Technology

ENERGYai will combine large language model technology with cutting-edge agentic AI. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

ADNOC and AIQ has announced at ADIPEC the launch of ENERGYai, the first-of-its-kind custom-built agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solution for the global energy transformation

ENERGYai will combine large language model technology with cutting-edge ‘agentic’ AI – AI ‘agents’ that are trained in specific tasks across ADNOC’s value chain. These specialised AI agents bring a new level of autonomy and precision to critical tasks, from seismic analysis to energy efficiency and real-time process monitoring. Designed for seamless integration into existing workflows, the agents harness state-of-the-art machine learning and predictive analytics, improving decision-making and operational efficiency.

This innovation underscores ADNOC’s commitment to pioneering sustainable, data-driven solutions that elevate industry standards. Developed by AIQ in collaboration with G42 and Microsoft, ENERGYai will integrate best-in-class technologies, including open subsurface data universe (OSDU) frameworks and OpenAI models.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, said, “ENERGYai marks a major milestone in ADNOC’s journey to be the world’s most AI-enabled energy company and a key enabler of the global energy transformation. It will be a powerhouse for value creation and sustainable energy production and will leverage petabytes of data to better empower our people and unlock innovative solutions across our value chain. As AI accelerates the pace of progress and transforms industries, ENERGYai will help future-proof ADNOC, reinforce our position at the forefront of AI deployment and ensure we continue to provide secure and sustainable energy to the world.”

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, said, "ENERGYai embodies G42’s commitment to transforming global energy through AI, delivering real-time, data-driven insights and deploying agentic AI to enhance efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. By combining ADNOC’s industry leadership and petabytes of historical data with G42’s advanced AI capabilities, and collaborating with Microsoft, we are creating a strong foundation for the future of energy—empowering leaders to make strategic choices that drive sustainable progress."

“Across the full value chain of traditional and renewable energy sectors, AI technologies can optimize energy usage, improve safety, reliability and efficiency, reduce emissions and accelerate low- and no-carbon energy solutions,” said Darryl Willis, corporate vice president - energy and resources industry at Microsoft. “We are pleased to be collaborating with ADNOC and AIQ in the development of AI-powered solutions that can drive economic growth, address energy security and equity, and advance a net-zero future for all.”

Trained on ADNOC’s 80 years of data, the ambitious three-year development programme for ENERGYai will begin testing with real-world datasets by the end of 2024 in a number of specific areas. It is projected that ENERGYai will accelerate by up to 75% the building of detailed geological models using very large and diverse datasets to support planning and development of large-scale CO2 storage solutions.

In development planning, ENERGYai will accelerate plans from 1-2 years to weeks, minimising costs and emissions in the process. ENERGYai can analyse multiple scenarios in parallel and this ability to run detailed, highly advanced simulations across all variables helps make faster and more accurate decisions. Further along the value chain in the downstream business, the platform's future-proof and scalable design integrates seamlessly with ADNOC’s existing technologies and platforms.

As a result of the upgrade, production increased and performance was optimised. (Image source: CS Combustion)

CS Combustion Solutions recently enhanced the capacity and efficiency of a sulfuric acid production plant located in Africa’s Copperbelt region, where demand for sulfuric acid is crucial in mining applications such as leaching copper and cobalt

Faced with growing demand, the plant needed to increase production while reducing operational costs and improving reliability. Through targeted improvements, CS increased daily production from 2,200 to 3,000 tons and optimised the plant’s overall performance.

Challenges before optimisation

Prior to the upgrade, the plant faced several challenges, including incomplete combustion, which led to sulfur droplets fouling downstream equipment like the waste heat boiler (WHB) and catalyst beds, increasing system pressure and requiring frequent shutdowns for maintenance. Clogging issues with conventional pressure atomisers resulted in frequent, costly nozzle replacements, while poor droplet atomisation caused hotspots in the refractory lining, increasing wear and reducing reliability.

Key measures implemented

CS Combustion Solutions tackled these issues with the following measures:
1. Ultrasonic atomisation: Replacing pressure atomisers with ultrasonic nozzles reduced droplet size from 400 to 110 µm, which minimised fouling, improved combustion, and protected the refractory lining from localised heat.
2. Swirl bodies: Introducing swirl bodies created rotational motion in the combustion air, enhancing flame formation and leading to more efficient sulfur combustion.
3. VectorWall installation: Replacing the plant’s original baffle walls with a VectorWall improved mixing within the combustion chamber, reduced hotspots, and prevented unreacted sulfur carryover to downstream components.
4. CFD analysis: A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study simulated and optimized the modifications prior to implementation, ensuring targeted performance improvements.

