the platform and endangering personnel.

A well-calculated air gap, however, ensures stability, reducing downtime caused by rough sea conditions. It also avoids repeated wave impact, minimising the chances of fatigue, cracking, and deformation, extending the service life of the rig.

Real-time measurements

Real-time measurements capture key sea state parameters such as wave height, wave period, direction, current speed, and current direction. Up to the second data is gathered from various advanced sources - including wave buoys, radar systems, and subsea sensors – and used to inform decision-making, improve operations and enhance safety.

Actual conditions can often deviate from forecasts, but real-time readings of the sea-state removes the ambiguity, guaranteeing informed, timely decisions. Dynamic positioning and preload operations also benefit from wave and current insights, reducing risks of leg slip and seabed instability, while continuous monitoring highlights structural stress points early, allowing for pre-emptive action before maintenance issues escalate.

Enhanced jack-up operations through data-driven insights

The safety of people, the environment and assets are of the upmost importance during any offshore operation, be it with a jack-up rig or otherwise. With real-time wave data, operators can maintain safe clearance under the rig, preventing wave impact damage and guaranteeing structural integrity.

Continuous monitoring helps operators determine the best conditions for rig movement and positioning, improving efficiency, reducing costs and minimising the chances of an unexpected incident occurring.

Historical data also enhances future jack-up designs and operational procedures, fostering long-term resilience and reliability. Solutions like Miros’ RangeFinder and Wavex provide an integrated approach to monitoring critical environmental factors, serving as an example of how real-time measurements can contribute safer and more efficient jack-up operations.

How AI and predictive analytics are reshaping offshore operations

By combining RangeFinder’s precise air gap measurements with Wavex’s real-time wave data, operators get a holistic monitoring system for jack-up operations. With this powerful combination of live insights, operators gain a comprehensive view of their offshore environment, allowing them to make informed, data-driven decisions; reduce operational risks and enhance safety; and increase overall efficiency and reduce downtime.
As nearshore oil and gas reserves dry up and offshore exploration moves into deeper, more unpredictable waters, the role of real-time environmental data will become even more critical. Emerging technologies, like Miros’s PredictifAI – which pairs radar technology with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict waves and vessel motion – offer the potential to refine predictive analytics, allowing operators to anticipate and respond to changing sea states with unprecedented accuracy. By embracing these innovations, jack-up operators can drive greater safety, efficiency, and long-term profitability in their offshore ventures.
In an industry where precision and resilience are paramount, the future of jack-up operations depends on integrating smart, data-driven solutions that enhance situational awareness and enable proactive decision-making.

The rigs will generate actionable insights to facilitate improved operational efficiency, well delivery times and safety. (image source; Adobe Stock)

ADNOC Drilling has been awarded a contract from ADNOC Offshore for a further three AI-enabled island rigs destined for the offshore Zakum development project, supporting ADNOC’s target to expand oil production capacity to 5mn bpd per day by 2027

The contract award, worth US$806mn, follows three rigs ordered in July 2024, with more than 151 rigs aimed for by 2028.

The three new rigs will operate on ADNOC’s artificial islands, which are home to the world’s five longest wells, including a 53,000 ft record-breaking well. Set to join the fleet between 2027 and 2028, they will be developed through a collaboration between ADNOC Drilling and Honghua Group (HH) which will see AI, advanced digitalisation and real-time analytics embedded into rig design and operations.

Leveraging real-time condition monitoring, performance optimisation and predictive analytics, the island rigs will generate actionable insights to facilitate improved operational efficiency, well delivery times and safety. The rigs will be optimised for extended reach drilling (ERD) and equipped with state-of-the-art walking capabilities to enable them to move between well slots without the need for rig dismantling, thereby improving uptime, reducing emissions and lowering operating costs.

Abdulrahman Abdulla Al Seiari, ADNOC Drilling CEO, said, “ADNOC Drilling is proud to be awarded this significant, long-term contract, marking another major milestone in our accelerated growth journey. These next generation island rigs, built with embedded artificial intelligence (AI), represent a leap forward in technology, enhancing safety, efficiency and performance. This award strengthens our position as a critical enabler of ADNOC’s production capacity targets, while delivering sustainable, high-quality returns for our shareholders well into 2038 and beyond.”

Tayba Abdul Rahim Al Hashemi, chief executive officer of ADNOC Offshore, added, “We are focused on unlocking maximum value from the resources in Abu Dhabi’s waters in the most efficient and innovative ways possible. These advanced island rigs delivered by ADNOC Drilling will play a vital role in achieving our production capacity goals and meeting global energy demand. Together, we are pushing the boundaries of technology, operational excellence and partnership to power sustainable growth.”

