PRODUCTION & PROCESSING
sustainability and profi tability goals,” she observes. Like most industrial sectors, oil &
gas is also gradually embracing the application of AI. Commenting on this, Quense says: “Energy companies use AVEVA AI-infused solutions for many things: 3D modelling and process design to accelerate and optimise engineering cycles, operators’ support, predictive maintenance aimed at reducing planned and unplanned downtime, process optimisation, and to drive safety and cost reductions. “We’ve observed that AI can increase
productivity up to 25%, enable 10x faster decision making and generate millions of dollars in productivity savings. Overall, machine learning, AI and predictive maintenance are used in the oil & gas sector to extend the life of industrial assets.” Quense also points out the merits
of AI when it comes to sustainability eff orts, saying that it helps drives carbon eff iciency and eff icient use of resources. Proff ering two key examples here, she says: ““In Spain, REPSOL has used software optimisations (Romeo + AI) to cut emissions by 20%. In the US energy sector, Duke Energy saved US$1 billion in 10 years through better preventative maintenance of its turbines using just one type of AI. US$25 billion could be saved in the next decade in North America if all energy actors do the same.”
A BIG DEAL Quense reports that some big-name energy players are taking the lead when it comes to eff iciency and sustainability. “Recently, ExxonMobil, one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants and chemical companies in the world, selected AVEVA to work on a project that contributes to tackling the global challenge of meeting the world’s energy needs for sustainable fuels,” she reveals. “Indeed, although the necessity and urgency of climate action is intensifying, the need to transport people, goods, and services isn’t vanishing. The global population will continue to rise and with it so will the need for transportation and the demand for energy. That’s why Exxon Mobil is charting a new path with Exxon Mobil Renewable Diesel (EMRD), a proprietary process technology designed to help biofuel
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Refi neries can reap many benefi ts of digitisation, including reducing their harmful emissions
producers enhance renewable diesel production while meeting stringent product specifi cations.” Quense explains that the
production of biofuel has diff erent constraints than for the fossil fuel: “For instance, sustainable fuel producers must meet advanced cold fl ow specifi cations while maximising yield, they need to optimise diff erent variables in the renewable diesel production process such as operating temperatures which requires advanced, customisable simulation tools. The design and optimisation of each phase of the biofuel production process is incredibly complex and requires sophisticated simulation technology. That’s why ExxonMobil chose AVEVA Pro/II Simulation to develop EMRD.” Detailing this solution, Quense
says that AVEVA Pro/II Simulation is a steady-state simulator that optimises plant performance by improving process design, running operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. She notes: “Using this simulator, ExxonMobil had the advanced simulation tools it needed to simplify the process. The company reduced model-building and computation time and improved its fundamental understanding of how the
model works and how its components interact while ensuring that the renewable diesel it produces meets the properties of conventional fuel.” ExxonMobil plans to invest
approximately US$17 billion in lower-emission fuel initiatives by 2027 and will incorporate the EMRD technology into Imperial’s Strathcona renewable diesel unit. “The refi nery will use locally sourced canola oil as feedstock to produce an expected 20,000 barrels of fuel a day, which will make Strathcona the largest renewable diesel facility in Canada. Once operational, estimations suggest this new facility could help the Canadian transportation sector reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 3M metric tons per year,” Quense says. And what about AVEVA: where
will the software giant be setting its sights next? “Our product roadmap includes automation control, design reliability, visualisation of complete value chain and capital project lifecycle through diff erent lenses such as sustainability or profi tability. We will also continue to infuse Gen AI in our software for design, predictive and prescriptive analytics, to support the workforce of the future,” confi rms Quense.
The production of
biofuel has diff erent constraints than for the fossil fuel
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