Claus Reimers, chief product and technology officer at Akselos. (Image source: Akselos)

The American Bureau of Shipping and Akselos S.A., provider of structural performance management software have completed a joint technical assessment for structural digital twin technology, enabling more accurate and reliable assessments of structural integrity for FPSOs

The digital twin solution can reduce inspection and maintenance costs by up to 33%, minimising both planned and unplanned downtime by predicting stress and fatigue before failures occur, and enhancing safety by limiting human exposure in hazardous operational areas. This ultimately saves millions of dollars by extending FPSO life and minimising production losses.

Akselos’ SPM software provides a high-fidelity, near real-time digital twin of the entire FPSO. By combining inspection records, metocean conditions, and cargo operations into one dynamic model, operators have access to a live, continuous view of structural performance. This facilitates real-time monitoring, identification of stress concentrations, and on-demand fatigue analysis to support data-driven maintenance and risk-based inspections.

When combined with ABS’ Condition Manager and Eagle Twin inspection data management and condition tracking software tools, the Akselos software is capable of monitoring real time load and condition information within a digital twin framework that enables full life cycle support of an offshore asset. Akselos’ SPM software also integrates with ABS’s Eagle Unified suite, providing operators with a unified platform for asset performance management and class compliance.

“This collaboration reinforces the role of high-fidelity digital twin technology in the future of offshore structural integrity management,” said Matt Tremblay, senior vice president, Global Offshore at ABS. “By combining real-time operational data with advanced simulation, Akselos is enabling a more predictive and performance-based approach to asset management—fully aligned with the industry’s drive toward safer, more efficient operations.”

“This joint work confirms the robustness of our software and reinforces the growing momentum for digital transformation in offshore oil and gas,” said Claus Reimers, chief product and technology officer at Akselos. “We enable operators to simulate the structural integrity of the entire FPSO in real time and at full fidelity—supporting smarter, safer decisions across the asset lifecycle.”

Electris well completions make it possible for operators to get more out of their assets with fewer requirements for costly well interventions. (Image source: SLB)

At the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, SLB launched Electris — a portfolio of digitally enabled electric well completions technologies that help to reduce the need for costly well interventions, maximising production and recovery

Electris completions digitalise control of the entire productive area of the wellbore, providing real-time production intelligence across the reservoir. This enables operators to predict, adapt and respond to dynamic production conditions — improving reservoir management over the life of the well and accessing reserves that conventional systems leave behind.

Electris completions eliminate hydraulic lines in favour of a fully electric architecture. A single electric line powers multiple interval control valves (ICVs) and permanent downhole gauges, enabling two-way digital communication, continuous zonal control, and simplified installation—all through a smaller, leaner footprint.

From initial deployment to decades of operation, Electris completions reduce risk, limit interventions, and accelerate time to production — while unlocking previously unreachable reserves across onshore, offshore, and deepwater fields.

“Electris completions take reservoir management to the next level — making it possible for operators to get more out of their assets with fewer requirements for costly well interventions,” said Paul Sims, president, Production Systems. “With much of the ‘easy’ oil already produced, operators are encountering more and more complex reservoirs. Electris completions can help shift the production economics in these reservoirs — resulting in higher recovery factors that maximise return on investment from the asset.”

There have been more than 100 installations of Electris completions technologies in demanding environments across five countries. In Norway, for example, Electris completions were deployed offshore to enhance oil production in an extended-reach well. The operator is using intelligence from the system to optimise oil output and minimise produced water. This has reduced the energy needed to lift and then pump treated water back into the reservoir.

Industry 4.0 is transforming operations in the oil and gas sector. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Darius Ngo, Fellow and Senior Vice President - Yokogawa Global Business Consulting, discusses how the company is helping to transform the oil and gas sector through AI and advanced technologies

How are AI and advanced technologies transforming the oil and gas sector, and how can they help companies to operate more efficiently, safely and sustainably?

