Upstream operations are the name given to the exploration and production stages of the oil and gas industry. Broadly, oil and gas companies fall into one of three categories: upstream, midstream, and downstream. Many large oil companies like Shell Petroleum are integrated, meaning they combine all three stages. Other firms specialize in either upstream, midstream or downstream individually. In the upstream segment, the biggest challenges involve core rig drilling. Or to be more specific, monitoring core rig drilling. Many drills operate offshore, far from Frontier packages and other everyday necessities. This compounds the challenges even more. This blog explores how interconnected apps can help optimize upstream operations.

How can Mobile Apps Optimize Upstream Operations?

Monitoring core rig drilling operations generate huge amounts of data. This data needs to be extracted, shared and analyzed across different departments. Apps can help enhance this function. They can also serve by maintaining real-time databases for timely decisions. Here’s how interconnected mobile apps can help with upstream operations:

1. Bridging the Tech Gap
2. Automation
3. Integration
4. Rig Management
5. Increased Efficiency

Let’s take a brief look at each way mobile apps can help.

Bridging the Tech Gap:

The petroleum sector has been lagging behind other industries. Especially when it comes to bridging the gap between pumps and pump operators. Mobile apps aim to help upstream operations gain some degree of optimization and operational intelligence. They can help with:

• Integrate supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems
• Automate the allocation of resources and workflows
• Improving operations without adding to the cost of operations
• Analysis of data from core drilling operations
• Enable pump operators to approach pumps with technical knowledge

Each and every one of the points listed above is important to make the right decisions at a specific rig site. Through gathering data, maintaining a database and analysis, upstream operations begin to improve considerably.

Automation:

Automation saves money, no matter what industry you are in. This is particularly true for the oil and gas industry. Manual readings are increasingly becoming a thing of the past. Instead, oil companies need ways to help reduce the risks of upstream operations and digitize the operations themselves. The right interconnected mobile apps can help with:

• Optimizing drilling techniques for the best use of time and effort
• More data generated using minimal resources
• Real-time monitoring of various drilling operations
• Accurate, data-driven analyses for better decision making
• Automated logging, production and maintenance alerts systems

The right interconnected apps should be customizable to suit varying operations and production.

Integration:

Integrating different rig functions with technology helps deliver all relevant information to the right people. More importantly, real-time information through integrated functions means accurate decisions. Integrating different functions help raise your operational standards to optimal levels. Functions that can help you do this are:

• Cloud, mobile and AI technologies
• Integrated oil field upstream functions
• Intuitive functions for operators to manage tasks and resources
• Scrutiny of critical operation points on the rig
• Display rig-specific risks
• Gather and match data as per defined variables
• Integrated workflows
• One view for all parties involved in both production and business sections
• SCADA compatible systems
• Efficiency and compliance platforms

Rig Management:

Rig management is a tough job, to begin with. It covers almost all aspects of oil extraction except the actual exploration part. The major concern with most oil rig managers is the safety of rig personnel. Human errors can result in very costly mistakes. The consequences can be fatal both in financial terms as well as in terms of human life. Rig managers also have to prioritize production and the allocation of resources to various parts of the operation. Luckily, interconnected mobile apps can help rig managers develop efficient and safe management protocols. Such apps increase the safety of personnel working on high-risk operations. They also help manage daily goals on an efficient basis. Through deep analysis, systems can alert managers to disruptions, sometimes even before they occur. Maintenance schedules and history are integrated, letting rig managers know the exact condition of rig operations. On the whole, interconnected mobile apps can make the life of a rig manager or a rig management team much easier.

Increased Efficiency:

Interconnected mobile apps have one major purpose: mobility. Often, rig operators depend on software and data that comes from off-site. So ideally, any relevant personnel with access to FiOS internet plans or similar internet services should be able to access data remotely. Interconnected apps in upstream operations increase operational efficiency through:

• Real-time reports and collaboration
• Applications that are customizable to your specific operational parameters
• Reducing human involvement, and thus, human error
• Managing real-time, accurate databases
• Flexibility to meet changing industrial norms and standards.

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