ABB Customer World: How digitalization is elevating chemical, oil and gas industry processes
By Emily Querubin, Associate Editor, World Oil
HOUSTON -- ABB Customer World 2017 took on a theme during Wednesday’s sessions, focusing heavily on digitalization and how it can be used to “close the loop” and generate customer value.
The plenary session, “How digitalization is driving the chemical, oil and gas industry’s next level of operations,” was moderated by Lee Nichols, editor and associate publisher at Gulf Publishing Company. He was joined by expert panelists Dania Kodeih, enterprise and solution architect at Microsoft; Rami-Johan Jokela, head of digitalization at ABB; and Havard Devold, group V.P. of digital oil, gas and chemicals at ABB.
Following a safety moment, panelists discussed the industry’s demand for digital solutions and how those established solutions are transforming productivity and processes. “We’ve seen oil prices cut in half,” Devold said. “We can no longer rely on traditional best practices”
Kodeih said, “We’re seeing more demand for digital solutions.” Due to this increased demand, companies are finding ways—through use of intelligent cloud platforms, data management systems, computation and industrial automation—to utilize data to implement high-level value creation.
Devold noted that approximately 69% of companies overrun in cost, and about 80% overrun on time. The use of digitalization can help companies manage over-spending and operations, ultimately elevating overall productivity.
Value creation can be dispensed in several areas of operations, including safety and security. Kodeih discussed how digitalization and data analytics can create a range of opportunities when it comes to safe operations. It can improve training received by workers, as well as improve the quality of tools used in the field. It aids in early failure detection, which subsequently streamlines predictive maintenance processes and the implementation of solutions.
Cyber security is another area of value creation. Through digitalization and the use of big data, companies can mitigate the possibility of a data breach. Kodeih stressed that Microsoft has learned from experience that digitalization can be used to protect assets. “You have to expect it, prepare for it, and address it,” she said. “Always be ready to respond.”
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