Engineering Excellence

Our global network of research centers – located in the US, Europe, China, and Saudi Arabia – support this upstream research and technology development, in disciplines such as production management, drilling, reservoir engineering, geology, and geophysics. Many of the ongoing research development projects capitalize on Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning.

“Deploying advanced upstream technology will allow Aramco to maintain its competitive advantage in upstream excellence,” said Ashraf Al-Tahini, manager of the Company's Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center - Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC) and CEO of Aramco Upstream Technology Company.

We are accelerating the deployment of industry-leading robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) throughout our operations. A range of robots – including drones, underwater robots, tractors, and ground crawlers – comprise our UAV and robotics fleet.

These emerging technologies offer more cost-effective and efficient inspection capabilities.

From high in the sky, UAVs can map an entire area in a short space of time. These vehicles, called 'drones', also perform project observation, security surveillance, and environmental monitoring, among other applications. From great heights, UAVs inspect current assets and collect exploratory, high-resolution images.

This technology also makes emergency responses safer, as situations can be investigated without putting human lives at risk, and we are tapping into other novel machinery, too. We are now also deploying real-time data monitoring, machine learning, predictive analytics, and robotics to further improve our operations.

And it's working.

By using drones and wearable technologies to inspect pipelines and machinery, Uthmaniyah Gas Plant (UGP) cut inspection times by 90 percent, reduced inspection costs by 10 percent, and sped up safety and emergency response by 5 percent. UGP has expanded the use of UAVs to include methane leak detection to address greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and for internal vessel inspections to minimize confined space entries.

These applications of new technology we've developed have not gone unnoticed. In 2018, for our use of UAVs, we won the Best Exploration Technology Award at the World Oil Awards. The next year, in 2019, our Company's progress at Uthmaniyah Gas Plant was named “Manufacturing Lighthouse” by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

There is definitely a trend at work. Our Abqaiq oil processing facility recently joined the list to become our third facility to be recognized by WEF as a 'Manufacturing Lighthouse'. Abqaiq is the largest oil processing plant in the world, responsible for providing about 5 percent of global oil supply.

“That three of our key facilities have been added to the Global Lighthouse Network in less than three years is a testament to the importance we place on our Digital Transformation Program – and the rapid pace at which it is advancing,” said Aramco's Digital Transformation vice president, Nabil Al-Nuaim.

“Through pioneering the large-scale use of 4IR solutions, we are setting new benchmarks for global industry. In the process, we are achieving significant improvements in cost, efficiency, product quality, energy consumption and environmental performance.”