Technology in Oil and Gas
In today’s oil and gas marketplace, uptime matters more than ever for producers looking to maximize efficiency and profit. Lapses in data, especially gaps in inspections and audits, are the most common root causes of unexpected downtime. By implementing new technology that improves data collection and analysis, operators can achieve versatility, adaptability, and excellence.
Unplanned downtime is the greatest enemy to operational efficiency in the oil and gas industry. Preventing and recovering from these costly lapses in production is becoming increasingly crucial as margins become thinner and the cost of operating rises. How much money you waste “doing nothing” depends largely on rig rates, equipment leases, and operator wages, all of which can vary widely by location and type of well. Some wells might lose as little as $20,000 per hour of unplanned downtime, while others may hemorrhage funds into the millions.
The sheer volume of data can be overwhelming when a catastrophic failure occurs. Often, a well stagnates after a shutdown due to extensive backlogs rather than mechanical issues. Chronicling every report with spreadsheets and carbon paper burdens crews with recording and correcting problems in a vacuum and makes it nearly impossible to produce timely reports necessary to provide critical feedback.
The best way to optimize data analytics, predictive maintenance, and corrective action workflows is through mobile technology and cloud-driven tools. Cutting-edge oil and gas companies use mobile inspection platforms to document, dictate, and photograph evidence immediately, tracking variables with GPS, time, and date stamps. Mobile software instantly produces corrective actions after an accident or failed inspection the moment the report occurs, allowing for faster decision-making. In addition, digital safety management solutions help inform workers when equipment or behavior is non-compliant and provide the inspector with solutions to correct the error. The right technology makes the job easier – and the work site safer.
Comparing the chance of failure and the consequence of failure remains a key factor in determining course correction. Issues that halt production or jeopardize health, safety, and the environment require immediate attention. Mobile data collection provides a clear picture of the data inspectors see and the steps they take in the field. This allows company leaders to make better decisions regarding risk assessment and task prioritization so that each issue can be addressed with the relevant corrections, one at a time.
FORM provides an integrated mobile solution that fits any process. With a tailored and flexible mobile data platform, you can customize the features you need without wasting months or years on development. Workflow automation and task management take the guesswork out of maintenance schedules and provide cloud-synced accountability. Use big data to effectively visualize problem areas, highlight issues, and implement corrective measures before they cost you valuable time and resources.
