How Robotics Can Support Saudi’s Oil And Gas Industry :
How Robotics Can Support Saudi’s Oil And Gas Industry
The advancement of technology affects our lives in many ways, both directly and indirectly. Technology improves the efficiency of countless activities. Expectedly, this improvement often translates to very major impacts on entire industries. An industry that has significantly profited from the progress of technology is the oil and gas industry.
Over the past couple of years, great strides have been made in the technology of robotics, a development that could further bolster the oil and gas industry. Thus, this article will explore the use of robotics in the Saudi oil and gas industry. Similarly, we will consider the resulting improvements that could ensue in the industry.
Robotics in the Saudi Arabian Oil and Gas Industry
Undoubtedly, the oil and gas industry accounts for a significant part of the Saudi economy. Therefore, it is no surprise that the country is also a big adopter of technologies like robotics that could improve the oil and gas industry. Saudi Aramco is already using robotics in its oil and gas operations. For instance, the company has deployed drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the air, a firefighting robot on the ground, and industrial-grade mini ROVs below the sea.
It is, however, essential to consider precisely how these robotic technologies have affected the country’s oil and gas industry.
Impact of Robotics on Saudi’s Oil and Gas Industry
Robotic use benefits the Saudi oil and gas industry in many ways. Here are several ways:
Safety
Oil exploration often occurs in hazardous environments. Similarly, many aspects of oil and gas operations are inherently dangerous. The use of robots can, however, tackle this safety concern. For instance, companies can deploy remote-controlled robots to carry out some dangerous tasks humans have had to perform in the past. Such tasks would include drilling activities, maintenance, and site surveillance.
Humans are spared from potential dangers by automating or remotely controlling such activities with robots.
Cost Effectiveness
Not only do robots ensure a greater level of safety for oil and gas workers, but they also cut costs over time. Robots will likely require substantially less operational costs with many activities than humans. For instance, in using robots to inspect environments, resources such as parent ships may be unnecessary, thereby cutting costs. Similarly, robots eliminate the need to expend resources on housing, food, heating, and additional safety features. In addition, corporations can use robots to handle repetitive tasks. This way, the human employees are freed up to focus on more value-added functions.
Productivity
Robots are a lot more efficient than human beings with a lot of oil and gas-related activities. For instance, concerning inspection, specialized robots can survey aerially, on the ground, and undersea, equipped with tools like microphones and visual and thermal cameras. Furthermore, since robots are likely able to operate continuously in situations that may be challenging for humans, they can limit downtime. With less downtime, the oil and gas industry can generate more output within the same timeframe.
Conclusion
Robotics and other advanced technological tools greatly benefit the oil and gas industry. The Saudi oil and gas industry has taken the cue and is increasingly adopting robotics in its operations to unlock more value.
Links
https://innovateenergynow.com/resources/how-saudi-aramco-is-leading-oil-and-gas-robotic-innovation