Robot renting to revolutionise Oil & Gas

Robot renting, or robots as a service (RaaS), will bring about a sea change in how oil and gas (O&G) companies use robotics, say data analysts GlobalData. Industry leaders like BP, Shell, ExxonMobil and Equinor are adopting autonomous robots, often supported by AI. But the costs can be prohibitive for smaller companies, and robot rental companies like Fugro offer a solution.

Recent developments in cloud computing have made all this possible. Cloud-connected robots can be managed remotely and learn from each other’s experience as well as their own. The O&G industry is collaborating actively with robotics companies to implement RaaS.

GlobalData’s recent report, Robotics in Oil and Gas (2021) – Thematic Research, shows that robots have played an essential role in O&G for several decades. Operating as quadrupeds, terrestrial crawlers, quadrupeds, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and aerial drones, O&G robots are continuously improving thanks to other digital technologies like cloud computing, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Now leading companies are moving more and more towards robots backed by AI, context-aware computing, and computer vision, which allows computers to glean meaningful data from images.

Robots boost efficiency, safety and reliability in all workstreams. Upstream, they can be used for seismic surveys and automated drilling; midstream, they have applications in design, construction, remote monitoring, inspection and maintenance’ and downstream, they’re useful for material handling and automated refuelling. Their roles are critical in high-stakes projects across the value chain.