The capability to visualize with enhanced digital elements has been the mainstay of the benefits offered by Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). This elevated experience finds practical applications in many sectors. While training and learning, as well as marketing, have been the core business sectors that received benefits of AR/VR, the story is quite different in case of the Oil and Gas industry. Many players have already started implementing AR/VR into operations, thus keeping their employees away from operational risks like in oil drilling in deep oceans.
1 – Operations in Oil and Gas
Energy companies utilize AR/VR solutions to run operations that are faster, cost-effective and efficient. Equipment and machinery used in drilling include compressors and generators. Even sensor based connected devices like, rig monitoring equipment can use VR applications integrated within it. This will help engineers get onsite diagnostics of equipment health and performance without the need for them to be present at these risky locations.
The rig monitoring systems need to be checked continuously for issues like overload, parts breakdown, or performance lag. With an AR-enabled application on mobile devices, the engineer can carry out maintenance with real-time data and all helpful information available digitally. Be it retrieving user manuals or using image processing to detect structural problems with equipment parts. Augmenting the physical rig with digital information adds immense operational value.
2 – Underground surface terrain analysis
VR can significantly enhance the visual experience of underground layout and its individual components like the structural faults, wells topography, geological formation, seismic traces. With this information available – to geologists, field users, production and reservoir engineers- strategic decision making can be achieved in real time, during the drilling operations.
The subsurface data available digitally via VR gear to field team ensures a better knowledge of various zones, layers, reservoir data, faults, and horizons. This improves the efficiency of drilling operation workflow.
3 – Training
The immersive 3D view presented by VR applications allow companies to add an edge to training objectives in Oil and Gas industry. Field executives like, engineers and process operators acquire knowledge wealth of the entire process of drilling, production, processing, and transportation– without actually being present at the potentially dangerous onsite location for this purpose.
(Related Article: Virtual Reality Safety Training)
In the Oil and Gas industry, even routine processes need several hours of dedicated work under perilous conditions. Hence, an in-depth training and learning are essential to working in this sector. VR solutions can help companies to create a ‘virtually identical’ environment. The sharp, realistic 3D view enables better absorption of knowledge and help trainees to cope faster with the job requirements in a controlled environment.
These applications show that the impact of AR/VR is definitely pronounced in the Oil and Gas industry. It is expected that in near future the scope for AR/VR will expand far beyond its present scope.
See how an experienced company like CHRP-INDIA can enable these value propositions for your industry and company with bespoke VR/AR solutions.
