Automating knowledge transfer in oil and gas

Wong said: “If you are setting up a learning environment, automation allows you to dip into all kinds of resources, to mix and match your learning environment, to explore interactively with other learners outside the organisation. That kind of potential is huge.”

Aspen Technology is realising that potential. According to market strategy director Ron Beck, it is imperative that this kind of technology is applied successfully. He said that the oil and gas industry, in which his company operates, has high rates of attrition with many highly-experienced employees leaving the workforce due to retirement and redundancies.

His company has developed online models that are “highly actionable versions of a digital twin idea,” which can be used in a training environment. One such environment is a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit. These are essentially tankers or transport ships that have been converted into off-shore oil production plants.

Aspen Tech worked in partnership with simulation and modelling company Inprocess, to build a digital model for FPSO provider YinSon. He explained that in the past YinSon did not have a way to train new recruits offline and had to do on the vessel. He said that Aspen Tech is now putting a lot of artificial intelligence and machine learning into different aspects of the software.

“This allows them to set up a training room where they could simulate the person working on the FPSO and get them to a pretty good level of competence before going on their first trip,” said Beck. He said that this method of training can help to eliminate at least two problems. It can improve the retention of new entrants to the industry.