Results and benefits

With these enhancements, the plant boosted production capacity by 30%, enabling 40 tons of sulfur incineration per hour. The new configuration allows maintenance of sulfur guns without stopping operations, reducing downtime and saving US$160,000 annually by decreasing pressure drop. Additionally, precise ultrasonic atomisation prevented sulfur buildup on the refractory, extending its lifespan.

This case study highlights the importance of innovative combustion technologies and detailed pre-implementation analysis, offering valuable insights for facilities facing similar challenges in optimising sulfuric acid production.

SandTrapXL mitigates solids production. (Image source: Halliburton)

Halliburton has launched SandTrap XL consolidation service for sand control, a chemical resin consolidation technology to stop the production of formation sand

SandTrap XL sand control service employs an externally activated, low-viscosity resin system that provides consolidation strength to the formation grains without compromising rock permeability. Unlike internally activated resin systems, there are no restrictions on pumping or activation time to allow treatment of longer intervals.

The SandTrap XL system excels in the treatment of high-clay content minerology up to 25% and adapts to various formation mineralogies. It provides thermal stability above 550°F (287°C). This allows it to control sand in heavy oil reservoirs under enhanced oil recovery methods, such as steam flooding. As part of Halliburton’s portfolio of remedial solutions, SandTrap XL mitigates solids production, including formation sand and fines migration. This approach helps ensure the long-term stability and productivity of oil wells to address the needs of operators in diverse geological environments.

“Excessive sand production remains an issue in our industry,” said Luke Holderman, vice president, Production Solutions and Pipeline & Process Services. “SandTrap XL empowers our customers to maximise asset value through enhanced well performance and extended asset life. Through customised chemical consolidation, SandTrap XL provides a reliable solution for mature fields and unconsolidated reservoirs to ensure long-term productivity and efficiency.”

Effective well placement with real-time rock data analysis. (Image source: Viridien)

With gas and carbon storage activities expanding across the Middle East as operators pursue carbon reduction and energy efficiency goals, Viridien offers specialised geological analysis solutions for effective well placement in UBCTD

Underbalanced coil tubing drilling (UBCTD) technology is being utilised to re-enter existing vertical wells in depleted fields, allowing for the drilling of multiple horizontal legs, which significantly improves direct access to the reservoir. UBCTD lowers drilling costs and reduces formation damage, preserving permeability.

Specialised geological analysis is key for effective well placement in UBCTD. Advanced rock analysis of drill cuttings at the wellsite involves biosteering (microscopic fossil analysis), rock-typing, and visual porosity assessment (see figure). This approach is primarily used in limestone reservoirs, such as the Khuff, Arab, Habshan, Lekhwair, Kharaib, Shu’iaba, Natih and Misrif formations, where the integration of these techniques helps to accurately determine a borehole's position within the reservoir. Continuous analysis during drilling provides real-time data, enabling informed decision-making that can lead to successful well delivery with improved production rates or increased storage capacity.

Advantages of using Viridien’s real-time rock data analysis for well placement

These analytical techniques provide critical insights for maintaining or repositioning the borehole within the reservoir, offering several advantages:

• Accurate wellbore placement using biosteering, which, when combined with lithofacies and porosity data, is crucial for optimal reservoir targeting, especially when Logging While Drilling (LWD) is unavailable.
• Cost-effective solution for gas and carbon storage drilling.
• Real-time updates of the field’s static reservoir model while drilling.
• Fault identification with biosteering, including vertical displacements, allowing precise steering back to the target horizon.

Viridien's legacy in the Middle East

Viridien, formerly CGG, operating from its Abu Dhabi Geoscience hub, has undertaken biosteering, rock-typing and porosity evaluation in the region since 1994. These techniques have been applied to develop fields including the Shu’aiba, Kharaib, Lekhwair and Habshan and Khuff reservoirs. In 2003, Viridien participated in the first UBCTD project in the UAE and biosteering was key to successful well delivery. Viridien has undertaken UBCTD projects in Saudi Arabia since 2009, supported by its state-of-the-art laboratories in the UK. The adoption of these specialist geological techniques has become more widespread in the UAE recently, where Viridien is providing expert well placement services for several clients. The future of wellsite geological services for field development is bright, and the Middle East is leading the way.

Learn more about Viridien integrated solutions for exploration and reservoir development drilling including wellsite biostratigraphy and other advanced techniques at:

Viridien: Wellsite Services (https://www.viridiengroup.com/expertise/geological-services/wellsite-services)