Subsea robots go to greater depths. They are typically connected to a ship via a group of cables so they can be operated by someone at the water surface.  ROVs have been used by the oil and gas industry for many years for a variety of works that may be challenging or unsafe for humans to conduct - from underwater drilling, construction and installation as well as the inspection and maintenance of key assets. The most basic ROVs are equipped with a video camera and lights. However, they may also feature non-destructive testing sensors (to check structural integrity), cleaning devices such as rotating wire, ny... more

Increased demand for oil and natural gas, a rise in offshore production, and demand for cheaper methods of transportation have encouraged companies to accelerate the process of building subsea pipelines. Thus, the global offshore pipeline market is forecast to grow from US$11.5 billion in 2018 to US$15.8 billion by 2023, at a 6.54 per cent growth each year.  Subsea pipelines are subject to several inherent challenges,  some that are beyond the operator’s control. More than just traversing thousands of kilometres,  these pipelines often extend into extreme water depths (one of the deepest ever built was i... more

According to the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association, Australia has more than 39,000 kilometres of natural gas transmission pipelines that transport gas across Australia.  The Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP)  is the longest natural gas pipeline in Australia and runs entirely underground. At almost 1600 km, it is longer than the state of California (1,240 km). The pipeline transports natural gas from the north-west of Western Australia (starting near the township of Dampier) to commercial, industrial and domestic markets in the south-west of the State (finishing near the city of Bunbury)... more

According to the recently published 2019 OPEC World Oil Outlook, primary energy demand is set to expand by a robust 25 per cent between 2018 and 2040. It is predicted that all forms of energies will be required in the future to help meet expanding demand.  According to the outlook, natural gas is expected to witness the largest demand growth in absolute terms, and renewables the largest growth in percentage terms. Oil is expected to remain the fuel with the largest share in the energy mix over the forecast period. Oil demand is predicted to reach 110.6 million barrels per day (mb/d) by 2040, with the non- OC... more

The Internet of Things (IoT) is heralded as a development that has the capacity to revolutionise the way we live. As IoT has the ability to transfer data without human interaction, it enables previously unprecedented amounts of data to be collected and exchanged with other devices, or through a central platform. In the future, this is set to increasingly help the oil and gas industry to directly manage existing assets, supply chains and/or customer relations. In a Deloitte report, Connected barrels: Transforming oil and gas strategies with the Internet of Things, it is stressed that IoT can create an entirely... more

Project cancellation, followed by the fall in crude oil prices from 2014-2016, meant multiple rounds of industry layoffs left oil companies with a reduced number of skilled workers. This increased companies’ dependence on automation in order to complete processes without delay. Since then, automation has gradually become more and more prominent in oil and gas operations as companies begin to realise benefits such as increased accuracy, productivity and safety. Therefore, automation and other technologies are being adopted in many essential areas in the oil and gas sector. ADVANCED ACTUATORS AUTOMATE VALV... more

During the extraction phase of an oil and gas project, pipelines are used to transport hydrocarbons from the wellhead to processing and export facilities. Pipelines must be able to withstand adverse environmental conditions to ensure safe and reliable distribution, however, incidents of pipeline failure can (and have been known to) result in serious harm to ecosystems, public health and extreme financial loss. Advanced detection of pipeline leaks One of the most troublesome problems for oil and gas operators is pipeline leakage, as it can cause both loss of product and serious environmental pollution. ... more