The Middle East continues to develop its fossil fuels, along with renewables. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Optimism about industry growth in the energy sector, as well as about energy transition prospects, is stronger in the Middle East and North Africa than anywhere else in the world, according to DNV’s Energy Insights 2025 Report

According to the report, based on an annual survey of more than 1,100 senior professionals, 84% of respondents in the Middle East and Africa express optimism about energy industry growth prospects compared to 68% globally, and this figure has risen sharply from 69% last year. The report highlights that the energy sector is booming in the region, as many countries look to develop both their renewable and fossil fuel resources, noting that it has become the fastest-growing renewables market outside China, mainly thanks to solar sector growth. Installed solar capacity is forecast to rise to 100GW of installed capacity by 2030, up from just 23GW today, with Saudi Arabia looking to generate half of its domestic electricity from renewables by 2030, including 40GW of solar PV – six times the current capacity. Early this year Masdar announced a 5.2GW solar plant combined with a 19GWh battery storage facility, making it the largest combined solar battery energy storage system (BESS)  in the world.

At the same time, the region is continuing to develop its fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, DNV notes. Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are in the world’s top ten natural gas producers, while other countries are also growing production.  The combination of gas and solar is a winning one, with solar offering a cheaper and cleaner way to meet rising domestic electricity demand, while natural gas can be profitably exported.

Middle East and Africa respondents are most optimistic about reaching revenue and profit targets in the year ahead, at 73% and 71% respectively, compared with 63%/54% in North America, 58%/48% in Europe, 55%/52% Asia Pacific and 63%/54% Latin America.

Uncertain political environment

The report highlights the uncertain policy and geopolitical environment, particular in the US, with political risk seen as the leading constraint to growth. Recent geopolitical shifts have caused considerable uncertainly, with a lot of capital being diverted from renewables into oil and gas, and emerging technologies such as green hydrogen CCS, green steel and synthetic fuels being negatively impacted.

Reflecting this uncertainty, several oil and gas companies, (bp for example), have scaled back renewables commitments over the past year and increased their investment in fossil fuels. 53% of oil and gas sector respondents say they will prioritise fossil fuels over renewables over the next five years — up from 46% a year ago, while 24% of respondents in the power sector are looking to prioritise fossil fuels over renewables over the next five years, more than double the figure (11%) of a year ago. While optimism in the oil and gas sector has held steady over the past two years, standing at 66% in 2025, most oil and gas respondents (60%) say that political issues such as elections, policy uncertainty and regime change are a major threat to success in the year ahead.

Policy reversals and uncertainty are expected to hold back the energy transition in some sectors and regions, with only 55% of energy industry professionals now believing the energy transition is accelerating, sharply down from 79% two years ago. A key factor noted is the shift in investor sentiment. However, many organisations continue to invest in sustainable energy, taking a medium to long-term view.

Certain parts of the world are positive about the  pace of the energy transition, notably the Middle East and Africa region, where 77% say the pace of the energy transition is accelerating,  and Asia Pacific, where the figure is 68%. In contrast, only 47% in North America and 48% in Europe think the pace is accelerating.

"Despite global economic and political uncertainty, most of the energy industry maintains a general optimism, supported by megatrends such as electrification and energy demand," says the report. "Energy security and affordability have become priorities and are influencing both oil and gas expansion and the acceleration toward renewables. Sentiment varies from region to region, with the Middle East and Africa the most optimistic, and North America the least."

3t Drilling Systems, the advanced drilling simulator provider, has been appointed by the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) to redesign its flagship learning platform, KREW

The new KREW platform will deliver adaptive, AI-powered learning with immersive 3D content and hybrid training pathways.

The multi-platform learning solution, built around IADC’s WellSharp curriculums, will provide all users with personalised training by identifying and addressing individual knowledge gaps while streamlining training processes.

 The platform will be accessible via browser or mobile app, with offline capability for remote operations, ensuring 24/7 accessibility for learners across the globe.

The platform includes time on the simulator, and an intelligent AI-powered chatbot that will allow users to test their knowledge in real-time, simulate real-world scenarios, and receive instant feedback. This innovative approach will ensure learning is interactive, relevant and keeps up with the needs of the industry.

Development of the platform is now underway, with a relaunch planned for early 2026.

Clive Battisby, COO at 3t Drilling Systems, said, “This isn’t just about upgrading a platform – it’s about elevating how our industry learns, globally. We’re proud to partner with IADC on this game-changing initiative, redefining how the industry learns and grows in today’s evolving tech landscape and well into the future.”

Brooke Polk, vice president - Accreditation Operations at IADC, said, “Our goal is to empower learners through modern, accessible, and intelligent continuous learning, focused on knowledge retention, that keeps people working in our industry safe now, and for the decades ahead of us. With 3t’s expertise and innovative approach, we are confident that the new KREW will set a new benchmark for the industry.”