Building a data highway

Academia and industry came together in Houston for a full day workshop and seminar to discuss how to improve access to real time data in the oil and gas industry.

GCE NODE, in cooperation with Iris, organized the NorTex seminar – a continuation of discussions launched at OTC 2016 with focus on how to get access to data in real time and how this can be used to increase safety and reduce cost in drilling operations.

“In order to use data from all sensors on offshore drilling equipment, we need to define a common data highway with defined rules for access and security to ensure correct time stamping. Access to data will enable providers to develop services and equipment, which will make operations safer and more efficient, cut costs and reduce the environmental footprint,” says Anne-Grete Ellingsen, CEO of GCE NODE.

“Digitalization is the next step to cut industry cost even further. We are moving towards a connected world with unmanned ships and platforms. More projects will be developed in cooperation with your partners. New business models will emerge. It is all about understanding the digital shift and what is does to your business and business models,” says Ellingsen.

NorTex grew out of a study that was commissioned by Norwegian Consul General in Houston, Jostein Mykletun, back in 2012. NorTex participants include Rice University in Houston, University of Texas in Austin, University of Agder, IRIS and GCE NODE. The project is funded by The Research Council of Norway.

Arnt Aske, Business Development Digitalization at GCE NODE, led the group of 50+ people from Norway and Texas through a full day of presentations and workgroups at Rice University Wednesday.

“The goal is to further develop automation and remote operations. We need to look at opportunities in the entire ecosystem to bring the oil and gas industry forward: From oilrigs and oil companies, to service and supply companies and equipment vendors. The big question should be: What is best for the industry?” says Aske.

Presentations included topics such as interoperability, cyber security, metadata, and data analytics.