4D for robots
In Equinor, we collect a lot of data about the subsurface with 2D, 3D and 4D seismic. But have your heard of the 4 Ds for robots?
Dangerous, dirty, dull, distant; jobs with such characteristics are the ones we want to leave to the robots. Quite fitting actually, as it meets our always safe goal and fits nicely with the original word in Czech, where robota means serf labour or hard work. In Equinor terms, use of robots will mean less people in red zones (high risk areas), less exposure to e.g. chemicals, less repetitive tasks or work in difficult-to-reach places. Simply put, get humans out of harm’s way by reducing their exposure to the 4 Ds.
Money to be saved
The high value part of robotisation can be achieved by utilising robots as tools to perform inspection and maintenance task more efficiently. With robots and drones we can also conduct more frequent inspections, improving our insights into the conditions of our installations. Flying drones both externally and internally for inspection work (e.g. inside and outside a large tank) is becoming more common, but it is still not the standard for many applications. Equinor has tested robots for welding, cleaning, sandblasting, painting, 3D scanning, leak detection, environmental monitoring, and quantification of diffuse emissions. Equinor is also testing logistical operations with drones in the North Sea, with good results. And deep into the ocean we want to use drones for pipeline inspections, maintenance and more.
The estimated cost savings from a broad implementation of robots and drones exceeds 1 billion NOK per year. The value creation will come not only from the actual tasks solved more efficiently; the robots will also collect operational data. The goal is that these data can give significant added value when put to use. As data collection platforms, the robots will play an important in our data driven operations.