Industry 4.0 is transforming businesses through digitisation and the use of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies embedded solutions has demonstrated to revolutionise the oil and gas sector by enhancing the production efficiency, safety and sustainability of business processes. Industrial AI and advanced solutions are generally pivotal in predictive maintenance, enabling real-time monitoring and early detection of equipment anomalies. This proactive approach minimises downtime, reduces maintenance costs, and enhances overall operational efficiency.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Yokogawa, in collaboration with JSR Corporation, has successfully operated a process plant autonomously for more than 35 consecutive days since 2022 using reinforcement learning AI. This marked the first instance where AI managed plant operations without human intervention, optimising for quality, yield, energy efficiency, and responsiveness to disturbances. With a stronger demand of Industrial AI, a robust composable platform is evolving and enables integration of AI for edge computing, facilitating immediate data processing and predictive analysis, which is crucial for energy-intensive sectors like oil and gas and power. This holistic approach leverages AI, cloud solutions, IoT, and real-time data analytics to create connected and efficient operations, driving innovation and sustainable growth within the oil and gas industry.

How do you view the receptiveness of Middle East operators to AI and the latest digital solutions, and how do you view the market in the region’s oil and gas sector for your solutions? Are there any projects you would like to highlight?

The Middle East's oil and gas sector is increasingly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital solutions to enhance operational efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness. Leading regional operators such as Saudi Aramco and ADNOC have already made significant investments in AI technologies,  focusing on enhanced efficiency and resource optimisation to gain competitiveness in the global market.

Yokogawa recognises the Middle East as a pivotal region in the global oil and gas sector, reflecting its strategic importance through significant investments and an established local presence. Many of the local operators are already users of Yokogawa’s advanced solutions and they are accelerating adoption of embedded AI to drive Industrial Automation to Industrial Autonomy (IA2IA). Yokogawa’s solutions and robust integration capability have repeatedly demonstrated to improvise safety, productivity and sustainability.

In Yokogawa, we are pleased to have successfully implemented Yokogawa’s AI/FKDPP reinforcement learning and advanced digital solutions among the Middle East regional operating companies. This embedded AI technology has transformed operations into full autonomy in process control without human intervention. This has also expedited the next phase of generative AI combined with large language models (LLM) for an AI-based OT intelligent advisory system.

See the full interview in the latest edition of Oil Review Middle East here:

The collaboration will combine Weatherford's software and hardware solutions with AIQ's AI-driven systems. (Image source: AIQ)

In an era of burgeoning partnerships between energy companies and tech companies, AIQ and Weatherford have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to combine Weatherford's software and hardware solutions with AIQ's AI-driven systems

The combination of these advanced tools will enable operators to optimise their production workflows, reduce downtime, and significantly enhance operational efficiency across global energy facilities.

By combining AIQ's AI technology with Weatherford's Modern Edge, customers will be able to modernise their edge operations, facilitate autonomous production, and offer the flexibility to expand operations, while optimising resource usage and reducing costs. Weatherford’s Universal Normalizer will work in tandem with AIQ’s capabilities to harmonise multi-asset data, combining operational and financial analysis into a unified, API-supported data model, driving smarter decision-aming and streamline operations, while the WFRD Software Launchpad will allow customers to procure all of their software needs via a comprehensive industrial SaaS platform. This eliminates the complexity of managing multiple systems and vendors, providing a single point of access for all Weatherford and partner-built applications, while ensuring data security and autonomy within their own network.

Magzhan Kenesbai, acting managing director of AIQ said, “This partnership marks another step in AIQ’s mission to build partnerships that accelerate the deployment of impactful AI systems across the energy value chain. By integrating our advanced AI-driven tools with Weatherford's energy-specific technology, we are delivering greater efficiencies to the industry through the development of scalable, automated applications. Together, we are set to empower operators to optimise their workflows, reduce downtime, and achieve unparalleled operational excellence.”

The collaboration is the latest in a series of AIQ tie-ups with companies including SLB, Halliburton and Kent.