Tuesday 23 May 2017

Statoil is establishing a digital centre of excellence and launching a roadmap with seven specific programmes for digitalisation in the company towards 2020. Digitalisation will help improve the safety, security and efficiency of Statoil operations.

Towards 2020 Statoil expects to invest NOK 1-2 billion in new digital technologies, accelerating the digital roadmap work. Digital technologies will also be part of other Statoil technology and research projects.

“Aiming to be a global digital leader within our core areas, we are now stepping up our efforts to capture opportunities provided by the rapid development within digital technologies,” says Statoil’s chief executive officer, Eldar Sætre.

The oil industry is already extensively utilising IT technology and digitalisation, but the rapid technological development creates new opportunities, particularly within the following areas:

• Digitalisation of work processes

Improving the efficiency of the way we work by reducing the time spent on manual and repetitive tasks, where possible.

• Advanced data analytics

Improving our understanding of extensive and complex data for better decision-making by means of advanced data analytics and machine learning.

• Robotics and remote control

Increasing the operational regularity, reducing costs and improving safety and security by reducing human activity in physically intensive activities. Examples of this are robotic drilling and automated installations.

“Digitalisation can help improve the safety and security of our operations, both by means of data that provide us with a better decision-making basis, and through reduced exposure in risky operations. A combination of digitalisation, standardisation and a culture for continuous improvement may drive cost reductions, and form the basis for increased value creation and activity,” Sætre says.

Digital centre of excellence

Statoil is establishing a digital centre of excellence that will coordinate and manage the digitalisation efforts across the company. The centre of excellence will collaborate with external specialist communities, have dedicated units for data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, as well as leaders for digital programmes. Statoil will recruit candidates for the centre of excellence both internally and externally, and the leader will report to Statoil’s chief operating officer (COO).

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